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Fall From Grace. [Asuma & Natsumi] [Jun. 3rd, 2009|04:23 am]
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[User Picture]From: [info]fallen_asuma
2009-06-02 11:02 pm (UTC)

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Young, male, healing, and starving--food caught and held Asuma's attention like nothing else. The fare was typically Buddhist, with not a speck of meat in sight, but that suited him. Miso soup cast a gentle mist of steam into the air; unspiced soba and mountain greens wafted a clean, tempting scent that made his mouth water; pickles promised a zesty crunch to cleanse the palate.

And it was all within arm's reach.

Asuma had chopsticks in hand and the first bite of sansai in his mouth before he realized the abbot's head was dipped, and his weathered hands were folded into a silent prayer. Guiltily, he swallowed his mouthful, and wavered somewhere between putting his chopsticks down or digging eagerly into his remaining brothy noodles.

Natsumi's hand had likewise stilled in mid-air.

Fortunately, the abbot was a quick worshiper. "Eat," he encouraged, gaze lifting to fix good-humouredly on their hanging chopsticks.

Asuma needed no further urging. He delved in, only a quarter of his attention focused on his dining companions--then a half, when the initial rush for food had eased slightly. Natsumi's graceful silhouette filled the right side of his peripheral vision; she ate more delicately than he did, speaking to a childhood that had encouraged her to actually hang onto her manners. Her calm, contented chakra rippled against the edge of his recovering senses. Still weary, very low, but definitely there. Three days, she'd said, with well-concealed surprise in her voice. It's been a very long three days.

Surrounded by solid stone walls, clean and warm and almost forgiven, mind full of memories that were going to make damn good stories, Asuma concluded it had been very worth it.

A yawn caught him before he got to the pickles. He smiled around it, nudged Natsumi's side gently with one elbow, and said, "Y'know, I think I remember a trading village pretty near here. We should stop there on the way home. Buy some shiny things."