Warmth.
The ache and grime built up from a grueling days work melted away under the relaxing spray of warm water. Ibuki's long black hair rested slack against the length of her back, clinging onto her damp skin. She stood motionless and at ease. No longer at work. Her mind wandered off amidst the relaxation, thinking about the pleasant things in life. All of the luxuries she could daydream of having were hers at a simple thought.
Money.
Food.
The Beach.
Travel.
...Another presence?
"...eh?" Ibuki poked her head through the shower curtain to see Makoto brushing her teeth, wearing nothing but her underwear, "Ack! What are you doing in here? Don't you know anything about basic privacy?!" Makoto spat out a mouthful of foamy toothpaste, "Ya always take so long in the shower. I'm not waiting an hour to brush my teeth. And did ya forget whose house this is?" Ibuki stuck her head behind the shower curtain, "Fine. Just hurry up."
The disgusting sound of gurgling went over that of the shower. Makoto spat another mouthful into the sink, "If you use up all the hot water again I'm kicking your ass."
Once clean, Ibuki laid back on the same bed sheet she always had. It still retained a hint of the smoky smell from the department store fire. However, the sheet was far too comfortable to switch out for a new one. It felt just right.
Ibuki wrapped the sheet around her body. The soft snug fabric allowed the built up exhaustion to come crashing down. Picking produce from the field, working at the farmer's market, training, and dealing with Makoto all day wore her out plenty. Tomorrow could be more of the same. Whether that was a good or bad thing she had yet to figure out. For the time being, it felt nice having a sense of stability.
Her eyes gently closed shut.
Makoto snapped wide awake. Blood flowing through her veins like cars speeding on a highway. Although her body felt sore from yesterday's training she felt completely rejuvenated from a good nights sleep.
She flung herself from the comfort of her own bed then grabbed her field clothes from the floor; a pair of blue overalls, gloves, her gi pants, black boots, and her yellow hachimaki. She quickly slipped into the outfit just as she's done for years.
Out in the kitchen, a whole pot of coffee started to brew, multiple slices of bread toasted in the toaster, and eggs sizzled in the oiled pan. All was perfect, except for one new component to the routine.
Makoto threw the guest room door open and found just what she expected. Ibuki, completely curled up in her sheet, sleeping through the alarm.
"Rise and shine, twinkle toes! We got work to do!" Makoto tugged the bedsheet, unraveling Ibuki from her safe haven. She roughly shook the slumbering ninja, "Up and attem!" Ibuki grunted in response, her eyelids tightened. "Having one of those mornings, huh? I know just the thing that'll wake you up." Makoto stepped out of the room.
"Don't get the bucket again..." groaned Ibuki.
"Already filling it up." The clang of water splashing against metal made Ibuki shudder. She learned from the incident last week that Makoto isn't above using dirty tactics to stir Ibuki awake, "Alright. I'm up. I'm up."
After a hearty breakfast consisting of eggs, toast, and a couple mugs of strong coffee the two set out into the field. About seven weeks have passed ever since Ibuki started working for Makoto. The work itself was simple enough: Fortunately her job was as simple as Makoto explained. Find the produce, clip the stem, and put it in the bucket. If it's rotten. Throw it away. If it's not ready. Leave it.
Easy and simple.
That morning, the ground was thick with patches of mud thanks to the overnight rain. The televised weather forecast predicted clear skies for the entire week. Ibuki had come to learn about Tosa's inconsistent weather through Mr. Mishima's ramblings the other day, "I swear the weather just does what it feels like. The blizzard of nineteen ninety three in June. The heatwave of eighty-five in February. It gets pretty crazy here I tell ya."
Ibuki finished slurping on the spicy ramen he made for lunch, "Huh. That explains it...I guess..." Suddenly, a mischievous grin grew on Mishima's mouth, "Would you like to see Makoto's baby pictures?"
"What? No, she wouldn't!" Makoto crossed her arms in protest.
"I'd love to!"
From his bookshelf, he pulled out a massive scrapbook and flipped through to his favorite memories, "Here's one of young Makoto when she didn't get a toy racecar from a kid's meal. She cried and cried! Boohoohoo!" He flipped through again, "Ah! And here's the time when Makoto beat up another kid at her birthday party for blowing out the cake candles. And then she started to cry." He imitated her cry again for Ibuki's entertainment.
"Geez, Mak. Didn't know you were such a crybaby," chuckled Ibuki. White hot steam rose from Makoto's burning red face. The embarrassment became too much, "That's it! I'm outta here!" The elder and the ninja continued to laugh at the memories for a while.
Mr. Mishima turned to Ibuki, "C'mon. Let us hear it. Surely you have your own stories to tell about your family." Ibuki paused between sips of tea, "Family? Uh, well...I don't really have a family anymore."
The old man's wrinkled face dropped.
Ibuki turned away and fiddled with her hands, "They're...erm..." Mr. Mishima placed his wrinkled palm on her hands, "I apologize. I didn't mean to bring up anything bitter." Ibuki cleared her throat. She turned to the old man who wore a sorrowful look of understanding, "Any friend of Makoto's is considered family of mine." Ibuki wiped the misty tears from her eyes and embraced the elder.
"Thank you."
Over the course of the following week, Makoto introduced Ibuki to some of the other Tosan residents. Although, only a couple managed to stand out above the rest.
First is local Bartender, Kenjiro Tsuda; A family friend of Makoto's. Makoto explained that he used to bartend in Tokyo many years ago, but the amount of crime gave him fear for his family's safety. Making him relocate to Tosa. They bumped into him while grocery shopping, "Oi! How goes it, Kenjiro? Didja meet my new friend, Ibuki?"
The man stood tall, about five foot nine inches. The top of his round head was absent of any hair, but had a fashioned ponytail in the back with what hair he had. His figure was solid just like a fighter, "Nice to meet you. Ibuki, right?" He extended his hand outward, "I've heard you're quite the saleswoman at the market." Ibuki rubbed the back of her head and shook his hand with the other, "Aw, shucks."
The man smiled, "Me and Makoto's father were great friends when he was around. Man loved whiskey so much he passed the love of it on to his own daughter."
Makoto shyly shrugged, "What can I say? I like the hard liquors."
"You drink?" asked Ibuki in disbelief.
"On occasion," replied Makoto.
Ibuki shot a look at Kenjiro, "If we stop by your bar can we get free drinks?"Makoto jabbed her elbow into Ibuki's side. Kenjiro smiled even brighter, "All I can promise you is that the first round will be on the house. Haha."
Next was another farmer Makoto knew of, Genji Uzumaki.
The elder lanky man sat on his porch in his rocking chair. Without rocking in it. He plucked at his long wispy beard and only kept one eye open. Makoto jabbed her thumb at him, "His family is the one who started the farmers market. They were the very first to take a spot at what now is called the farmers market."
"Dat's right! My grandpappy is an innovative genius," his Tosan dialect was much thicker than Makoto's, "Say. You're new here right? Maybe if things don't work out workin' for ol' Makoto, I could give you a spot."
Makoto stuck an arm out as to guard Ibuki, "Hey! No poaching my friend!"
Genji hooped and hollered, "Ah! I'm only yankin' yer chain there youngn'." He then sniffed the air with his pointed nose, "The Miss' blueberry pie should be done coolin' off by now. What do you say we steal ourselves a slice?" They both nodded.
Hours later, Makoto and Ibuki made their way over to the pond. Ibuki snatched the flattest rocks she could find from the ground. She tossed the stones in her hand a few times before pinching one between her thumb and index finger. With one quick motion she sent the rock skipping over the lake, "Sheesh, not a single cute boy in sight. Don't know how you managed all these years."
Makoto laid back on the grassy hill beside Ibuki, taking in what sun was left, "Whaddya mean?"
Ibuki skipped another stone and beat her record of nine with fourteen skips, "Y'know. The thrill of romance. A little action. Urges and desires that NEED to be satisfied."
The rambunctious martial artist jumped to her feet, "The only desire I have is to prove that Rindo-kan karate is the superior martial art of all martial arts! All of my heart belongs to carrying out my father's wish!" Makoto swiped a rock from Ibuki's palm and skipped it. Her attempt landed fifteen skips in total. Just half the length of the pond. She faced Ibuki with a smug confident smirk.
Ibuki gathered her focus. The piece of flint rock perfectly fit Ibuki's formed fingers. An expert flick of the wrist sent the rock whizzing just above the water and across the length of the pond right into the other side where it split a large boulder in half, "You'll be singing a different tune once that special someone comes along," said Ibuki as she walked up the hill. Makoto remained in place, mystified about the feat she just witnessed.
"Wait! Teach me how you did that!"