1: A false Happenstance
She loved hearing it, the steady clear ringing of the cowbell at the top of her glass shop door. It was a clear indication that her boredom could temporarily be lifted; she hated waiting around between customers.
"Welcome to Herbal Remedies!" Akira pipped, brushing an invisible dark strand behind her ear. White painted fingernails gleamed in the light, emphasizing the contrast against her dark skin. She extended a hand. Into the air, enthusiastically waving to the customer in front of her. This was a new woman that she had never seen before.
"How can I help you?" The elderly woman smiled sheepishly at Akira, rubbing her rough hands together.
'A farmer?' Akira wondered. No sooner throwing the fact to the back of her mind, the elderly woman started, dark eyes shifting side to side as if to make sure no one else was in the store.
"I'm having...dry issues…" the woman stated shyly.
Akira tilted her head to the side, full lips formed into somewhat grimace to hide the smile that wanted to break out. She'd received many customers before with similar issues and this was nothing new for her; it was a little adorable how the elderly lady was embarrassed. Akira left the confines of the counter walking towards the women's section of the store.
As she made her was she briefly looked over her store which nicely decorated with a warm ambiance. the scent of geranium bergamot being lightly diffused into air gave her store a friendly set. Her brothers tended to disagree with the modern rustic look, always opting for something more ahead of the times, and though they meant well, she liked the atmosphere her shop delivered.
The store was organized into various sections: women, men, children, tools & apparatuses, healing poultices, and vitamins to name a few. The price was higher than average. However, considering that she was the only shop set up at the foot of a large forest that broke into three neighboring lands.; which was conveniently placed central location, ninjas and patrons alike would have no choice but to stop at her shop before a grand journey. She chose the spot, no matter how dangerous, because she would be able to find customers. Her quality of care was so good that people would have come back just to see her; she hoped she can make this customer feel comfortable enough too.
"Well, first things first, diet is a big deal when it comes to increasing moisture. A high intake in Omega 3's, A, and B rich supplements." Her slim fingers passed over the bottles, cool brown glass felt nice against her warm fingertips. She stood up, eyeing the shelf up high, far out of her reach. Her eyes narrowed. The elderly woman shifted from side to side, Akira noticed, but kept her eyes on the bottles in front of her. 'For someone whom I'm sure is experienced in that field she sure is nervous.' Akira found the bottle of her special Cloud Village made Women's Supplement. She reached for two other bottles, then walked over to the counter. The woman eagerly followed, every now and then looking back at the shop door hoping that no one came in.
However, that was not the case. The shop door did open, the cowbell ringing dully. The woman made a squeak and Akira smiled to herself. The elderly woman was so preoccupied with the door that she did not hear anything that Akira stated; so again repeated, "48.92 Ma'am." The woman jumped, chuckling when her eyes met the store keepers, expression sheepish due to her jumpy demeanor. .
"I'm terribly sorry. I guess I'm just a little nervous ...I've never had this issue before until recently."
Akira shook her head and smiled. "Your name, please."
" Megumi." Akira wrote down the directions for intake and gave the prescription. reached for her bag setting it down beside her before reaching for the small purse to pay Akira. At this time, Akira finally acknowledged the other customer that had walked in. She raised her head, meeting a pair of dark that flashed red , and for a second she was in a daze.
"Miss? Miss?" interrupted . Akira looked down to the elderly woman . Her hand was outstretched before her, money in her hand, her eyes pleading for speed. Akira obliged, taking the money in such a haste that coins fumbled scattered onto the countertops and the floor.
"I-I'm so sorry about that!" Akira nervously apologized. As she was picking at the scattered change on the counter, she looked over to see the new customer picking up the copper coins off the floor. "Thank you!" she stated. His dark eyes met hers, feeling a nervous weight on her as she looked down to finishing the transaction with .
"Thank you, child."Megumi smirked, giving Akira an all knowing wink. Akira decided not to process why or what the wink meant. She was at work, mandating her store. As departed, Akira turned her full attention to the new customer.
"Sorry about that, how can I help you?" She smiled as the dark eyed stranger handed her the copper coins. His rough fingertips grazed her outstretched hand, leaving hot streaks where he touched her. Again, she ignored whatever feeling he enticed. Her dark eyes took the opportunity to glance over his knuckles-seeing some scarring. 'Ninja,' she mused. Her eyes went up to his exposed wrist. Hes sweaty.
"So.." Akira's eyes went up, mink brown eyes looking past the man to see another person behind him. She assumed that it was a friend.. His smile was wide, showing a sharp gleaming set of pearly whites, almost as if he was trying to impose fear; he looked like a shark, and brieflty her mind went to those of the Hosgeshiki clan. Akira outwardly was unfazed by his appearance. She smiled, feeling instinct kick in that she should need to be very careful with these two-she forced her shoulders to relax. The shorter partner maintained steady eye contact with her. He was poised and quiet, possessing no imminent threat to her, but something was off.
Her mind did a flip. She didn't like unpredictable.
Shark-man spoke first, his tone friendly and his gravelly voice unnervingly chipper for someone his size and aura. "We hear you have the best hand made medicine in the South." He leaned onto the counter breaking into her personal space. He smelt like sweat and the distinct musty scent of geosmin. She didn't take a step back. The counter belonged to her, and if she'd learn anything as her time with her brothers, you never shirk back as your nerve was being tested.
Her smile was coy, she held herself back from telling him off about her counter. She proactively calmed herself, taming her emotions.. "Well, I am glad my name travels broadly and with purpose." She forced a chuckle, noting that even for her; it sounded false.
He nodded, placing a grey hand under his chin, leaning over her. She craned her neck up to meet his gaze. "I'm glad you are as confident as your name implies."
She crossed her arms, feeling irritation rise at his purposeful disdain for her personal space. "I am." She looked from the grey man to his partner who seemed to take an interest in her floor boards. Again she thought. 'Why the hell was he so sweaty?'
"My medication and herbal remedies are top notch. What is it exactly are you-" She was cut short by a fit of a harsh coughing from shark-man's partner, who turned quickly as to not spew anything in their direction.
She hurried from behind the counter over to the coughing man, noting the type of cough he was producing. Her hands moved quickly, forming hand signs. Dainty hand gently connected with his back, green glow of the activated jutsu searching for the irritation in his lungs. Her other hand was on his belly in a meek attempt to support him. It was then that she noticed the immense heat radiating off of him. He had a fever, a damn high one at that. She looked around the shop for the water cooler she kept handy for customers, while leading her distressed customer to the nearest chair. She felt his hand gently envelope the wrist of the hand that was on his belly. The stranger straightened up. She wondered briefly if his male bravado was keeping her from leading him to a seat.
She looked up, realizing he stood about a couple inches taller than her, and she was met with dark eyes that seem to strain. Was the light too bright? Her eyes softened at the flustered look on his face that was brought on by the coughing spell. "I'll get you some water." Her voice was gentle, hoping that it could ease the headache he may have had. Her hand left his back.
"I'm fine," he hoarsely stated. She ignored the words, instinctively heading towards the cooler and paused.
"Your throat is probably sore," she mumbled to herself, turning away from the cooler, heading towards a door that led into a storage room. "I'll make you some lemon ginger tea."
She felt eyes on her back as she lead herself into the storage room. Her storage room was nowhere near Shinobi Marts, but it was darn well big enough to hold nine large shelves and move around comfortably. She went to the third shelf, bending over, scanning the packets of dry tea leave.
'Fresh is always best.' Another fit of coughing was heard and she hurriedly grabbed the box of tea, making her way to the customer. She walked in on the larger man giving the coughing partner a cup of water, from which the coughing customer gratefully took, throwing his head back in an attempt to down the cool liquid.
"You have a fever, hun. You need to go to a doctors office, or the hospital. Your in the high hundreds." She paused. "How are you even walking, you look terrible..""
"We're opting for you for now. So…" the shark gentleman began walking towards Akira in a smooth fashion. "You're going to take care of my friend, and you are going to nurse him back to health." He was towering over her, smile menacing.
"We will compensate you", said the stranger. He was now leaning on a peach wall, slouched and breathing heavier than before.
"Oh yea, that too." The man in front of her gave a cheeky laugh, that left her with a grimace.
Akira felt her anger flare. "I-" Another fit of coughing.
She sighed." What are you guys, wanted criminals or something, and that's why you can't go to a hospital?" She crossed her arms, cheeks puffed as she inwardly decided to help them, not that she had a choice in the matter.. The taller one's smile widened.
"Akira Mitchgake, of the Cloud Village. Daughter to the Chief Advisor of the previous Raikage-learned at an early age medical ninjutsu as well as exceptional skill in poisons, ointments, herbal remedies, and medications with long term effects. Although you have yet to master the Creation rebirth technique-Strength of a Hundred, your healing abilities managed to impress even the current raikage. I'd imagine tha-"
"Yea, yea holding me against my will , tell me something I don't know. "
With that she walked to the front of the store, locked the door, and flipped the sign from open to closed.