Interlude 1.
Cat's Trail and the Clan Princess. Part 1.
The day before.
Morning rays of the sun, an autumn breeze in a leisurely dance of falling maple leaves, and the rare but pleasant-to-the-ear song of an oriole. "Warm October! It seemed nature, after a light nighttime rain, timidly woke up and came alive. And bloomed with autumn colors of gold and persimmon on its nearby and rare trees. And this entire atmosphere," "Warm Ripe October," "was now the most magnificent decoration for a secluded garden with an old-fashioned Tyashitsu (tea house) that sheltered a couple of resting people inside. A woman – the owner of this house – and her guest, a man conversing with her over traditional sencha tea."
The Tyashitsu owner was young (visually not even reaching twenty-one) and very beautiful. Her oval face framed by inky-black strands of hair. They cascade in light waves over her shoulders and back. The dark hair color contrasts with her fair skin. Her almond-shaped eyes stand out, saturated with a silvery glow of moonlight hue. They are framed by long fluffy lashes that cast shadows on her cheeks lightly touched with blush. Sometimes, when the woman laughed quietly, her eyes sparkled, and during sadness, her gaze became languid and deeper.
The house owner was dressed in a light white kimono with wide sleeves, belted with a long lavender obi, on which, right now along with her, sat a beautiful white kitty that complemented the color of her purple eyes and completed her picture – "Beauty Himawari and Tea Time."
The man, on the other hand, looked somewhat dramatic.
He had a bright and contrasting appearance. Mostly drowned in dark tones. Eagle gaze (somewhat predatory), sharp cheekbones, thin line of a smile. Height, given his seated position, could be estimated as average, around 180 cm. His figure had a pronounced masculine trait (broad shoulders, open kimono, and forearms dried by muscles, combined with long aristocratic fingers). And yes! He, like the silver-eyed Tyashitsu owner (tea house), also belonged to the senior branch of the ancient and glorious Hyuga clan.
Leisurely sipping tea with his left hand and engaging in small talk with the beauty Himawari Hyuga, the man, in parallel, occasionally distracted by a draft, rewrote a modest letter-scroll with a brush. Which he then rolled to the size of a pinky finger into a similar case and handed, along with a sugar cube bribe, to the fluffy summoning pet – kitty Nekomya – Reika-san.
***
"Reika-san." Ichiro Hyuga, and it was he who was the guest of the Tyashitsu owner, addressed the quite purring and licking the third mint cube (with noticeably glazed eyes) cat. "I am grateful in advance for your efforts. Please find and deliver this scroll to her."
"Nom-um-nom." The cat purred in response, sticking out her tongue in pleasure. "Of course, Ichiro-kun. I'll find her. And deliver it. And even let you pet me, but just a little. Only bring more of these mint-sugar cubes next time. Five times more. No, better ten. Ideally," mr-ur-miaow, "fifty!" After the last phrase, Reika clumsily plopped on her butt and with hugely dilated pupils and a dazed gaze, began, like a junkie, to follow the hypnotic swaying of her tail in front of her pleased whiskered face.
"Everything will be fine, Reika-san." Ichiro replied seriously and bowed (like a samurai to his lord), at which Himawari Hyuga, who had been watching this Kabuki theater parody with amusement, covered her face with her sleeve and giggled quietly again, even with a slight squeak.
The white kitty, clearly approving of the man's impulse, nodded her head very importantly, staggered to her feet on the second try on all four paws, after which, with a "Puff" sound, a mini-backpack appeared on her back, where the scroll-package disappeared.
For some time, clearly in euphoria, the kitty circled with a bleary gaze over her shoulder, unambiguously trying by inertia to snap her willful tail with her mouth, while sniffing her business partner in illegal mint supplies – Ichiro Hyuga, licked his palm. Memorized his scent. Sneezed saliva on him. Marked him. Then stretched out a meow.
"Mryaum-nya. Be a good boy, Ichiro-kun, and prepare the promised sugar cubes on time. And, … don't forget the money for mediation. P-plus," trying to keep her speech even so her tongue would finally stop tangling, the nekomya continued, "the main deal, at your expense, naturally. Deal?"
"In a week everything will be ready, don't worry, Reiko-san." The Hyuga man bowed respectfully to the kitty again and added. "For the prosperity of our new business together." And Ichiro saluted with a mint sugar cube and gave the last one to the fluffy beast.
"See you soon, Ichiro-kun." Reika snapped up the cat drug in a flash, then, choking on the treat, bowed to the Hyuga woman.
"Himawari-san. Nfm-um-nom. Th-thanks for the h-hospitality, but I have to go." And with a "Pop" sound, like a shadow clone, the cat dissolved in a cloud of reverse summoning.
"Little extortionist." The young iryonin – Ichiro Hyuga – muttered dejectedly for a second, losing face. At that, the Tyashitsu owner burst into laughter.
"I didn't know, Ichiro-san, that besides being a shinobi and iryonin, you also have a businessman's vein. No wonder you bargained even with a cat!" Himawari continued teasing, smiling and barely holding back another burst of laughter. "Is it your masculine charm, or do summoning animals love you that much? Or maybe, ... merchant skill?" The Hyuga clan head's wife subtly teased without crossing the line, while studying her interlocutor with interest (of a sophisticated, humor-loving satirist).
"Rather the last point, Himawari-san. I took the best from the Uzumaki." Ichiro sighed-hmmed theatrically sadly and answered the woman's next – silent question. "Second – the "civilian" kekkei genkai of all Uzumaki – trade! Alas, I'm far from Grandma Minami. As walking to the moon. Otherwise, that sly cat would have left here bald and with IOUs in my favor. And then carried packages for free."
"And why, ... did you decide to write to Tsunade Senju suddenly?" Thoughtfully biting her lower lip, suddenly switching and latching onto the word "packages," suspiciously squinting Himawari, and quickly changing face, examined Ichiro with the gaze of a torture expert like Ibiki Morino – the new rising star of the Interrogation Division. "Did you scheme to run away? While we're finding you a bride? To that, … ahem, … respectable woman with big, … prospects."
"No-no, I'm absolutely satisfied here with everything!" Fearing female cunning and premature loss of freedom, Ichiro "changed shoes in mid-leap."
"A-rank iryonin-san, don't upset our girls. We, … that is, they," corrected herself and wagged her finger with a smug grin Himawari, "have big plans for your star hour. And these plans are – a means!"
"I'll tell you a secret, Ichiro-dono." The Tyashitsu owner continued (playing with Keigo suffixes) to lay it on thick. "And in the fight for this means, a woman knows no mercy. In the battle for a man, no one is spared: neither relatives, nor friends, nor children.
And you're young with us. And still single! So, here's one example!" As if in secret, seizing grateful ears, the wife of Hiashi began to speak with an even more cunning smile, simultaneously stealthily snatching the draft letter to Tsunade Senju right from under the nose of naively turned-away Ichiro.
"... I have one friend, a woman of a certain mindset, who didn't hustle – and missed a promising jonin. For a while she thought they had a relationship. Of course, that's not your case." Himawari immediately added, continuing to talk the iryonin's ear off while reading the note herself. "But the First Girl, her rival, suddenly felt inconvenienced: without gifts, sighs, restaurants, and adoration, she grew sad. And, …" But here, the Tyashitsu owner rephrased herself, … "And all our girls saw how beautifully you courted poor Yuko! And they saw and know what a kind! Strong! Smart! Hardworking! And, let's say it straight, well-off young man you are."
"Yes-yes. Don't be surprised, Ichiro-san. Everyone saw how you spend hundreds of thousands and millions of Ryo on some scientific equipment purchases." The beauty snorted. "And yet, no family so far! Although, the bride scroll, Takashi-dono was supposed to give you? Right?"
"Quite right, Himawari-san." The man sighed heavily and decided to cut the uncomfortable topic short. "I'm doing this to advance my career and want to meet Tsunade-sensei – S-rank iryonin. With her help, I'll quickly pass the Hokage apparatus bureaucracy. Then we can think about matrimonial matters. So, let's put this question on hold for a couple of months and better discuss clan matters?"
"Fine." Having already read and confirmed the letter's "safety" to Senju, the Tyashitsu owner graciously and more jokingly puffed her cheeks and nodded with her kimono sleeve. "I see you're a serious young man. So I support your endeavors. And therefore," pretending to think, the silver-eyed woman said, "let's, iryonin-dono, move to Hinata-chan – my sweet daughter." And the woman lovingly gently stroked her already noticeably rounded belly with her hand.
"Of course, Himawari-san. Allow me to examine your daughter with Byakugan? A week has passed since the last visit, and we need to confirm the fetus's favorable development."
"Permitted, Ichiro-dono." Switching back to Keigo, the clan head's wife immediately shifted to business mode. "I'm following all your prescriptions and increased consumption of chakra-containing fruits and protein salads to five times a day."
"Good. Also, starting next week, minimize use of Yin and Yang techniques. Except for special pregnancy gymnastics. And add," Ichiro scribbled another line of "prescription," "light chakra massage – of your Keirakukei. Here's the scroll, it has everything." Then he clarified.
"The massage is best done by an iryonin," for obvious reasons, "or, … your husband, since his chakra and the child's are very similar in nature." The young man smiled sincerely and continued. "No harm, only benefit. For you and this sweet little girl."
"Better, … you do it, … iryonin-dono." Blushing her cheeks, Himawari Hyuga lowered her head, then slyly glanced at Ichiro.
"As you say, my lady." Swallowing to himself, examining with Byakugan the curves of the gorgeous hips and tempting third-size breasts of beauty Himawari Hyuga, and then mentally tugging his collar from his neck, the young iryonin thought.
The future mom very attentively watched the reaction, to her provocations, from the male iryonin – Ichiro Hyuga. And his reaction pleased her, at least. And at most…
***
Noon and delight.
Thoughts of the Tyashitsu owner.
* Attention, Erotica +18 *
The man left, and the Tyashitsu owner, leaning back on the pillows with her whole body, sighed languidly, thereby involuntarily making her luxurious breasts rise. She, slyly squinting, licked her sweet lips, and then, parting them to the sides, continued in a sly smile to carefully peep with Byakugan and, breathlessly think and fantasize about the young Ichiro-dono.
Such a young and hot guy, smart and courteous... promising and respectful—and, most importantly—clearly appreciating female beauty. Sincerely appreciating it! Himawari recalled how the iryonin-san, cheeks burning and Byakugan active, hungrily examined her, devouring with his eyes her sweet thighs and (at that moment, from arousal) her protruding breasts and the areolas of her nipples.
And also! Himawari brushed aside those arousing and sinful thoughts, calmed down, and stopped caressing her breasts. Ichiro-dono—what no one could take from him as a man—knew how to be with a woman! To listen. And, most importantly, to hear "Her"! Us—Women.
"Eh," came a sigh of disappointment, "some fool will get lucky with personal happiness. Family, love, and," a new thought scorched the thighs of the Tea room's mistress with hope, "...intimate games."
Sex with an attractive iryonin. A vacation trip to another city, a lazy seaside holiday, and in Hyuga-dreams appears a tall silver-eyed athlete offering help applying sunscreen to her back. The passionate continuation that follows on a wild beach in unity with nature would bring only pleasant emotions—no need to worry about sand in hard-to-reach places or insect bites. The iryonin would take care of the details. Including, Himawari smirked slyly, back massage, arms and legs, the outer sides of the buttocks, and well, Keirakukei... as foreplay.
Tender, pleasant sex. Himawari sighed. "I miss the feelings of innocence and thrill, like at the beginning of my sex life. The accelerated pace of life doesn't always leave enough time for foreplay. Just imagine myself as a pure princess, unable to resist the onslaught of a gentle and caring partner. And I melt right away, like snow in spring. In the world of dreams and hot fantasies."
Or oral sex. If anyone, an iryonin is simply obliged to know "Those" secrets—that it's easier for a woman to reach orgasm with caresses between the legs, with the tongue. Alas, the lack of such in a kunoichi's life (even one who has left service) is hard to compensate for, and let's be honest, extremely risky—in the Hyuga Clan for sure—in a world devoid of fantasies, our shinobi world. Here, Himawari smirked ironically and noted, "Especially when you have a callous husband, a politician who doesn't hear the woman, and a quick shooter."
And I want happiness and just a tiny bit of variety.
For example, the thought spurred her imagination again, "such a scenario... caresses with continuation in an unusual place. Hokage Rock, or Nashidate (the Daimyo's military yacht) in the middle of Kanashi's ocean, or the gloomy forest clearings of the Forest of Death, at the peak of giant sequoias, right up to the heavens? Everywhere I'd want to go, and what imagination fired up by the territory of Hi no Kuni can do. Jiraiya-sama's exclusive new book is full of such enticing descriptions and tempting events. Ah," the Tea room's mistress swallowed longingly, "so why not take a pleasant trip (in the world of dreams)?"
Especially since it's a trip, a satisfied smirk lit up her face again, "with cheating on the partner. I've had such fantasies for a long time. But no need to worry, what happens in the imagination doesn't indicate problems in the relationship. Right? Women dream of allowing themselves a little variety."
You should worry only when, Himawari sighed lightly but still, "fantasies turn into obsessive thoughts that haunt you daily. As Icha-Icha aptly says—Jiraiya-sama's masterpiece—such things often happen in couples who've been together a long time—in routine relationships, so to speak. We get bored, crave variety, and then reality comes to the rescue..."
"And so, appetizing Ichiro-dono!" "I'll try and nibble you first. And I'll pick you a quiet fool of a bride myself, with a certain mindset. (One who'll stay silent on this matter," the Tea room's mistress smirked, "after all, Hisunami—my sister—is the perfect victim)."
"I gave you the 'Choice' young iryonin-san."
"The scroll, Takashi-dono already received. He got it. And you, Ichiro-kun—as an honest man, admitted it yourself! And already agreed to marry on our terms! And so, to me, as the main Nakodo of the Hyuga (matchmaker woman), you've fully unbound my hands in this matter. And therefore," the woman squinted contentedly, "in two months, I'll drag you into the stall using Tsurisho (contract-scroll points that provide the young and their families with necessary information contained in special documents—'Tsurisho,' dossiers also including photos of the young and... additional data, including permitted mistresses and even wives passed down by inheritance) of marriage."
"Me, Ichiro-kun... you know, I want too," Himawari arched flexibly like a cat, stretched, and stood up, slowly moving to handle the clan's women's affairs, "...attention, caresses from iryonin hands knowing acupuncture, and... sweet lovemaking delights. Preferably more often than a quick once every cold, lonely, long half-year."
* Attention, Erotica +18. - End. *
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