Training the Naka way. (Open)

"Physically twenty... As for my real age, I forgot. I remember something about horses and old fashioned katanas... So I guess that was some time ago." He shrugged again and looked up at the sky. He sky didn't look any different than it did before, though. "And how old are you?"

"I'm just a sixteen year old, I still have a long way to go" she responded and looked up into the sky "I've had a pretty interesting life though" she laughed as her stomach growled, candy wouldn't be enough, she jumped into a standing position "would you two care to join me for lunch?" she enquired

"Ramen!" Naka cheered. When Yukiko looked at her, she blushed and scurried out of view behind Kurama. Dead man walking stood up, compromising her hiding spot, and nodded. "Sure. I need to keep Naka fed too if I'm going to feed on her. I'm paying for this, though - the gentleman always pays."

She shrugged and looked down at Naka, she was worried about the saftey of the girl, Yukiko sighed and faced the man "it would make me feel better if you didn't feed off the girl, I just don't want you accedently killing her, will you take me instead?" she offered and cocked her head to the side awating his decision, to her the girl looked skin and bones.

"I chose her to be my support because I don't feed on blood, I feed on emotions and memories. This one is filled with unconditional love and joy... It's like eating candy. If I try feeding on someone with a dark past, it tastes like bitter coffee cake, and anger, well, spicy stuff. I feed off people I know the best, in case I stumble upon something bad. Since I already know her life story, I have nothing to be worried about. You on the other hand..." Kurama eyed her curiously. "I have no idea how you'd taste."

"well if you like candy I wouldn't feed off me" she said sadly, her past wasn't a pleasant one, she shook it off and gave a fake smile "lets go shall we?" she asked and waited for them to move, she wanted to stray from the topic of her past "um just curious but what would a person slowly going insane taste like?" she turned and searched his eyes for an answer.

"Hm hm hm..." Naka happily took Yukiko's hand in her left and Kurama's on her right so she walked with both of them. Kurama knew she wasn't listening, because it was their conversation, not hers. Eavesdropping is bad. "Isane, huh? At first, it just depends on their moods, but the more humanity you lose, the more rotten you become. Once you hit rock bottom, it's like eating a dead carcass left under the blazing sun for months." Kurama winced. That was a bad experience and meal.

She sighed, Yukiko hadn't hit rock bottem... Yet, the way she was going it would happen eventually "well I don't taste that bad" she replied shivering, Yukiko wasn't sure why she asked her next question, perhaps she wanted to know how far she already was "your free to say no, but could you possibly feed from me, I just want to know how far I've gone and your feeding technique seems the perfect way to test it" she didn't look at the man, she just kept walking and holding the Naka's hand loosly.

"Mmm sure. I guess I could take a sip from your cup. You seem nice enough." He smirked to her. It wasn't that he couldn't smile, he just didn't. There wasn't enough pure joy for him to, at least not now. Naka tugged on both of their hands. "We're almost there," she piped up before they cut her off. "The really nice ramen place with the old man that gives me lots of vinegar for my ramen."

She gave a warm smile to Naka as she looked down at her "vinegar?" she asked and laughed softly, this girl had a weird taste for food, but then again so did the man, Yukiko shrugged, it wasn't her problem. She entered the ramen bar and ordered a pork ramn with extra miso and sat down "tell the man what you would like Naka" she stated and let go of her hand only to place her own in her lap.

"Hi Mister!" Naka grinned and waved at the weathered chef. "The usual please!"
"Okay then. One plain ramen with extra extra vinegar and a bit of seafood, right?"
"Yes please!"
"Alright. Kurama, sake as usual?"
"Yeah, leave the whole bottle."
Naka smiled and swung her legs as she waited, sitting between Yukiko and Ku-chan. Kurama looked over to Yukiko across the Chibi and extended his hand to her. "Ready?"

she nodded "I guess, it won't hurt will it?" she asked, a little unsure of her choice to do this, Yukiko sighed and lightly grabbed the mans hand "do I need to do anything?" she looked down at there hands and waited, she wondered what her results would be, she hoped she wasn't to far into madness to be saved.

"Nah, just...focus on something so you won't pass out."
"Like me!" Naka cheered, much more energetic and open now that she felt no hostility from Kurama. She smiled up to Yukiko as he fed. It felt like she was being pulled. Like there was a force tempting her to move forwards, closer, physically. Light prickles like pins and needles, but the pleasurable kind, flared out from where their hands met and across her skin and down her spine.

Kurama raised an eyebrow. Sweet and sour, confused and conflicting. Well, that was interesting. He tasted bitter black coffee by the edges, but that was easily ignored.

She smiled and looked at the hyperactive Naka, Yukiko shived when she started to feel tingly "that is weird" she stated refering to the feeling she was having, she wondere how long this would take and sighed.

"Well, I just licked the surface, I didn't take a whole gulp of you." Kurama closed his fingers around hers and frowned. This was strange. So many tastes, so many conflicts. Spicy, yet creamy, sweet but bitter. He winced and slowly drew his hand back. She wasn't insane, at least not just yet. "Well, that was...interesting."

She rubbed her hand absentmindedly "well, my results?" she asked nervously, what would they be good, bad, there was only one way to find out, she gazed at him and waited.

How could he put this without upsetting her? "Your humanity is slowly dying," he said slowly, as if the words were hard to say. "You're unstable and dangerous and it's hard to find any happiness in you."
"Ku-chan!"
"What? I was just pointing out the truth."

She smiled sadly "it's okay Naka I wanted to know it's my fault" she looked down at the table and put her hands in her lap, dangerous she already knew, she already knew what he was going to say bu it still sadened her that he comfermed her fears.

"I said it was hard to find any happiness in you. I didn't say there wasn't any," he said. "And besides, you're not unsavable. Just...be happier. There are nice people out there, you know."
"Naka is nice!"
"Eat your ramen, Naka."
"Okay."

She shook her head and stood up "I've been through to much in my life to be happier, I can't let my past go" she clenched her fists and slammed them down on the table in a sudden surge of anger "you have no idea what I've had to go through in my life! And you expect me to be happier!" she turned and ran out the door.
Yukiko ran to the lake and sat agaisnt the tree that faced the glistening lake, hot tears started falling as he reminded her of her past that she had tried so hard to avoid, she hugged her knees to her chest, be happier, yeah right who was he kidding and nice people, all the people she had met had only used her, as far as she was concerned there was nobody nice out there they all wanted something.

Naka finished her ramen and looked up at Kurama, who sighed. "Go. I'll get the bill. If I'm not at home, I'm over at Nedia's." At that, Naka got up and ran out. Tiny red demons sprouted out of the ground and started to run around. They were looking for something, as Naka had instructed. Finally, they found their goal - Yukiko was in the woods. Naka made sure to come to her from the front, so as not to alarm her. "He... Hello there," she squeaked.

"you can't sneak up on me kid, I sensed you a while ago" Yukiko didn't look up when she approached and sighed "what do you want Naka just leave me alone" her voice was full of sadness, why did she find her what did she want now.

"I...wanted to come and find out why you're sad," she admitted. "Sometimes sharing lifts the burden, sometimes it doesn't. I hope it does. Being sad can get you stressed out in life." Naka inched closer to her, slowly. She wasn't sure if she would be allowed to come closer.

"It won't help me kid" Yukiko did nothing to stop her going closer, if she really didn't want her here she would have been unconscious by now, she didn't feel like sharing at the moment "tell the man you were with that I'm sorry for ditching" she looked up at Naka then rested her chin on her knees.

Naka sat in front of Yukiko, hugging her knees to herself as well. "Either way, can I please know? I won't force you, though. These are your memories, not mine." Naka looked up at Yukiko. Sadness could be relieved, but each person had their own steps.