Hot Springs and Ryokan

[battymynameis]

Guess what, y'all. It's time for a field trip. We're heading to a Hot Springs and an Inn for the weekend, and everyone is invited. This place is huge, and has multiple springs both indoor and out. There's separate bathing, mixed, and even a spot for foreigners and prudes who like to keep their swimsuits on. Table tennis? Got it. Room service? You bet. Massages? Possibly. Ghosts? Maybe.

1. Hot springs: after you rinse off come take a relaxing bath. There are multiple options as to what kind of bathing environment you can have, so please choose wisely. Also, please read the signs. None of the springs will kill you, but if you choose the wrong one you might end up with some... adverse effects. Cursed springs might just be a Thing.

2. The Inn: you'll be here for a few nights so find your rooming buddy and get friendly. Whether bonding over food, games, or even just exploring the place there's certainly something you can find to occupy yourself. Just don't be too curious after curfew. The staff are pretty insistent, but they aren't cops so responsibility for your actions are your own.

Comments

[powerhittou]

a side

[Aw hell yeah Masamune's ready for this retreat! From what, though? He doesn't work or go to school anymore. Wasn't he just in Hawaii like a month ago? Whatever. It doesn't diminish his excitement at all.

He's probably all over the place-- hogging a massage chair all to himself, grilling skewers of meat at the attached restaurant (6 at a time!!), taunting people to come get their ass kicked at ping-pong (6 PADDLES!!), breaking curfew just because there IS one, exploring the mountain wilderness... Wherever you want him. Or wherever you very much don't want him.]

b side

[Did you know? The healing and relaxing properties of natural springs are so strong that even wild young dragons can't help but calm down. Masamune spends a good chunk of time going back and forth between springs, segregated and mixed both, just to see which one feels best. He's content enough to have a casual naked chat, if someone joins him, why not?

In fact, by the end of the second day he's so relaxed it's like he's a different person entirely. Calm, but with the kind of cool arrogance that might seem intimidating if he were taller. Less like a temperamental kitten and more like a wildcat who could decide he's hungry at any given second.

But he also seems a little... lost? Like he doesn't recognize this place, or these people, or even his own body. He's keeping himself from panicking, trying to get a feel for what exactly is going on here before he decides on anything.

Masamune's past life is feeling a little refreshed and rejuvenated is what I'm saying here, basically. Have fun with that.]

To B or not to B... that is the question...

[shinbunshinobi]

[ When he wakes up still as a girl, Sasuke realizes this is even less like switching bodies with Kojuro. That hadn't last very long, a few hours at most. This? It's nearing a full day since he turned into a girl!

He follows signs towards the modest reading room in the inn, hoping they have something on sex changing hot springs. It's their god damn hot spring! Even a brochure would be something. But Sasuke instantly regrets taking this path when he spots Masamune further down the hall. He doesn't want to be seen by him like this... Maybe if he dashes pass on his right side and keeps his head down, Masamune won't notice or recognize him. ]

let's b serious here

[powerhittou]

[At least Sasuke has an idea of where he is and what's going on. Masamune's been in a fugue state for a couple of hours now, his head swimming like he's struggling to fully wake from a dream. Or maybe this is the dream? Ugh. Thinking about it isn't getting him anywhere. He'll have to be a little more proactive if he wants any answers.

Like asking this rushed stranger, who obviously has more important things to attend to, to help him instead. He's more important.]

-Hey, not so fast, kid. Come here a second.

[Kid... Masamune barely got a glimpse of the blurry face but he figures they're either a woman or a tall twelve year old boy. (Why does everyone look so tall.)]

B lieve me, I'll b very serious

[shinbunshinobi]

[ Sasuke stops and sighs, shoulders drooping. Damn it. Well, it was worth a shot to try and make a mad dash down the hall. Sasuke thought that maybe the blindspot would help, but Masamune is sharper than he gave him credit for. Caught, he turn around to face him. ]

That's a new name to call me, One-Eyed Dragon. I can't say that I like it that much, though.

[ He says that, but somehow being mistaken for a kid makes him feel a little better. Aging down seems easier and less embarrassing to explain... even if it's so not the case. ]

b gone

[powerhittou]

[This eye's been trained to pinpoint speeding baseballs, of course it'd catch an entire human being. And now it locks onto that human and narrows, suspicious and piercing.]

And who are you?

[He's seen similar face paint before but that's the only similarity to the Sasuke he remembers. So no connection is even made.]

B there or b squared

[shinbunshinobi]

Very funny. Does "Sasuke Sarutobi" ring a bell?

[ Yeah, he's in a girl's body right now, but he didn't think he looked that different...

Granted his Sengoku self dyed his bright hair darker for better stealth reasons or that's my excuse/reason to solve the "CAPCOM seems to never know what hair color he has" problem..., so the historical Masamune could be more forgiven for not realizing this bright boy... girl... is that monkey who caused so much grief. ]

[powerhittou]

[Sounds better than mood ring eye

He raises his eyebrows, but doesn't look all that impressed. Really, this brat thinks he'd fall for that?]

I may have heard of him once or twice before. And?

[shinbunshinobi]

... That's my name. Yeah, I look a little different, but I'm still me.

[ He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. ]

Whatever game you're playing at, can it wait? I need to figure out how to reverse this. I've been stuck as a girl since yesterday.

[powerhittou]

...you don't say.

[He crosses his arms and shifts his weight to one side, getting some nice Sassy Hips going. Scrutinizing Sasuke with a cold gaze. Sure, he'll play along... mostly because something doesn't feel right with his own body, either. Maybe. He's not sure.]

Well, it turns out I'm not much in the mood for games either. You say you've been here since yesterday? Then clue me in and tell me what the hell's going on, ninja.

[shinbunshinobi]

Ninja... well, I like that nickname better than kid or monkey.

[ Starting to walk down the hall, Sasuke motions for Masamune to follow. He might as well get back to doing what he had planned on doing before running into Masamune. ]

If you haven't been in a hot spring yet, don't. I'm pretty sure they're all cursed. or maybe this entire place is. I'm checking out the library to see if I can't dig up something more.

[powerhittou]

[...library... ???

Well, this is the best lead he's got whether this is the real Sarutobi or not, so he might as well follow.]

A little late for that. I have a feeling that spring has something to do with how I got here in the first place.

[shinbunshinobi]

[ Sasuke stops in his tracks and turns around to give Masamune another look over. There's nothing out of the ordinary with Masamune. Is this some odd joke? ]

You're gonna have to explain that a little more. You look and sound normal to me.

[powerhittou]

[...Uh. Masamune glances up to the ceiling, then shrugs impatiently.]

I mean, sure, everything else is pretty hunky-dory with me. Besides suddenly waking up out there with no clue how I got here in the first place.

B

[pivotpoint]

[It's funny how you see someone everyday, and yet when you go somewhere with a group of people they suddenly disappear on you. Kaname is content to let Masamune go about his own business. Enjoying the time apart as a little breather. However...

Eventually she just wants to find him and be close again. To return to that familiar and comfortable feeling she has around him. So, when she sees him in the halls of the inn, she hurries up to him from behind. Her hand clapping down firmly on his shoulder with a friendly grip.]

Hey! Enjoying yourself?

[powerhittou]

[Look, it's been forEVER since Masamune got to do a big fun group activity. This even makes up for missing out on his one and only shot at a school trip. And absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that!

Or it just makes it outright forget, because while he doesn't jump at the sudden contact (he heard her coming, and anyway, he doesn't have his swords with him), he does tense up and brush her arm aside as he turns to face her, eye narrowed.]

Can't say I am, no.

[...He feels like he knows this girl. It's not like a possession or some divergent personality - no matter what life it's leading or which part of it is more active, Masamune's soul is still as it ever was. And contrary to earlier claims, the heart does remember. Enough that he even drops the bitter sarcasm.]

...Try not to take this too personally, but you're going to have to fill me in on who you're supposed to be.

[pivotpoint]

Excuse me?

[She's pissed he brushed her off, but more confused he's pretending not to recognize her. Chidori looks at him like he has three heads, and takes a step back to put some offended distance between them.]

Is this a joke?

[powerhittou]

Whoever set it up has one lame sense of humour.

[Not that he can blame her too much for that reaction... but he's going to anyway, because it doesn't help him at all, here. He is the victim, not her.

He crosses his arms and turns his head aside. His voice is still the same rough slur as ever, but he keeps it low and even in his irritation instead of whining or shouting.]

If you're expecting some kind of explanation, get in line. Only thing I know for sure is that I shouldn't be here. [No shit.]

[pivotpoint]

If that's the way you feel about it I could escort you to the door, but then I'd say you should give me back my apartment key if that's how it is.

[She's not at all too happy with this. In fact she still doesn't believe he isn't just being an asshole, but... Amnesia? Why of all places would he get it here?]

[powerhittou]

[Apartment...? Key?? Good, he needed more things to wonder about. He quickly dismisses that as unimportant and gives her a long, flat stare.

He'd love to just dismiss this as a waste of time and move on, but he's pretty much trapped here anyway. There are no horses. He checked. He's way out of his element and running on desperate.

SIGH.]

Okay, let's switch it up. You tell me who you think I am and maybe I'll play the part and humour you.

[pivotpoint]

You know what? Fine. You're Date Masamune. Son of an influential family and worried you won't get your inheritance because of your shit mom. When you were in school you were your team's baseball ace, but you've just been kind of hanging at my place since we got to know each other because your wacky ass academy got blown up by some weird cult.

Also I think maybe your principal committed some human rights violations? Either way—

[she reaches under her yukata and pulls forth the dog tag that's around her neck. It's matching the one he wears now.]

If you want to keep pretending like we've never met, I can give this back to you.

[powerhittou]

[The severity of his gaze lessens the more she goes on, his expression becoming one of pure confusion. He doesn't even know what half of what she said means, and what little he did understand is in that uncanny area of not being true but not being entirely off the mark, either. He moves his hands to his hips and drops his gaze to the ground, exhaling deeply.]

What the hell...? A story that elaborate and the only part you got right was my name...

Alright. Here's my version: I am the One-Eyed Dragon, Date Masamune. Top dog in Oshuu and head of the Date Clan - there's no question of my right to that. [Not by anyone who matters...] None of the rest of what you said means a damn thing to me.

I don't know how I got wherever I am, or what I was doing before I got here. And as for that... [He gestures loosely to the dog tag. He does know he woke up wearing the same thing.]

So what, am I supposed to believe you're my wife? Sorry, not interested.

1/2

[pivotpoint]

[She just laughs. Laughs in a way that has no mirth to it. Hollow and eerie it fills the area between them while Kaname takes the dog tag off. The tag sits in her hand as the chain dangles. Her fingers curling into a fist.]

[pivotpoint]

Date Masamune!

[She hollers his name. If that's the only thing she has right, then so be it! With a quick uppercut she aims to clock him in the jaw sending him right down the hall.]

[powerhittou]

[Okay, he definitely wasn't expecting that one. It's a direct hit, sending him spinning like a breaching whale right through the far wall. ...It probably sends his yukata flying right off, too. There's nothing else.

Okay... Now he's interested.

He sits up amongst splintered wood and wipes the back of his hand across his bleeding lip. And grins like an absolute madman.]

Ha! I knew there was something about you the moment I laid eyes on you. [Eye.] You want to get a real party started? Fetch me my Claws.

[Surely if she thinks she knows him, she knows his swords. EVERYbody knows his swords.

Everyone's going to know the seventh sword too if he doesn't put that thing away though. Jesus.]

[pivotpoint]

[Knew?! He acted like she was the most boring human being on the planet! And now... now he looks like he might want to devour her whole. And? Not in the good way? It makes her bristle. She's ready for him should he retaliate.]

Get a grip! If you can't fight me fair like this, then what kind of man are you?

[Besides, did he just tell her to FETCH something for him? God she's gonna beat the shit out of him.]