!PRIVATE! Marchen: The Journey

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Oh, okay.", he still smiled though. He'd be greatful if she'd accept the gifts. h hate to have to take the horse back from Aki, as it's fate was not so bright, nor peaceful a path.
~
A few hours had probably pased before the sky really began to get light out. He glanced over towards Aki, to tell her to be attentive. Sunrises were alwise breath taking. He thought it'd be nice to have her see. Though when he looked over, she was asleep. he cracked a ligth smile. he wouldn't wake up the curess. She looked rather cozy, but laying on a horses back couldn'tbe comfortable.

After finding a nice rest stop check point to stop at another mile down the road, Ryuu hid the horse away in a small clearing inside the trees out of view. Aki was smoothly removed from her saddle with ease and lain on a blanket beneath the tree the horses were tied to.
"keep an eye on her, you two. I'm going to see If I can get us some breackfast." Despite they had rations, Aki would likely approve of a meal with rice. Ryuu knew he would.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki awakened drowsily, barely aware of where she was. "Ngh...?" She grumbled, seeing only the horses and dim sunlight around her. Then she jumped in shock as consciousness and realization struck her. Gyeh! Where the heck is he?? I guess I...must have fallen asleep...on my horse? And he... Aki's face flushed. ...took me down... She was going red from the embarrassment of it, but then again, it wasn't like anyone else was around to see it... But that didn't make her feel any more comfortable about it.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Ryuu wasn't gone much more than about twenty minutes. He had to rouse the shop keeper, whom was sleeping. With two round boxes in hand, Ryuu returned to where he'd left Aki and the horses, safe in the wooded landscape just beyond the road.

When he showed up, Ryuu couldn't help but crouch and stare for a moment. "Hey, are you okay? you look like you might have a fever." he was tempted to feel her face, though kept his hands to himself.
"I'm glad you're up. I haven't left you waiting for me long have I?" Letting his legs buckle under, Ryuu gracefully landed on his toosh on the edge of the spread out blanket. "Here.", he held one of the round boxes out to Aki, doing so rather bluntly.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki's face tinged pink slightly before answering him. "No, I'm fine." She said shortly. Although I wouldn't be surprised if this jerk makes me sick...

"You could have left me for hours for all I know, I only just woke up." She said coldly. "Where did you go, any--?" She stopped midsentence as Ryuu handed her the round box. "Oh." She took the box, but only stared at it a moment, still held out in front of her as though it were dangerous, until she finally lamented to opening the package. Not a bad menu... But this just doesn't feel...comfortable... She took another glance up at the stranger who'd followed her and was now showing incredible acts of kindness. She found it extremely hard to believe.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Good, she's not feeling ill then, I assume. "Well, we haven't been here long. Twenty, maybe thirty minutes at most. We won't be staying long, either. For travel precautions, of course."

Ryuu opened his own box, letting thick steam roll up past his grinning face. From an elven silver belt buckled wrist band of leather, doubled around his wrist, Ryuu retrieved a pair of chop sticks tucked away. He lay one over his bowl, and offered the other to Aki.

"I assume you know how to use these." He figured as much, seeing as Aki was a traveler. The majority of country side rest stops only had chopsticks for utensils; more over because it was cheeper.

[Aki Ameko]

"Yes." Aki affirmed stiffly. She took the chopsticks and began eating with the blanket tucked tightly around her. She started sniffing slightly--it was cold and Aki was starting to feel it clogging her sinuses.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Ryuu had begun to eat his own breakfast in silence. But Aki's constent sniffling was slowly beginning to annoy him. Not because of the sound, but because it reminded him of just how chilly it was this morning. Perhaps he should have set up someplace more sunny? This shade felt like snow to him.

He'd bare it though. He could keep himself warm. Aki though, those sniffles made him imagine a sick curess in just a matter of hours.

Ryuu was suddenly there behind Aki, dropping one of the extra blankets over Aki's shoulders. Taking up the edges, he enclosed it as closely as possible around her, without disturbing her position of eating her warm meal.

He silently returned to his own meal, only taking it and standing besind Suke as he ate.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki froze as Ryuu got up and put another blanket around her. She was suddenly much warmer, but she wasn't so sure that it was the blanket that caused it...

This is so freaking weird. Aki thought to herself stubbornly. Why am I letting him stick around? Is he really gonna follow me, no matter what? And why does he...? She glanced at Ryuu for a moment before turning slightly so that her back was to him. ...Make me feel...safe...? She picked up another scoop of rice with her chopsticks, but only stared at it as she continued to be lost in her thoughts. ...But something also feels ominous.

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Sorry to rush, but I'm going to have to ask that you eat quickly, if possible. There are more travelers along the way to this main stretch of road. And it'd be best if we were on our way and off of it before it becomes cluttered with hungry travelers."

He'd eatten the majority of his rice, and was feeding the reat to Suke, whom nit-picked at the meat strips lain over the top.

[Aki Ameko]

Aki jumped, then scowled at Ryuu. "Fine. I wasn't very hungry anyway." She stood and brushed the grass off her skirt, and walked scoffily over to her horse. She froze. Crap. I still have no idea how to get on this thing... Aki continued to stand there while she tried to decide which would be more embarrassing; asking Ryuu for help, or trying to climb up herself again.

[SilverDragonetsu]

Blinking eyes stare towards Aki in surprise. Had he said something to offend her? Letting Suke finish off his breakfast, Ryuu gathered up what was left of Aki and packed it away. No use wasting.

He was prepared to saddel up, though noting Aki's mere stance; standing silently infront of her mare, Ryuu went to her aid. 'We've really got to get this riding thing done, Curess...', he thougth to himself, mentally smirking.

He first gave Aki a warning touch to the shoulder before lifting her up by the waist and setting her on the saddle like he had the first time.
'Heh, I could just teach her a few tips now....but I think I'd miss the fun of helping her out.'

[Aki Ameko]

With the warning touch, Aki knew what was coming, but didn't have time to react before she was lifted onto the horse once again. She merely held the reins, frozen stiff, eyes wide, brows furrowed angrily, and blushing furiously all at the same time. She seriously considered kicking the horse and trying to ride away from Ryuu, if it weren't for the fact that she had no clue how to do it.

Instead, Aki regained her composure and tried to act natural. "So, we headed off then...?" She asked flatly. She was only resenting her situation more and more as time went by.

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Indeed,", he replied blandly, swinging himself with ease up onto the saddle of his horgon. He gave a snap of his fingers and the ropes that tied the horses off fell free. Clicking his tongue, both Horgon and Mare went off at a steady pace back to the road.

*Iddy biddy time skip to noonish!*

Well into noon, the ride had been ever silence. And time only drew on. It felt awkward, no less. Two little more than stranger riding together on a path to where only one really knew, as it were. 'Maybe I should break the ice. If We know eachother better...'
"So mind telling me a little about yourself? Where are from?"

[Aki Ameko]

After an hour or so, the sudden sound of Ryuu's voice startled Aki badly, and she nearly jumped off of her horse.

"No thanks." Aki said stubbornly. "I don't feel I'm obliged to tell you anything. You, on the other hand..." She gave him a stern, suspicious glare. "Having a complete stranger follow me is a little disconcerting. You first."

[SilverDragonetsu]

"Hmm," Ryuu eyed Aki with a raised brow, then smiled with a slight nod. "I'll agree on the stranger part, but I'm not following you. Hard to be following you when I'm going the same place as you are. Rather, we're travel companions."

Leaving the air empty, the last spoken word drifting, Ryuu thought to what he would say. He'd oblidge by telling Aki something of himself. He should have started off thus forth in the first place.
"Well then...how to begin?" He gave an extra moment of thought. "Well, I lived in a castle sort of place all of my childhood. My parents and I were simple country folk, though as a child I was discovered by a Magi whom stole me away and placed me up as his apprentice in said residence.
"For five years I worked for the Magi before I made off unto the roads of Marchen to travel and expand my studies abroad. From there, I weaved myself into doing side jobs from time to time, thus here I am now. That's my life; Uber long story made short. Now then...fair's fair. ", he made a gesture towards Aki, merely smiling blankly towards the road.