Well... this might not have been the best idea.

Still, Rei had made a promise. And Yurei really did want to meet Yakumo. And really... it could be a good time. Even if he normally went to the mall to pick up microwavable meals, protein supplements, and alcohol. Oh yeah, and painkillers, he needed for those last two.

The mall was crowded, as always, but not too crowded. The thing about World of Dreams was that as much as people wanted to know what other people's business was, they were usually too busy minding their own.

Dressed in his fine fashionable daywear, and wearing a pair of sunglasses for a change, Rei walked alongside the young Ronin woman. "So." He said as an aside. "You excited?" A slight turn of his head as he scanned the meeting point, looking for the diva.

Yūrei nods vigorously. The ronin is wearing a much loved 'Hear The Universe' dress and appears to have even put on makeup.
"I can't believe you were able to organise this Rei-sama. I really owe you one...I look okay, right? I don't want to be one of those creepy mega fans. I'm a cool super fan, just a samurai who respects another samurai's work."

The cool super fan seemed to be bouncing up and down on her toes.

It wasn't hard to spot Yakumo. After all, she was already a tall dame with legs for days, and then with some high-heeled shoes she was quite statuesque. That she was well-dressed too, wearing shades and gloves, was also a give-away.

And already carrying some shopping bags in her hands.

As she saw Rei, she gave a wave and moved over to the duo. "Usagi-san, good to see you again," she greeted, offering an easy bow as she closed the last distance while she removed her shades. Then those violet eyes looked over at Yurei, a curious smile creeping onto her pale features. "Oh, did you want me to meet a family member...?" She looks so short and cute. Maybe she's like Rei's younger cousin?

Rei greeted Yakumo with the same charming, slightly flirty smile that he greeted every pretty woman. "Susumu-san." He said, bowing, giving her a brief look over his shades.

When she took hers off, so did he. It gave him cover for the big wince. "No. Not a family member." Rei said firmly.

Smiling, he bowed again. "Allow me to present Yūrei, native to World of Dreams, and one of your biggest fands. Yūrei, allow me to introduce Susumu Yakumo."

Bounding forward and bowing deeply
"It's an honour Susumu-sama. I know you hear this all the time, but your music helped me through some dark times...I'm a cool super fan."

Smiling a little nervously
"You're even more statuesque in real life. If there's anything I can do to assist you, you have only to ask."

Oooh weeeeell, that was awkward. Had she just called someone Rei's little sister?

"Ahh, and here I thought Usagi-san was the type to not tell that he had an adorable little sister, but he has an adorable friend instead." She couldn't help but to notice that Yurei was even wearing fan merch. Official one it seemed to her even too. "So good to meet a fan, Yurei-san. And I'm glad my music was of help to you."

Yakumo did smile a bit sheepishly, but it was probably over being called statuesque. "Uhm," quick, think of something. She's like a puppy eager to be given a task, "if you could be a dear and hold these for me please? My arms are getting a bit tired." A couple of bags were held up for Yurei, seemingly from the more expensive stores at the mall.

"I can take something too, if you like." Rei said, offering blandly. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Might as well get it out of the way.

Yūrei sighs happily as she accepts the bags. It turns into a grunk and a little 'hurk!' as the weight hits before she passes one on to Rei

"Of course! I'm so happy to help! I can't believe you're really here on the World of Dreams."
Looking between the two of them
"How do you know eachother? Usagi-sama is a friend." Pause "A good friend but we haven't known eachother for all that long."

Bags were happily deposited into other people's hands. That meant more room for more shopping. Good thing that sportscar came with a decent sized trunk.

"Oh, a friend, hm?" she gave Rei a raised eyebrow, wondering a little bit of how much of a good friend he was. Because she knew Rei could be a good friend.

"Usagi-san and I met at the festival some... five days ago? The ancestor-festival, that is. Struck up a conversation, and since he seemed like such a reliable sort, I took up his offer that he'd help me out a bit here on World of Dreams." Yakumo was overall being friendly and nice to the little fan. "I've never been here before so there is a lot to take in. But you're a native here, yes? Then you probably know the best place for bubble tea, right?"

She just looked so rich, anything that involved refreshements would probably also mean her treat.

"Yep." Blandly, Rei confirmed it all as he accepted the bag. That is, Yūrei was a friend, Yakumo was a friend, he was totally ordinary friends with both of them. Yes indeed.

Turning his head, he nodded down another wing. "It's that way. I haven't been there in a while." He flashed a smile at Yūrei. "You remember the way, Yūrei-san?" In truth, he recognized the desire to be helpful in the ronin, too.

"Of course, Tian Bubble Tea is almost a century old. It has everything, even some quite exotic unicorn foods. I can lead the way!"
With a smile and a little head bob at both of them Yūrei sets off, hauling the bags with her.

She doesn't get too far away, but given the hustle and bustle of the mall it's far enough if Rei and Yakumo had anything private to say.

"You are such a wonderful helper, Yurei-san." She was practically beaming at the little ronin.

So when she had a moment to say something to Rei without being overheard, the opportunity was not missed. "Oh she is so cute," Yakumo murmured. "Can we keep her?"

It was hard to tell if she was serious or joking.

Rei chuckled at that, his pace shifting to match Yakumo's. Her legs might even have been longer than his, but that Hare vigor made him fast. "Right? And she's a good sort, too."

He looked ahead at Yūrei, and then back at Yakumo with a smirk. "And sure, why not. But hey, fair warning, when she visited the embassy she ate about a quarter of our rice cakes. You want her, you have to feed her."

He was definitely joking... but also serious.

She laughed, as she mostly thought he was joking. "Are all ronin as cute as her? She's the first one I've met." How did you feed and take care of your ronin? Could you keep ronin on hand like that...?

Would she have to insure and vaccinate her ronin? All these questions!

Susumu Yakumo wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 15, 2022 1:18 am

She laughed, as she mostly thought he was joking. "Are all ronin as cute as her? She's the first one I've met." How did you feed and take care of your ronin? Could you keep ronin on hand like that...?

Would she have to insure and vaccinate her ronin? All these questions!

Rei shot her a quick glance, mildly surprised. He hadn't believed the rumors (for one, they didn't mentioned a handsome Hare visiting her), but he'd been around ronin so much... different worlds.

But he smiled. "Not nearly. In my experience, most of them are grizzled cursing older men who'll cheerfully cut you for a zeni. I'll take cute but eats all your food over that any day."

He glanced ahead, watching the Ronin walk along. She gained an impressive amount of mass under all those bags, making her easier to follow.

Silly Rei if he thought there were ronin in Spider or Crane space.

"Ew," she made a brief face at the image Rei was painting about the average ronin. "Absolutely terrible. She is clearly special and must be protected then."

Maybe she was one of those who'd end up with the Spider? It had been mentioned to her that there were some former ronin working at the embassy.

"I couldn't agree more, Yakumo-san." Rei agreed.

The smile faded as he looked at the Ronin. "World of Dreams can be pretty rough on Ronin. No one's generally looking out for them, and they don't have much. She told me about the place she's staying. Small, full of holes, dodgy wiring, shared shower, that sort of thing." Rei shook his head. "It sounded terrible."

There were lots of Ronin that Rei didn't care if they lived like that... but, well, he actually liked Yūrei.

Yūrei waves from up ahead where she seems to have secured a table and is having a very confused waiter clean it thoroughly.
"It has to be perfect, perfect."
Then she dashes off to snatch some menus.

Yakumo was about to compliment Yurei before she dashed off again. "Goodness, she is quick..."

Maybe she could hire her as a yohimbo/assistant of sorts? To represent the Spider in other ways?

"How horrid for such a sweet person to live in such conditions. She absolutely does not deserve that!"