Bid Me To Brawl (open)

[Ezra Hibushi]

Precision was another valuable thing Ezra was taught while being raised as a ninja. His muscles were toned to the point where he could focus enough so that even with delicate operations such as this, his hands and other muscles would not waver. He held the cloth perfectly, not jerking either too close to her lip or too far away. He had taken a deep breath to concentrate when he saw her close her eyes, then proceeded.

His motions against her lip would not hold that much pressure in them. He knew what it was like to have a split lip, from his many missions. Ezra knew the pain Tera would feel, even with a warm cloth cleaning it off. He felt bad for her while at the same time feeling an equal amount of joy, knowing that he was the one who was taking care of her, and not some other person that end up leaving her to her injuries. No, he would never do that to her. She mattered too much to him to eve think about leaving her.

A part of him cringed inside when he watched her grit her teeth in what must have been the searing pain of the warm cloth and water against her burning lip. The hand that had barely been gracing her cheek and neck before now grasped the side of her face gently. Ezra's soft, toned hands rubbed at her skin gently before he stroked at her cheek with his thumb in one place. Ezra was only trying to give at least equal comfort to balance the pain out.

"Hey now, just relax. I know it hurts a bit, but you'll be alright," he let out in a low, calm voice. His head moved forward, and Tera would feel the soft sensation of lips against her cheek while Ezra continued to tend to her lips. Soft kisses mer her cheek while equally soft tabs of cloth touched her lips. The whole time there was no "wiping" motion so as to disturb whatever minor healing her lip mgiht have done so far. When all was done, Ezra pulled back and looked at her lip, wiping the trace amount of blood that remained just below it. He then looked her in the eyes with a warm smile.

"Does that feel any better now, Tera?" asked Ezra.

[Tera]

Tera grinned partially through the cloth that was pressed over her mouth. Truthfully, she had been through much worse than a split lip. She could recall a number of times when she had fought and ended up going out somewhere in the woods to lick her wounds (metaphorically speaking). She had once had her arm broken and had also experienced what it felt like to have broken ribs. Personally, the split lip experience wasn't so bad.

"Are you kidding? I'm fine...it only stings a bit," she gave him an amused look when he drew away the cloth that he had used. Of course she had a feeling that with a swollen lip and black-eye, she would not be looking her best. In fact, she was sure that her hair had fallen half-way out of the braid used to control it. She almost wondered why Ezra even bothered. But then again, she already knew that answer. The little kisses on her cheeks told her that much.

Tera peered up at him through the crack that served as an eye while she calmly blinked with the other one. She was happy to have him here with her, serving as her friend, guardian, and the love of her life. How had she managed without him? She had gone her whole life taking insults and beatings from others, being hurt and betrayed, when the entire time he had been out there somewhere. How had she not found him before? Wouldn't everything have been better that way?

Tera flicked her ears back once, listening to a sound coming from below. Her hearing could pick up most things taking place in the inn...an argument taking place a few rooms away. The front door being opened. A large man laughing by the fireplace in the main room. It was strange to have so many things so clear, and yet she was used to it. It was an advantage that the people of her village thought was unfair. She had the ultimate camouflage, being able to shift her shape. She had eyesight that was unbelievably clear at night and day. And she could smell anyone within a good distance, hearing them before they heard her. Is that why she had never been accepted?

"So, how do I look?" she asked Ezra, attempting a smile.

[Ezra Hibushi]

Ezra had been attending to a few other small spots on Tera's otherwise still soft face. Even with the injuries that dotted her body and slightly scarred her face, he did not mind that. At the very least, he was here with her now, relaxing, resting, enjoying her company as he loved to so much now. It afforded him an odd sense of worth and fulfillment, being able to take care of her as she was. it let Ezra bring out the other side of himself that otherwise would never see the light of day. As a Mizukage ninja, Ezra was trained to be the toughest of the tough. But with her... with Tera... he allowed the gentler side of himself to pour out onto her.

When she asked how she looked, Ezra could not help but crack a smile that bordered on laughter. "You look fine, Tera," he told to his anthro companion. "Just a few cuts and bruises, but nothing that can't heal on it's own with more care and some good relaxation."

A soft smile betrayed the strong muscles that lined Ezra's entire body. Toned hands wrung out the cloth one final time before placing it half way over the edge of the bowl. She looked fine for now, he thought. Perhaps a massage, a bath, a walk, or just sitting together under the night sky to be with each other. Those were what Ezra thought of doing later for Tera, just to further help her relax and feel comfortable. His mind raced with ideas. And yet, he was still calm enough to take care of her.

Brushing the bowl aside, Ezra rose from his knelt position and sat on the bed with Tera. Sitting on her left side now, his head turned to her, his hand brushing off a few stray strands of his long silvery hair that had graced her shoulder. Leaning into her just a bit, Ezra let his right hand come to be around her waist, only really holding her closer to him.

"How do you feel, I guess is the question," he responded back to her.

[Tera]

As he worked on what cuts he could find, Tera could not help but stare at him. He was so perfect. He was all she could think about...he was her everything. She listened to his voice, suddenly discovering that if she shut her eyes it was like he was singing. When she opened them, he was next to her, letting his warmth fill her. She leaned against him, breathing in his scent and holding his hand. She rested her head on his shoulder, her thoughts seeming to run in slow motion for now. Oh, how much she had changed.

What had happened to her? She had once been the tough, fighter girl. When people picked on her, she responded by throwing a punch or two. She had been the little anthro-shinobi that sat at the back of the room at the academy and listened harder than any of them. She had done all she could to be better then them all...because if she could fight...they would respect her. So she tried with all of her might to struggle her way to the top. No matter how many bruises or breaks, she wouldn't complain. Ever drop of blood was a lesson learned. That's what she used to believe... and so many times she had wished she had a river...that she could just skate away on.

So many times she had thought she had been accepted. It was always one person...sometimes a small group... They would make her feel like she fit in. And then they would turn around and hurt her again. Sometimes it was just physical bullying. And she would fight them to show she was not weak. And sometimes it was deeper than that. She had her heart broken so many times. How had Ezra found all of the pieces? How had he put her back together so easily?

She blinked back tears for a moment, trying to push past all of that. She had Ezra now. He was all she needed. She would not be hurt anymore. Never again. She held him tighter, squeezing his hand. "Ezra," she whispered softly, "Let's go look at stars, okay?"

She pulled back slightly so that she could look at him. His silver hair was glimmering in the soft moonlight that was reaching timidly through the windows. It's light felt good on her pale skin. For a wolf-anthro, the moon had been her only guiding light. So many nights she had lay by the lake in Mizukage and stared up at the great white beacon in the sky and waited for it to call her to a paradise somewhere far away. Somewhere safe...somewhere beautiful...where all were equal and all could be loved. That would be paradise to her.

Ezra had given her paradise though. Had the moon led her to him? Or perhaps it did just the opposite... "I love you," she mouthed, her voice not daring to slip past her lips. She was afraid that if she spoke it...well...maybe it would not be eternal. How silly though...she could never stop loving him. Never...

Oh I wish I had a river...we could skate away on...

[Ezra Hibushi]

There are few things in life that one would consider worth protecting or cherishing. Most are inanimate, anyway. Business men protect their money; kings their kingdoms; animals their territory. But there was one thing that all of them lacked, in a sense. The one thing that separate the things valued from the things that were truly valuable and precious. Love, in a single word. There was virtually nothing that man protected that could return any feeling of warmth or validation better than another living being. That validation, the kind Ezra had been trained for but never really found... he didn't have to search anymore.

A smile graced Ezra's face as he felt Tera's hand tighten around his, her body leaning even more into his. It was a welcome feeling, Tera's warmth mixing in with his, her body so fondly close to his. She was the one... the one thing Ezra had cherished and protected, that could ever return the feeling as she was doing now. Ezra would protect her with his life. He'd never let go of her. No, harm would stay far away from her as long as he had anything to say about it. He loved her. She meant too much to him. And had he seen her lips when she mouthed her "I love you", he'd have gladly returned her words.

"Sure, I'd like that," he nodded softly back to her. "It's a beautiful night out, anyway. We should have a good view from the terrace here."

The night sky was another thing Ezra loved in the world. It gave him peace... calm... quiet... room to think. And now, he had Tera to share that with again. This would only be their second time under the starts together. But anytime spent with Tera was a time Ezra would never forget.

Still holding onto her, Ezra shifted himself and slowly started to rise from the bed. It was slow so as not to make Tera feel like there was a rush. No, far from it. On a quiet night like this, the two had plenty of time to spare and then some. His hand wrapped around her hips softly, Ezra would bring Tera to standing up next to him, still held as closely as when hey were sitting down. "Come on," he said in a voice akin to a loving whisper. "I'll take you out to the terrace." It was but a short distance away, separated from the main room by a simple set of folding doors.

Not leaving her side, Ezra walked at a somewhat crooked angle, leaning some of his weight on Tera, she likely doing the same thing. They came to be in front of the folding door in short time. Ezra reached out and pressed the doors open, motioning against Tera lightly from behind.

"Ladies first," he smiled to her.

[Tera]

Tera memorized everything. Every small detail about him. She had him drawn so perfectly in her mind, that even for the small moments in her life when she would not be gazing at him she would still be able to. She never wanted to look back on her life in Mizukage. Did she want to return to her home? Could she face her village..the people that once told her that she would be nothing more than a tease or a failure? The idea of going back hurt....but with Ezra, maybe it was possible.

She stood when he did, never letting go of him. She leaned against him as well, his warmth making her feel comfortable and cared for. She breathed in his scent, shutting her eyes at the familiarity. Nothing else mattered to her just then. Nothing. Not her pride, nor her past, nor her future. As long as she had Ezra, nothing mattered to her but loving him.

She brought him with her as she stepped out onto the terrace, the moonlight flooding down to meet them. She was immediately greeted with the pale light on her smooth, porcelain skin, filling her with comfort and safety. She had never been more right at that moment, standing on the marble tile of the terrace with him by her side. Never had she felt peace or love like this before. And never did she want to leave it all behind.

She held his hand, her bright violet eyes gazing up at the night sky. The glimmering stars and forever night sky sent waves of calm through her body. Perhaps it was because she was half wolf that made the night so important to her. The moon called to her and she would have answered with a howl if she had a pack of her own. It did not matter though... nothing did...not as long as she had Ezra. He was all the pack she would ever need.

"Ezra..." she whispered softly. She was afraid to say it. She had said it before of course, but it felt different then than it did now. Maybe she was afraid of the hurt that normally followed the three words she was about to say. But no...he would not hurt her. He had promised and she would trust him.

"Ezra, I love you..."

[Ezra Hibushi]

As the couple stepped out into the eerie moonlight, he noticed how Tera seemed to come aglow with it's light. It bathed them both, and brought out a side of looking at her that Ezra had never been privileged enough to see before. Maybe it was Tera's being part anthro that gave her such a beautiful presence under the star light. Perhaps night time was the best time to be with her, out of the building and under a perfectly starlit sky. Never had Ezra had such an experience with anyone. To be able to share such a thing with Tera... there were no words for it. Only a warm, unavoidable smile lit up his face.

His hand remained gently wrapped around Tera's hips while they slowly strolled out onto the terrace. He wished he could stay like that. Things just felt... different with her. Ezra could have walked the same beach... sat under the same sky... listened to the same river... laid on the same cushioning grass. None of the hundreds of previous times would have compared to once with Tera, not even if you combined them altogether.

The two came to stop somewhat in the middle of the whole terrace setting. Things were quiet, and peaceful. There was essentially nothing to disturb them from sharing such a calm, loving moment together. Ezra felt the slender touch of her hand take hold of his. He let his grip hers back ever so slightly, rubbing it softly with his thumb as though he were petting it, even. It was an subconscious action, really. But one that he was not afraid to make seeing as it was Tera.

He turned to face the beauty before him, letting the hand she held rest gently on her hip again. He watched her as she looked up into the night sky, and could not help but smile at how the stars and moonlight shimmered in her eyes. Such a simple thing... yet it held more heart-warming beauty than anything Ezra had ever seen in his life. At hearing his name come forth from her lips, his ears perked and he listened intently to whatever she was going to say.

"Yes, Tera?" he questioned, as she did not seem to get her question out on the first try.

Ezra, I love you...

Three words... just three words. Tera was some kind of magician. that had to be what it was. No three words were capable of stopping the world in its tracks. No three words could stop a man's heart like Ezra's had. No three could have carried such potentially life-changing meaning. And yet Tera had done all those things. he didn't respond immediately, and he hoped that would not make her worry. But, he had to digest everything her simple words meant. His left hand came up and graced her cheek, caressing it softly. Soon enough, he had her cheek gently in his grasp.

"I love you too, Tera."

No hesitation at all in his words. He didn't have to think if he was saying the truth or not. Ezra slowly drew Tera into him and shut his eyes to the world. This would be the final seal on their feeling toward each other, he hoped. Ezra tilted his head to his right and leaned forward, aiming to press his lips slowly into Tera in a long, soft kiss. The moment was so right for it, too. Standing under the moonlight, hand in hand, in a peaceful terrace with not a single other being around them. It would be a kiss to remember, he hoped. A kiss that would go across the highway of their minds and bring the confirming gift of his love for her.

[Tera]

Hearing it from him...hearing those three words said so perfectly, his angel voice gracing each word with care...was the most lovely and magical thing she had ever heard in her life. And she did not just hear it either. She felt it. It was radiating off of him, spreading like a vine up her legs and down her arms, singing in her veins. He loved her. And that was the only thing she had ever needed to here to know that she had done something right for once.

And then he was there, his lips pressing against hers, the curve of his mouth divine and sculpture-like. Tingles spread through her body, her heart beating as she was pulled into that moment of miracles. It was perfect...grand...and absolutely the best time for something like this to happen. The moon cascaded over the pair, reflecting off of the water of a fountain and creating a dazzling sparkling glow over the terrace. He had given her the greatest gift...and even as they parted, Tera could see the sincerity in his eyes. Something she had never seen in another before.

She smiled up at him, her violet gaze deep and loving. She found his hand, tugging on it gently and brought him over to a long bench-like chair. When he had sat down, she curled herself up next to him and wrapped her arms around his muscled torso. With her head on his chest, she looked up at the stars, feeling more alive than she had ever felt before. "Thank you, Ezra..." she whispered, her voice faint, "Thank you for caring...when no one else did..."