Noriko and Jean-Paul

[x-cynosure.livejournal.com]

Nori approves of her teacher's new tattoo.



"We'll start training outside next week," Jean-Paul commented, passing a strip of thin fruit leather to Noriko before going back to slicing strawberries. "It is warm enough, and I think we're at the point where we need more room than the gymnasium can provide us with. A few distractions wouldn't hurt either."

Training usually left both mutants hungry, and today they'd opted for preparing a snack in Jean-Paul's suite rather than go their separate ways after.

The very idea of fruit sushi had caught Nori's attention, and while the sugared rice was weird, she was also willing to bet it tasted pretty good. The fruit strip she Jean-Paul had just handed her she was less certain of. "New York is still cold," she informed the Canadian, well aware he'd only put off taking their training outside this long on her behalf - by this time of year it was already sixteen degrees in Tokyo and they'd had snow last week in New York, but she'd done some research and decided that she was never, ever visiting Canada in the winter. Ever.

Jean-Paul laughed softly. "Not as bad as it was. But if it is still snowing by next week, I will see if we can get some time in the Danger Room. My urban programs should still be in the databanks; we could try one of those." He glanced over as Noriko began wrapping one of the completed rolls, using the apple fruit strip in place of more traditional seaweed. "Though I should ask you, I think, what is something you would like to try."

Nori looked up and gave Jean-Paul a real smile. "Nori is just happy can run." She considered, looking down at the sushi roll she was making, glad that they weren't using a proper sushi mat, as she wasn't sure how the fruit leather would do on the bamboo. After a moment she added, "Maybe run longer practice is good?" she offered, sounding uncertain. After all, her stamina with her power seemed to have an awful lot to do with how charged she was and she wasn't sure if it was something she could train to improve at all.

"Endurance training?" He considered; he had much the same doubts as Nori as to whether or not such activities would actually extend the duration of her speed. "I do not see why not. Even if it does not work with your powers, exactly, there is no harm in making you a better runner even without the charge." He began slicing melon as a cucumber stand in. The sleeve of his t-shirt rode up a bit as he worked, revealing new ink under his skin -- the tail end of a kanji.

Noriko glanced up with a smile and then paused, distracted as she caught sight of the mark on his arm. "Eh? Nani?" Reaching over she she touched his sleeve, her energy reserves down far enough that there wasn't even a spark. "What is?"

"Hmm? Oh..." He looked sheepish for a moment. "I decided that arm needed a new tattoo. I got rid of the old one soon after I came back here, it was so sun-faded." He pushed up the sleeve the rest of the way, revealing neat, unadorned kanji for 'hashiru no sensei' on his bicep. "I think this suits me better than the Olympic rings these days."

Nori blinked at the kanji for a brief moment and then let out an "EEEEEEEEEEEEE" which was only barely in the human register before dropping the sushi she was working on to go bouncing around the kitchen in a manner disturbingly reminiscent of an anime character, although she'd probably have fried anyone who pointed that out.

Jean-Paul typically had an excellent poker face, but there were some things that just bypassed it completely and hyper-Nori was apparently on the list. He leaned against the counter wearing a broad grin that was only one scant shred of self-control away from turning into a laugh that would get him kicked in the shin.

"Shall I take this to mean that mam'selle approves?"

"Suki, suki, suki!" Nori babbled, bouncing back and practically throwing herself at him for a hug. "Ichi-ban suki-na sensei!"

His reflexes kept him from startling noticeably --

'And just where the hell were you when I was getting poison-fist fu'd in the head?'

-- but the hug was still something of a shock. Nori was an eager and agreeable student to his experience, but not a particularly demonstrative one. He got over it quickly, however, and returned the hug, his amused grin softening to something a bit fonder. Even if he hadn't quite caught the last sentence exact, the meaning carried over.

It wasn't long before Nori was pulling away - fond as she was of Jean-Paul, and as completely overwhelmed as she was by the symbol of acceptance, hugging was not really something she did. "Nori is glad. Is look very good!"

"Arigato." He knew he still wasn't pronouncing it correctly, but it was just the two of them. "I should thank you for the idea. The matters one keeps under the skin should be the ones that carry some meaning. Teaching here again, especially the things I enjoy so much...it's getting to be something I wear."

At that Nori's face fell slightly, although it was brief, and the motion of her right hand sliding up towards her left arm was covered as she turned back to the sushi. All in all, it was less than a second before she was flashing a smile back over her shoulder at him as she picked up the abandoned roll. "Not all understand, but Nori is glad."

Jean-Paul hadn't missed the motion or the flicker in Nori's delight and he tilted his head curiously.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Maaa, is nothing," Nori said, shaking her head slightly. "Is melon done?"

"Give me a moment; I was distracted," Jean-Paul said, pretending defensiveness. He was used to Nori's mercurial highs and lows, though they weren't usually in evidence once she'd spent her charge, and it was usually best to just move on. If something stuck with her, she would say something.