Stealing Thunder

After setting their belongings on the ground, Ryomaru and Miori took off their sandals and dipped their feet into the river. The water was cool and refreshing, washing away the invisible layers of tension that had gathered around them. Samui and Mabui chose to sit on the bank, offering the family some space while still being present.

"Feeling better?" Ryomaru asked, his eyes meeting his mother's.

"Much better, thank you," Miori said, her eyes becoming more luminous than they'd been in days. "This is exactly what I needed."

"It's what we both needed, Mum."

Suddenly, Ryomaru stood and extended his hands to help his mother up. Miori accepted, and he led her back toward Samui and Mabui, where they'd laid out some snacks.

As they sat down, Ryomaru began to perform a series of exaggerated romantic gestures, targeting first Samui, then Mabui, and lastly his mother.

"My dear Samui," he said in a dramatically deep voice, taking her hand. "Would you do me the honor of sharing this humble meal with me?" He laid a peck on her hand.

Samui couldn't help but laugh. "Why, certainly, kind sir."

Not missing a beat, Ryomaru moved on to Mabui. "Ah, radiant Mabui, your beauty outshines even the sun." He kissed her hand as well, laying it on even thicker.

Mabui grinned, joining in on the laughter. "Well, if the sun is outshined, then how can I refuse?"

Finally, he turned to his mother. "Ah, but the most radiant of them all, my beloved Mum, would you grant me the greatest honor?" With those words, he planted a gentle kiss on Miori's hand and then another on her cheek.

Miori burst into laughter, clearly amused by her son's antics. "Oh, you charmer. What am I going to do with you?"

"You're just going to have to keep me, I suppose."

Miori smiled, "You say it like a bad thing. I get to keep you forever? I call it a win."

Ryomaru looked at her, gasping in mock indignation, "You are stealing my thunder, Mum."

"And what a delightful theft it is," Miori replied, a playful glint lighting up her ice-blue eyes.

Ryomaru sighed dramatically, "Ah, foiled again. And by my own mother, no less."

Miori chuckled. "Well, it's the risk you take, being so charming."

Ryomaru shifted his focus back to Samui and Mabui. "Alright, you two. Prepare to be stunned by my culinary skills. Anyone up for some instant ramen?"

"Ah, the cuisine of champions," Samui deadpanned, but her eyes were twinkling.

Ryomaru gave her a wink before pulling out packets of ramen and a portable stove from his bag. He set it up with practiced ease, proving that although he might not be a master chef, he could at least boil water.

He picked up a pair of chopsticks and expertly mixed the noodles, then handed a cup each to Samui, Mabui, and his mother.

Miori took a sip of the broth and sighed contentedly, "Oh, this is heaven."

Ryomaru grinned, "See? I told you I was a culinary genius."

"You did indeed," Samui agreed, "I think you've missed your calling."

The group laughed, and for a fleeting moment, the burdens that weighed them down seemed a little lighter.

Feeling a newfound sense of levity from the banter and laughter, Ryomaru decided to keep the mood light. After all, they'd been through so much; they deserved these moments of escape, even if they were fleeting.

"Ah, my dearest Samui," Ryomaru began, gazing deeply into her eyes as if he were a young Casanova. "I find myself entranced by the moonlight that dances in your eyes."

Samui raised an eyebrow, clearly amused but playing along. "Is that so? How fortunate, then, that the moon decided to grace me with its presence today."

"Ah, but the moon waxes and wanes, while your beauty is constant," Ryomaru shot back with a wink, sealing the exaggerated exchange with a peck on her cheek.

Samui laughed, the sound as clear as a bell. "Well, with words like that, how could anyone resist?"

Not one to leave anyone out, Ryomaru turned his attention to Mabui. "Ah, Mabui, my shining star. When I gaze upon you, I am reminded of the first rays of dawn—fresh, invigorating, and full of promise."

Mabui giggled, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "Oh, is that so? Well, you are quite the sunrise yourself, Ryomaru."

"Then it seems we are destined to light up the sky together," Ryomaru declared grandiosely, pulling Mabui into a warm hug and placing a kiss on her forehead.

Miori watched this playful exchange between her son and their guards—no, their family—and felt a wave of warmth surge through her. It was as though her heart could burst with the love she felt for them.

Finally, Ryomaru turned back to his mother, his eyes softened as they met hers. "And you, Mum. You are the very air that I breathe, the force that sustains me. What poetic words could ever capture your essence?"

Miori smiled, her eyes moistening just a bit. "Oh, my sweet boy, you are the poem, the most beautiful one ever written."

With that, Ryomaru hugged his mother tightly, planting soft kisses on her cheeks and forehead. The gesture was a mixture of the playful mood he'd set and the deep, unfathomable love he felt for her.

"Mum, you're too good for this world," he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear.

"And you, my love, are the reason I believe this world can be good," she whispered back, sealing their embrace with a gentle kiss on his forehead.

Ryomaru stepped back, his eyes meeting his mother's. "Alright, my beauteous entourage, shall we pack up and head back? I believe the world is less vibrant without us gracing its streets."

Mabui chuckled. "Your confidence is infectious."

Samui gathered the now empty ramen cups. "Well, we can't let the world suffer, can we?"

They all shared a genuine laugh, and for a moment, the world did seem a little brighter, their burdens a tad lighter.

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