The bell atop the door jingled softly as Ishiaki made his way into the quaint little shop portion of the greenhouse. He stepped up to the counter and patiently awaited for assistance.

"I've got it." Kami's voice called from above. The windows above the plants were open to let in the rain and it was from the roof that Kami came, falling like a drop of rain, but not splattering to a stop on the floor. She landed deftly and saw her master. "Ishiaki sensei!" She said with surprise. "Do we have a mission?"

"That would be a no. We're on leave, remember?" Ishiaki told her with a smile. "I am actually here to make a purchase. However, I do require some assistance."

"Well you never know when something might come up." She said and moved around behind the counter to put her weights back on. "Oh really? Why would you-" She made a "boy I'm dumb" face and stopped herself. "Um... I'd be happy to help."

Ishiaki couldn't help but grin when she stopped herself. "Thank you, Kami. It is most difficult to pick out flowers when you can't actually see what they look like." It was a more...facetious way of wording what she was thinking.

"I understand." Kami said, coming around from behind the counter. "Why don't we start by smell?" She asked him. "And I can tell you what they look like."

"Why don't I tell you what I'm looking for, and you try picking some out?" Ishiaki counter-offered slyly. He shrugged and shook his head to her request. "To me, they all smell the same, so going that route would not really help."

"Oh alright... well... who are they for?" Kami asked. "Maybe I can help you that way."

"I would prefer to keep that to myself, if you don't mind, Kami." Ishiaki said gently, inclining his head into a slight bow. "I can tell you that she is a dear friend and I wish to brighten her day a little. Does that help?"

"I can respect that... but I need to know a little more about her likes and dislikes to help you... I mean I could give you a bunch of roses and they mean the wrong thing or a flock of lilies and they seem too... elderly for her..."

"Alright, what would you like to know?" Ishiaki asked curiously, he didn't really understand what the significance of the varieties of flowers meant though.

"Well..." Kami began. "What's her favorite color?"

"Her favorite color?" Ishiaki asked with a grimace. He scratched his head and shrugged, "I'm going to have to say...some shade of pink. But you must know, this is entirely a guess on my part. I have no way to be sure."

Kami thought for a moment. "Alright... what's her personality like?"

"Well...she's energetic and fun..that's the best way to describe it I believe. A simple term, yes, but what's the saying, keep it simple?" Ishiaki offered after a moment's thought

"So something bright and lively." Kami said, walking a few paces away. "How about some pink and white tiger lilies..." She said, pulling three of the long stemmed flowers from the rest of their kind. "And you said she's a very special person so Jacob's coat roses... they're pink yellow and orange. Roses signify a lot of things, but these colors mean caring and thoughtfulness. You're thinking about her... Um... what does she do for a living?"

"What does anyone in this village do for a living?" Ishiaki countered with a smirk. If he flat out said she were a ninja, Kami would know immediately who he was buying them for, of course she probably already had her suspicions anyway

Kami smiled. "Alright..." She looked about for some more flowers. "Starlights are white... and some leaves for green. I can arrange these in a vase in the Ikibana style." She offered. "It will will call attention to the beauty of each blossom while complementing the space it's placed in."

"If you think that would look good, Kami. I trust you." Ishiaki told her with a pleased smile.

"I'm glad." Kami said brightly, taking the flowers to the counter. "I think you're friend is going to know how special she is when she sees these."

"How long do you need to arrange them?" Ishiaki asked, curious as to how much time he'd need to kill before he could pick them up

"Not long." She said. "I can be done in a few moments." He heard her set a glass vase on the counter and then the sound of water being poured in. The snipping of scissors signaled the sound of the stems being cut to the proper size.

Ishiaki headed towards the register area and took a seat on the bench. He eased his head back and breathed out through his mouth with a relaxed sigh

"So..." Kami said, trying to make small talk. "Is this a friend or a..." She smiled, trailing off. She had an idea of who he might be buying these for,

"She is a special friend, that is answer enough, isn't it?" Ishiaki offered in response.

"I see..." Kami said. "Have you known her long?"

"It has been a substantial amount of time, one could say." Ishiaki replied with a shrug. It was an evasive answer at best

She smiled, nodding again. "I see..." She began to think of another question as she aranged the vase. "How does she feel about you being a ninja?"

"That's a strange question to ask. A ninja is precisely what I am, it was what I was born to be. If she had a problem with that, I would not be buying her flowers, now would I?" He retorte calmly, leaning forward and 'glancing' towards her direction

"I just... I'm sorry Ishiaki Sensei." Kami said. "I shouldn't be asking these questions..."

"No. You should not." Ishiaki replied with a stern nod. He smiled though, "However, it shows good character that you care enough to ask these questions of your teacher."

She felt a nervous flutter when he told her the first bit, but smiled a little when he finished. "You deserve to be happy Ishiaki sensei. And I hope these make your friend happy too... It's done." She slid the vase across the counter. The lilies stood long and tall, staggered to elongate their beauty. The roses pooled about the base with the starlights in the center, giving the whole thing foundation. A sprig of bamboo with a curl in it added green as well as a thin palm branch.

"It looks lovely." He told her with a large grin, pausing to let her have a chuckle at it as well. "I'm certain that it is as well. How much do I owe you for them?"

"Fifty ryo..." Kami said with a little wince, but added. "That's with the special occasion discount..."

"Only 50? That's not so bad." Ishiaki told her with a smile. He pulled his wallet from the folds of his tunic and handed her 70 instead. "Plus tip."

"Oh I can't take a tip this big." She said, handing him back his change. "I don't know what to do with all the money I make here any way."

"How does a young lady your age, not know what to do with her money?" He asked her, actually shocked by her statement.

"We don;t use money where I'm from..." She said. "I just... don't know what to do with it..."

"You save some, then spend some. Pretty simple." He said with a shrug. "How do you replenish your supplies?"

"I do buy supplies." She said. "But between missions and my earnings here... I could never buy that many supplies."

"And you are staying rent free in Oita's home, so nothing to worry about on that end...Perhaps that is what you should do. Real estate is and always has been a good investment." He pointed out to her, speaking from experience himself.

"You mean I should purchase my own place?" Kami asked.

"It would give you something to do with your funds." He offered with a shrug. "Ultimately, the decision has to be your own though."

"I don't know..." Kami said shrugging. "I wouldn't know what to do with a house on my own... I've never lived alone... who would I take care of?"

"Well...I'm sure Oita must be getting tired of sharing his home with two young la...no that's not right..." Ishiaki said with a smirk. "He couldn't be getting tired of sharing his home with you three."

Kami looked up from the counter suddenly. "What?" She asked, knowing better than to lie to her sensei.

"Did the two of you really think you could hide her forever?" Ishiaki asked her, tilting his head to the side slightly. "Especially from me. I am surprised that Oita hasn't discovered her yet. Truthfully, her presence doesn't bother me at all, and I doubt anyone else would mind either."

"We... I'm sorry Ishiaki sensei..." Kami said. "It was more the leaving for the Quills that we were worried more about... Going narwhal..."

He looked at her curiously, "Narwhal? What does the great unicorn whale have to do with any of this?"

"No no..." Kami covered her face for a moment. "I always get these things wrong. "Absent without leave." She said. "Akane and I left without permission... but it was important.'

"Awol...this one is simple to remember, Kami. A.W.O.L. A for away, w for with, o for out, and l for leave. It's an acronym." He offered, hoping it would assist her. He nodded, "I could only assume that it was. I can also assume it was Akane's idea?"

"It was my idea to go with her though..." Kami said. "As recompense for hitting her in the Frost, I paid for the journey... but demanded I join her."

"That's one thing to do with your earnings." Ishiaki told her with a smirk. "I am surprised, however, that the two of you actually thought you could take the flag ship of the Coalition so easily. Though, the Captain was quite pleased with the bribe."

"He told on us?" She asked. "He... Akane said that's what he wanted for taking us. We didn't bribe him! I thought we purchased the journey." Kami was naive about a number of things, especially when it came to money and the changing of hands of currency.

"He did not tell on you, so much as he reported his whereabouts." Ishiaki clarified for her. "And you did purchase the journey. What you gave him paid for the provisions necessary for the voyage. However, as the flagship of the Coalition, his provisions are generally funded by the council itself. Do you follow what I am saying, Kami?" He smiled softly and got to his feet. "You did nothing wrong. The journey of the Tardis to the Hidden Village of the Quills, was sanctioned by the council. After they conferred with me for the purpose of such a trip, funded by my students..." He looked at her and his smile faded, "While saving the girl from whatever danger there was in the village, was not wrong under any circumstances, if I am ever called before the council to explain the actions of my students, when I am unable to do so, a second time...there will be consequences. Is that understood?"

Kami's lips were tight and she felt as if her heart would beat clean out of her chest. All she could say was "Yes sensei." She did not offer an apology because she felt as if it might be cheap...

"The next time the two of you plan something like this...please, leave me a note or something. I do not like to lie to my superiors, Kaminari." Ishiaki pleaded with her. He clapped his hands together and smiled, "Now. When do I get to meet the girl?"

"I... Well Akane doesn't even know you know so... I'll have to tell her." Kami told him. "We've been sick until a few days ago... um... I don't know where Rin is now but I expect she's at home... She's a fine young ninja... she makes some of the best traps I have seen."

"That's good to hear. Do you think she'd be interested in attending the new Coalition Ninja Academy?" He asked after a moment's thought on the subject.

"I think she would be excited to do anything." Kami said honestly. "She has already become sick of hiding and made herself known to El..."

"Well, if Hana can spare you, I suggest you inform Akane that I know her sister is here and see if she is willing to allow, Rin was it, to attend the academy." He told her, figuring it was what she was planning to do anyway. He took the vase carefully, "If you would excuse me, Kami, I have a friend to meet with."

"Yes sensei..." She said and as he left, began to remove her apron. "Hana?"

The mistress of the garden poked her head up from among a vast array of greenery. "Yes Kami?"

"Ishiaki sensei asked me to deliver a message to one of my team mates..." She told her.

"Ah. I see. Well, I don't believe any of these plants will sprout legs and walk away at any point." Hana told her with a smile

"Thank you Hana." Kami replied and left her apron under the counter. "I shouldn't be long. If I am I'll come back and close up." She left them, heading for Oita's house

---

"Kami? You still here?" Kano called as he stepped inside. He shook out his umbrella and then propped it up against the wall He set his bags down and looked around at the vast array of greenery.

"Up here." Kami called, walking along the roof supports. She was outside, getting soaked and closing the roof up after the plants got a few drinks of natural rain.

"Don't you ever take some free time?" Kano asked her, glancing upwards to try and spy what she was doing up there

"I was off work sick for almost a week." Kami said reminding him. "I've had to catch up." She closed the last of the glass panes and slipped through the final one as it closed. Like a drop of water she fell, catching herself on the balls of her feet as she landed. She was drenched in rain water and her hide dress was heavy with it.

"Nice entrance." Kano told her with a smirk. He took his vest off and handed it to her. "You're soaked to the bone. You'll catch a cold all over again if you don't dry off."

"Hana gave me some stuff to ward off sickness for a while." Kami said, taking Kano's vest and snuggling into it, wishing it had arms. "And you forget, I fight in the rain all the time."

Kano stepped closer to her and held out his hands to her. "And how often do you get sick from fighting in the rain?" He asked her with a smirk. "Personally, I'm not very fond of it myself..."

"I've not." Kami said. "The extreme temperature change from the Frost to Akane's village did it I believe... and well, it had been storming there."

"I still say we need to get you dried off, Kami." Kano insisted and looked back at his bags

"There are towels in the back." She said, "Here, before this soaks through." She handed him his vest back. "I don't have anything to wear though so... I might ask for that back." She moved to lock the door and turned the closed sign before heading toward the back. "You coming?" She asked. "You can talk to me why I dry off."

His heart skipped a beat as she invited him back. "..O...Of course. Should I bring my stuff, or would it be alright here you think?"

"It'll be ok." Kami said, her short skirt, wet and clinging swayed as she walked towards the back.

Kano followed after her quickly, trying to keep his eyes from her wet form. He figured the bags should be perfectly fine right where he left them. He gave them a single final look before heading after her. "So what would you like to talk a out?"

She shrugged, going out of sight. "It looked as if you've been doing some shopping." She said, passing into another room. "Don't come back here." She warned.

"Never without your permission." Kano told her and sat down in a vacant seat outside the door. "I figured now would be a pretty good time to restock a few things. Seeing as we were given some time off."

"How are you doing with your time off?" She asked, calling out from the back room as she removed her dress. He heard the slick sounds of wet leather being peeled from skin and the sound of it plopping to the floor.

"Right now? I'm having a much better time of it." He told her, a smile in his voice. He sighed and laid his head back against the wall. "All this sitting around is kinda boring."

"It is..." She agreed. "But I've been sick most of the week."

"And you're sure you are over the illness, right?" He asked her curiously, not wanting her to get sicker by being out too soon

"I am." Kami said. "El brought some soup over the other day and it knocked it out I think. It was so hot, along with the herbs Hana gave me, it raised my temperature and broke the fever."

"That's good." Kano replied and started looking around at the room. He sighed and closed his eyes. "So do you often run around in the rain like that?"

"You know I do Kano." She said and he could hear the smile in her voice. "Oh, before I forget. "Akane is nervous about this Friday... she went yesterday and bout two dresses. I told her I would wear mine, but she doesn't want to look foolish so could you please relay to El that he might not want to wear his poncho?"

"El without his poncho...that's like saying you want me to wear a shirt..." Kano told her with a dreadful nervous chuckle.

He heard her laugh. "That might be nice." She said. "But I'd rather you be comfortable... can- can I have your vest now?" She asked and he saw her hand appear around the edge of the door.

"Only you." He told her before handing her the vest. "You are the only person I have ever let wear my vest." He explained as she took it.

It slipped behind the door, but she left it open a crack. "I'm honored Kano." She said. "But... I don't think it will cover everything it needs to cover..." There were hooks to close it and her breasts strained them as they latched. Had she not been wearing the wraps she wore about her hips and thighs, she never would have opened the door. He could see her now, her breasts straining against the snaps of his vest, how it parted over her thighs, revealing her belly button. The wraps covered everything from her waist to her mid thigh, but his vest was not going to hold for very long. "Does it look ok enough to hurry home?"

Kano stared at her for a moment, then quickly averted his eyes. "It...You..you look beautiful." He told her simply enough. He thought again of his bags, "Oh! I might have something to make it a little less revealing. Though I don't know for sure if it will work."

"Is it that bad?" She asked, looking down at herself. There had been no mirror and all she could see was that her breasts had been pushed together more than normal.

"It's rather revealing...I said, think, by the way. I dunno if it'll work or not for yah." Kano told her, and taking her hand in his, led her out to where he had left his bags.

"Is it too much?" she asked. "Should... Should I just put my dress back on? I'll get wet going back to the house any way."

"No you won't. I've got an umbrella." Kano told her with a smile. "I did buy some other things too. Maybe something could cover you up a little more too. You can keep the vest til you get a change of clothes at the house."

"Alright..." Kami said, following him. Her hips caused the vest to flair out about her bottom and swayed as she walked.

"I was restocking my ninja tools and other supplies today. One of the things I did need to pick up, happened to be..." Kano told her as he rummaged through his bags. He smiled as he pulled the object out. "Replacement fabric. I'm not much of a seamstress by any means, but I do know how to put patches on from time to time."

"I see..." Kami said, taking the fabric in her hands. "I know just what to do if you permit me to cut a strip of it."

"It is of course, at your disposal, Kaminari." Kano told her with courteous ease, passing the small roll of red fabric to her.

She took it and laid it on the counter. Unrolling it a bit she took the scissors from beneath the counter and began to cut a six inch strip up the end of the roll. When she was done, she handed the bolt back to Kano and turned around. "It'll just be a moment." She said and knowing Kano was honorable enough not to look, unlatched the two clasps that held the vest closed. It sprang open and she placed the fabric in the center of her chest and closed the clasps over it, making the fabric drape down the open expanse of the vest, covering the wraps that hid her midsection and leaving just the edges of her thighs visible. "Not quite wide enough..." She said, but turned around to him. "Is this better?"

"I have never seen my vest look better..." Kano replied quietly. He lifted his bags and then turned to offer her his arm. "Shall we then? We can go and get you a change of clothes and then maybe some dinner?"

She reached under the counter and picked up her weights. "That would be great." She said, looping her arm with his. She hooked the two hundred pounds of weights on her elbow as if they were nothing more than a purse and prepared to lock up.

Kano stooped to lift the umbrella. He opened the door, then pressed the release on the handle. The umbrella sprang up and out and then he held it up over head and stepped out so she could close and lock the door.

Well practiced it took her only seconds before she had completed the task. "Done." She said and turned back towards Kano.

"You'll have to stay close, the umbrella isn't designed to cover two people from the rain." He told her carefully as they stepped out into the rain

She hugged close to him. "Thank you Kano..." She said, squeezing his arm. "I'm glad you came to visit me today."

"I could visit you every day, if you would like that." Kano told her with a smile

She smiled brightly. "I'd never get any work done."

"Am I really that distracting?" He asked her in response

She smiled and squeezed his arm. "Sometimes... usually... you could do as you did today and pick me up from work..."

"I would like that." He told her as they moved out into the INC Village