It had been several weeks since they returned from the Country of the Eternal Hunt. The Warriors of the Boar had agreed to join the Coalition and had even sent several representatives back with them to the village. The teams had been given a couple basic missions since then, nothing of grave importance, but enough to give the young genins some cash to burn on their time off.
Kano had an armload of packages he had picked up with his recent cash flow. He knew he had to save some of it, and he did. He figured he'd just save more from the next mission. He saw the greenhouse and headed towards it. In the several weeks since the Boar Hunt Mission, as he liked to refer to it, he had spent alot of free time sparring with Kami. Now he felt it was time to make his move.
El was doing what El usually did when not training or on missions. He loafed about the village, sort of watching people. Not really spying on them, but the best fodder for lyrics is usually what one sees around them. At the moment he spotted Kano, arms laden with packages. His young friend was strong, but it would be impolite not to assist. He joined Kano's side and offered, "Do you need help with those?"
It was times like these that
Hinji wished his -art wasn't so expensive. After buying supplies to replace what he had used, there was barely any money left. He let out a sigh as he looked over what he had bought to make sure it was all there and that he hadn't left anything.
"No better training than shopping."
Kano told him with a smirk, but he nodded, "A little would be nice, thanks El." He passed him a couple of the packages. "It's just more of the same stuff. Supplies for the next missions, some snackage. What're you up to?"
"Oh, the usual."
El said, taking some of the packages. Kano would know what the "usual" meant. El's version of training was song writing. Songs were his means of attack and defense and depending on what the saw within the walls of the village, depended on whether or not he developed any new music. Being a student of the human condition, he was well aware that Kano had been spending a lot of time with Kami. "It looks as if you are on your way to the greenhouse..."
Akane had taken a smaller portion of her earnings and had visited the local shops. Heading out of a perfume shop, she stopped in the walkway and adjusted her arms and bags in her hands. Akane had purchased a collection of books about being a medical ninja and it's art form, along with several mediation books. From the perfume shop, she had bought herself a dozen different smelling bath salts and incense to burn for later.
Kami was in the greenhouse, diligently working away. She had barely spent any of her gains from their previous missions. She wasn't a girl of material possessions, besides, she had a job. What was the use in tossing her money about when she could easily survive of what she made from working at the greenhouse?
"So off people watching then?"
Kano smirked towards El. "Yeah, I'm gonna surprise Kami."
"Are you sure that is wise?"
El asked, admiring the box of chocolates he had taken to help unladen his friend. "She is a rather flighty sort don't you think. Such a declaration might frighten her off."
Oita was wondering through the village, he was looking for some food for his room; he kept a small store of it in there these days, so he didn't always have to move out of his little den to get food. He looked around, spotting El and Kano walking towards him... he wondered if El would greet him as a friend... He hadn't really been out lately...
Hinji, satisfied that his purchase was all in the bag, left for his usual large shady tree. He didn't normally do much outside, but had grown tired of the confines of his room. Once he was settled in on a root he pulled out a large book about some of the summoning greats to see if any of them had been able to summon without blood and what the technique was.
Akane wasn't the biggest fan of reading. She preferred more physical means of practice, but Ishiaki-sensei said that in order to learn how to use a chakra scalpel, she could need to learn about the human body. Ignoring her doubts and study ability, Akane had bought some anatomy books and other reads on the medical arts. The rich smell of her bath salt purchase trailed her as she walked down, through the village. Finally, she spotted a small noodle stand and took a seat on one of the stools. She set her bags down near her feet and ordered a simple order of vegetable noodles.
"Declaration? What are you talkin about El?"
Kano asked him, resisting the urge to stop dead in his tracks and face him. "We've been sparring for the last couple of weeks, I just figured I'd surprise her at work. Give her a little gift, you know?"
"Oh please Kano."
El said with a broad smile. "One would have to be blind to not see how you look at her. I dare say you are smitten my friend." El liked Kano. Not that he didn't like Hinji, but Hinji was a dark and cloistered fellow. Kano was much more extravert. That friend in the group who could talk anyone into putting a lamp shade on their head and streak down the center of town in nothing but their underthings. El was not so susceptible to that kind of manipulation, but there was a friendly joviality to Kano that always made El smile. and he was glad he wasn't the only young man in the village with an eye on one of the two kunoichi their age.
"Am I really that obvious?"
Kano asked him, suddenly worried that everyone was talking about him behind his back. Talking about him, he loved that part, but the talking about things like this, that would hurt.
"Well... I noticed."
El said. "But I don't know if anyone else has."
Akane was enjoying her time alone at the noodle shop. A small songbird tweeted nearer to her and stood near the base of her stool. Hearing it's request, she pinched a pea pod from her soup and handed it down to the small bird, who gladly took it and flew off.
seeing as El seemed rather caught up with Kano,
Oita moved forward a bit more, just walking along... he was quite hungry right now in fact, he could put off the shopping for another few minutes surely. He looked around, finding a noodle stand with... Ah, Akane was inside. He thought for a moment, then approached from behind, saying softly "Do you mind if I join you here?" If she said yes then he'd move onto another place, if she said no then he could get something to eat.
Kano swallowed hard and looked at El. "Do you think she's noticed?" He asked him, rather earnestly.
Akane had a mouth full of noodles coming out of her mouth when she turned and looked at Oita. She saw it was him and shook her head, moving over a bit on the stool so he could slide in and take the one beside her.
"Well..."
El began. "She is a rather innocent sort... Perhaps we should investigate the matter before you, for lack of a better term, pop the question. I mean, if she hasn't, you wouldn't want to spring it on her and frighten her away or anything." As they walked they passed the noodle shop and Akane's mint and blue hair caught his eye.
"You've got your own problems already too?"
Kano asked him as he saw his friend's eyes pull towards the noodle shop. He smirked, "I do not intend to pop the question, so to speak. Just give her a little gift, and see what develops from there. We've been sparring in just about all the free time she gets between her own training and her job."
"But a heart shaped box of chocolates may not be the present you want to give her so soon."
El said holding the box in his hands. "Perhaps something less personal? A selection of kunai perhaps?"
After ordering a bowl of eel ramen,
Oita just seemed to sit there, swaying his legs in the air as they dangled off the seat he had taken. There was something on his mind... but there was always something on his mind. "You have recovered from the last mission well?" he asked finally, making sure that Akane didn't have a mouthful of food at that moment.
"Yup."
Akane said plainly, picking up a carrot from her soup and eating it. "Swelling went away weeks ago." she added.
Oita picked up his chop sticks, breaking them cleanly and looking over towards a waitress as he waited for his food "I believe Kami has recovered as well. I am glad you two have managed to avoid any future altercations."
"By avoiding one another, it seems to have worked."
Akane added, twirling up her noodles with her sticks. "So long as we keep it that way as much as possible."
"So this team is definitely doomed"
Oita said with a nod. It wasn't a question, he wasn't the kind to make assumptions about stuff like that. If it kept up like this then the team would be ripped apart. He nodded to the waitress who brought his food, saying a word of thanks before starting to tuck into his eel ramen.
"I think Kami and I both agree to put up with one another on missions. But outside... yea, no thanks. Besides, she has been hiding in her greenhouse just like you are always in your room. You have to admit, this team is pretty anti-social and it's NOT just Kami and I."
Akane said, placing some of the blame on Oita as well.
"Perhaps I would venture outside of my room more if the house I share isn't filled with tension and hatred"
Oita said in return, pushing around a piece of fish with his chopsticks before grasping it and chowing down. He wasn't even looking at Akane "But... no. That is not how this works Akane. I do not leave in a faulty joint because it 'hasn`t failed me in battle yet'. I replace it. That is what the people in charge will see this team as. And even if you try to keep yourself in check, they will probably split us up."
"So long as I don't get that catwoman on the other team. She's a total twat."
Akane said quickly, placing a wad of noodles into her mouth.
"You are very unfriendly"
Oita pointed out as Akane ate "I am unsocial, yes, I admit that. But I am no unfriendly. You seem to wantingly separate yourself from all those around you without much provocation at all. Not only have you alienated a team mate, but you have just now insulted the opposing sensei for no real reason."
"I didn't insult her for no reason. She's always been a bit sour towards me...even since day 1. I'm fully capable and she chose that short music ninja over me. She flat out insulted me during the festival in the eternal hut too. It's a bit hard no NOT hate her."
Akane explained, opening up a little.
"Though... I was not present at your side at the festival, I can plainly see why she chose the musical ninja over you"
Oita said simply, giving a small shrug "I would have thought it was obvious to you as to why she did not pick you. I believe even she would be surprised to learn you have a grudge about it."
"Why?"
Akane asked sharply and loudly. Was there a reason she hadn't seen?
Kano looked at El, "That's what this is about?? You think the chocolates are for her?" He couldn't help but laugh at that.
El looked at the box and back to Kano. "You bought yourself a heart shaped box of chocolates... Ok... I can believe that. If this is yours, then what did you get Kami?"
"She has a lot of cat traits, yes Akane? And you have a lot of birds. Not just their traits, but you actually keep birds, and birds come to you a lot. If her traits are more than just an act... think about how many birds you might have lost every week. She avoided you because, to the traits she has, you and all your pets are 'prey'. While I have no doubt she can control herself around a person, around an actual bird.... well, she no doubt wanted to avoid you heart ache"
Oita finished his exposition, staring at Akane through his large glasses before turning back to his food and starting to eat away happily.
"That would be the surprise element I spoke of."
Kano told him with a smirk, "Besides the chocolates aren't for me either."
"Now I'm rapt."
El said. "Who are they for?"
"That half wit would EAT a bird around me? Sorry, but she is a whack job. I may be overly fond of birds, but that doesn't make me some weird human/bird crossbreed. She obviously has no self restraint if that's the case."
"I have to charm her employer into letting her go, naturally."
Kano explained with a proud smile. "I asked Ishiaki Sensei for some advice, and that is what he told me to do."
"His reputation with women is renowned even in my village."
El told Kano. "What is the gift you intend to give Kami?"
"I am merely saying that when ninjas become powerful in certain animalistic arts they pick up the traits of that animal"
Oita said calmly "And I suspect that it would be difficult for her not to eat, or at the very least play with, your birds, which would upset you greatly. So she did not pick you. Insult her all you want Akane, just be glad she realizes her own short comings and decided to have the other ninja in her team." He carefully ate a noodle, letting Akane speak.
"No offense, but I'm not completely sold on your theory."
Akane confessed. "But I would prefer not to dwell on petty things like that. Any idea where I can buy some dead fish in this market?"
"We are a collaboration of mostly island nations... I'd be very surprised if there weren't any fish stalls around here. Someone must make a living by fishing."
Oita pointed out, still eating his ramen slowly "You could still try and be nicer to people..."
"I suppose there's no harm in telling you."
Kano told him with a shrug. He set the boxes down and opened one of them. "She told me that her Sensei was having her do some weight training, so I figured I'd get her the next set."
"I'm nice."
Akane replied. "Some people just easily annoy me." she confessed, wondering about Oita. "It seems that the way I act is all you ever talk to me about." Yea, it pretty much was.
"Well you seem to not bring up many other subjects yourself... to be honest Akane, your attitude seems to be the only thing you ever give people"
Oita pointed out, shaking his head slightly before eating another clump of noodles.
"I've been trying to have one with you this entire time. You're the one who keeps hurting my feelings."
Akane admitted, her brows tense as she looked at him with her one yellow eye. Glancing away with a sigh, she said, "Forget it. I'm done eating anyway." Sliding off of her stool, she began to grab her things to leave. All Oita did was preach to her about how 'moody' she was and how she was destroying the entire team. If
that is all that Oita had to say, Akane would have no part in him.
Oita paused for a moment, then carefully pushed away his bowl, with the money; he had eaten almost all of it anyway. He joined Akane in a few moments. "I am sorry Akane" he said, honestly "I just... worry about this team. I know both you and Kami are strong... I think we could be a great team. I don't want to see us split up. I am like this with Kami as well..."
Akane slung what she could over her shoulder and carried the rest. "If Kami is half as smart as everyone thinks she is, she knows just as well as I do that we need to 'play nice' in order for this to work." she explained. "But I don't like hearing about how shitty our team is or how bad my attitude is from you morning, noon and night."
"There's a very obvious solution to that Akane... but... let us change the subject"
Oita said softly "Tell me about yourself some more." he was interested in other people... He felt annoyed at them when he felt that they were tearing the team apart but still, he was interested.
"Uhh... that's a bit abrupt."
Akane said, raising her brow, "What do you want to know exactly?"
"Customs, trades, allies, enemies, pet peeves... anything"
Oita said, looking around as they slowly started to move towards the
the market stalls
El's Eyebrows rose and he looked into the box. "That is... very thoughtful of you Kano. Not too personal, not overtly romantic... I believe you may have hit the nail on the head with this..."
"I told you, I know what I'm doin."
Kano told him with a wide smirk. "Now if you don't mind, I've got a gift to give."
"Just remember."
El told him. "Try not to rush her too quickly. You don't want her running off."
"I don't need advice dude."
Kano told him with a smile. "It is appreciated, but not needed." He looked at the other packages carefully, "But if you
really want to help...these have to go back to the apartment."
"I would be honored Kano."
El said, beginning to trade things with Kano. "Anything for love my friend." He gave Kano back his box of chocolates and took the rest of his burdens, being sure to see that he had the package of weights.
Kano couldn't help but feel like he just hustled his friend. He took a breath and steered towards the greenhouse door. "Wish me luck, my friend." He said, hefting the box of weights under his arm and holding the box of chocolates out front.
"Goodluck Kano."
El said waiving with the only finger he had free. He turned to leave Kano to his business and he realized he'd been shafted. Kano was off to slowly build a bridge to a relationship with Kami and El was left carrying all this shopping back to the apartment... Who had gotten the better end of the deal?... Kano, that was for sure.
Hinji heard the familiar voices of his teammates. He looked up to see Kano and El walking by before El was loaded up like a pack mule and Kano left. "Need some assistance El?"
"Yes please."
El said, struggling. He wasn't the strongest ninja in their group by far and the way Kano had left him, his load was off balance.
Kano took a breath and then walked into
the INC Greenhouse
Hinji packed up his stuff quickly and moved over to El. He plucked a card from his hat and dropped it to the ground. Up popped a burly looking shadow. It looked down at El before taking several packages from him.
"Thank you Hinji."
El said, giving the rest of the items to Hinji's shadow.
You are welcome." Hinji said as he watched the shadow take all the packages. "To the apartment?"
"Yes please."
El said as they walked. "Tell me Hinji... what are your thoughts on love?"
"Love? I find that it gets in the way of study."
Hinji said, wondering why this topic had come up twice in a month's time.
"That is a very sorrowful thing to hear."
El said. Though Hinji was quiet and not very talkative, he considered him his friend. "So you will never persue your heart until you become a chunin?" God forbid he wait till he were a Jonin.
"My heart is in my art, so I pursue it everyday."
Hinji said, "To become a truly great master in my summoning jutsu, I must forsake everything else."
"I suppose I understand that."
El said. "Being a musician my jutsu is dependent on what I write, so I must remain open to all avenues of emotion.'
"While my jutsu requires a great skill in caligraphy as well as a vast knowledge of summoning scrolls."
Hinji said, hoping to complete the comparison. "Some of the old masters of the summoning arts had the ability to summon a vast multitude of things from the mundane to the intricate."
Akane and Oita came back from
the market stalls. Oita was carrying one of her purchases, a bag of five dead fish. The smell was enough to draw attention alone.
Oita looked around at the people around him, a little suspicious of what was going to happen. Akane said that the fish would explode... and he was a little puzzled by her words.
"I have heard of masters from my village having the ability to play full orchestras at a time."
El said.
"See, that is why one should put all their focus into their jutsus."
Hinji said, "You cannot expect to be great without working for it."
"I was going to head back to the house. If you wanted to wander around some more, I can take my things."
Akane said, holding out a hand for hte bag of fish.
"I think I will stick with my guitar."
El said. "Not that I do not want to be great, but I would rather devote my life to music. While I wish to become a splendid ninja, my dream is traveling the world playing from place to place... A real traveling warrior poet..."
"Would you not be needed at your village?"
Hinji asked.
"Only if you tell me why you suspect the fish shall explode"
Oita said, raising an eyebrow at Akane and holding the fish slightly further away from himself.
"Cause I have to start with the stupid 'beginner's healing method' shit before I can cut people in half." Akane said, holding her hand out.
"Oh, I see, that's why"
Oita said, looking down at the fish before handing them over "Have you got many books on the subject?"
Akane lifted her other bag and replied with a simple "Yup."
"That's good. I am glad you are paying an interest in a new direction"
oita said simply, looking around at the town around them "Perhaps I will stay out here for a while and join you in the house lately."
"There are many fine ninja in my village."
El told Hinji. "I would not abandon my village, but many youth decide to wander for a few years after they have completed their training. I am sure at some point I would long for stability and it is then that I would return home."
"I see, I think after I complete my training and have finished my duty representing my village in the coalition, I will return to my village and teach the next generation."
Hinji said.
"I just really want to cut people in half."
Akane specified, adjusting her grip on the bags on her arms and hands. "See you later, Oita." she said and headed through the village at a casual pace.
"I see myself as an old man, surrounded by children."
El said, btu for a boy his age old was forty or fifty. "Teaching them what I have learned in my travels."
"Of course she does"
Oita sighed, looking away and wondering if he was too young to drown his sorrows in some kind of alcohol. He wondered away anyway, hoping to find something less depressing to talk about.
Akane walked on, having trouble staying on her toes with all of this added weight to her person.
Hinji nodded, he didn't see El as the stay in one place kind of person, mainly because he just said he wasn't. "Do you believe that you would ever tire of traveling the world?"
"Eventually."
El said. "But that is when I would return to my village and pass down the wisdom I have learned in my travels."
Akane couldn't take this stench. She was not a fish lover. Stopping, she tied a knot in the bag of fish to seal off the scent. She then slung it over her shoulder and pressed on.
Ishiaki walked out of the Ramen Shop and couldn't help but smile. It was one of his favorite meals. He 'saw' the familiar chakra of Akane and waved to her. "Out shopping like everyone else I see."
"What?" Akane asked, turning to see who was talking to her, "Oh, yea. Just finished actually."
"Where is your village actually located?"
Hinji asked, this question had been bugging him for awhile, "It's customs seem so different in comparison to any that I have ever read about."
"Studying supplies?"
Ishiaki asked her, there was a proud tone to his voice. It was nice to see a student not blow their pay on junk.
"Something like that, yes."
Akane said, "I assume you could smell the fish from a mile away."
"Well, I wasn't a mile away."
Ishiaki told her with a shrug. "Good assumption though. Have you spent all your pay on supplies or did you get something nice for yourself as well?"
"Bath salts."
Akane replied, lifting up the bag that smelled of flowers and fruit.
"That's good. I'd hate to have you use all your pay on supplies and get nothing for yourself."
Ishiaki told her with a smile. "Have the others done the same, do you know?"
Oita was seated on a roof top, staring up at the sky and letting the conjoined drone of everyone else block out his thoughts. He was fine with being alone. He'd been alone for ages, there was no need for him to search out others...
"Not sure. I have only seen Oita today and he didn't have anything with him."
Akane explained, adjusting her grip on her things.
"Do you need a hand?"
Ishiaki asked her
"No no, I'm fine."
Akane began, still afraid to show weakness in front of others. "I just can't walk properly with this extra weight." she said and glanced down to her flat feet. She was so used to walking on her toes that walking flat like this was very uncomfortable.
"You sure?"
Ishiaki asked, he could see that she was uncomfortable. "I would gladly carry the fish for you, Akane. All you have to do is ask."
"Nope, I'm fine."
Akane said again. She was training to be a ninja dammit... she could suck it up and carry some books, bath salts and fish. "What are you up to?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
"Well, just finished some lunch. Seems I've got the day off for a change as well."
Ishiaki told her with a smile. He was always doing paperwork or solo missions. It was nice to have a free day for once. "I'm thinking of just roaming around today."
"It's one of the desert islands to the west."
El told him. "Quite far. It took over a weeks travel to reach this village."
"I'm surprised that such a distant village was considered for part of the coalition."
Hinji said, "Any request for help would be a long time waiting for a response."
Oita sighed, his eyes closed, his head hurting slightly as the light shone through his eyelids still. One problem with having the desire to study other people's cultures... he had no social skills.
"I think that's what Oita was doing. Haven't seen Kami all day. Probably goofing around in her little greenhouse as usual."
Akane rolled her eye.
"Do I detect a hint of jealousy?"
Ishiaki asked her with a smirk. "Kami's not goofing around in the greenhouse. She's working and providing a valuable resource to the Coalition."
"Jealous?!"
Akane gasped. "I'm not jealous of Kami, I assure you. I have no reason to envy that girl."
"There are methods of sending word faster than what took me to travel here."
El told Hinji. "Hawks for one and certain ninjas have the ability to travel on sound waves. Such makes traveling by sea seem like a snale's pace."
Oita was chakra weight training. How you do that was a little complicated but he'd invented it in his spare time once. You basically got a heavy burden, his backpack was a great source of weight for this, and you made sure to wear it as you walk (and it had to be walking) across the side of a building. Very few people noticed him up here, walking along the side of the wall, above the bustling crowds as he stayed perfectly perpendicular to the floor. He had to keep a constant form of chakra going as he moved, to directly beneath his feet. If he didn't then he'd probably drop like a rock.
"Well, she's providing a valuable service to the village. Maybe once you learn the medical arts fully, so will you I'm sure."
Ishiaki told her with a confident smile.
"I have no intention on being the village medic."
Akane clarified. "I just want to cut people in half."
"Do you honestly believe I would be teaching you only that? You cannot have one without the other."
Ishiaki clarified sternly. "I will not be giving you power such as that without showing you the responsibility to use it properly. I won't be held accountable for someone running around cutting people in half."
"Well I wouldn't go running around killing people. I was just joking with that comment."
Akane began, "I'de like to think you would know that much about me after the past few months. The chakra scalpel seems like a useful attack and I'm pretty determined on learning it."
Hinji nodded his head at El's statement. "I would love to see someone travel on a sound wave. That must be a truly amazing jutsu." He said as the house they shared came into sight.
Oita took a short trip to the market stalls again in his long walk, by the time he returned he was holding a book open in front of him. He was pushing his glasses up slowly as he observed the book's contents, walking along the side of the building as he read... He should really settle somewhere and really get into this book.
"It is difficult to tell sometimes."
Ishiaki told her, hoping she wasn't hurt by that truth
"I will learn one day."
El told him... "Once I'm more comfortable being off the ground."
Hinji smiled a rare smile. "Hopefully your reliance on gravity will fade sooner rather then later."
Akane scowled in her usual way, taking her eye off of Ishiaki. Although she wouldn't admit it, she was hurt by this. "Yes well... I must be going now." Akane said in a rushed manner.
"Good luck with your studies, then."
Ishiaki told her, bowing his head slightly. Open mouth, and insert foot, he thought with a sigh. "Try and have soem fun as well, ok Akane?"
Interesting techniques...
Oita licked a finger before slowly sliding it across the page, turning it gradually. He didn't usually get spit all over his books, but this was sticking together slightly. Must be a bit of an old copy. If you cut out the words "explosion", "youth" and "spring" then you got quite an interesting read...
"Of course."
Akane said, bowing back. With that, she turned and went on her way once more, still struggling to walk on her toes as she usually would.
"Hopefully."
El said. "It is a weakness I am not proud of."
"I would not consider it a weakness, it is a natural instinct."
Hinji said in El's defense.
"That is kind of you."
El told him. "But I know you are only being nice and I thank you for that. It is nice to have friends so far away from home."
Hinji was slightly taken aback when El called him a friend. "You see me as a friend?" he asked.
"Well..."
El said thinking for a moment. "The list of people in whom I would trust my life is very short, but I am pleased to say that you are on that list and anyone who is on that list I consider my friend."
"Hm, thank you."
Hinji said simply. He had never had a friend before since all his life, till getting sent here, had been spent in rigorous study. "I hope that a time never comes that I let you down."
Akane went on lugging her things out of the marketplace, towards the hut on the hill. She wasn't making very good time considering how heavy these things were... and they felt like they were getting heavier.
Oita was just visible over the edge of the roof, well his backpack was at least; though that seemed to be the most prominent thing about him anyway. He was still reading, and he would probably keep reading until someone checked on him.
Ishiaki shook his head as his student continued to struggle with her load. He turned and headed back the way he had came. Absentmindedly
, his hands rubbed together. It had been quite a while since he'd had free time to do as he wished. He knew the girl at the Ramen shop was rumored to be pretty.
Oita was studying the book rigorously by now, he'd obviously found a piece very interesting. He would try this soon... he wasn't sure how far he'd get but he was going to try it. He glanced up, pushing his glasses up his nose as he looked over the street for a second. He was pretty much back to his usual place, the food stalls. He was in fact, right opposite a ramen shop...
Ishiaki walked into the Ramen shop and smiled to the lady behind the counter. He sat himself down and propped his head on his hand. He started asking her questions and listening intently to the answers. He even laughed a few times and was graced with the sound of her own soft giggle when he made a joke or two.
There was a subtle silence, a slow day, talking, laughing, smiling; people going on with their everyday lives. There might have been drama, might have been some issues, but this was life, if kept on going. It didn't exactly seem like the time or place that a massive chakra flare should go off, specially on a rooftop. Oita was sitting there, mind blown, a little too literally for his liking. He was there, gripping his head, as suddenly intense amounts of power came flooding from his body. Bad idea. The book was on fire a few feet away from him, and you could see a circle in the dust on the floor from the burst of power.
Ishiaki surged to his feet, merely a moment before his and the Ramen girl's lips would have touched. He whirled around and tilted his head, as he 'peered' in the direction of the chakra surge. He looked back at the girl and placed his hand upon his chest, "A thousand pardons, my beautiful one. But it appears that one of my students is in danger. I must offer my assistance as best I can." He took her hand in his and kissed it softly. "I shall return as soon as I can. It will undoubtedly be a long while before I am allowed free time again. i would very much like to spend it with you." With that said, he left the woman to be blushed and embarrassed before the customers. He ran out the doorway and bolted up to the roof in a single bound. "Oita?"
Oita was on his hands and knees now, several feet away from his pack; the straps had started to become singed, so he'd left it behind encase the entire thing went up. "H-hey... sensei" he said, what looked like firey ropes emerging from his fingertips and trailing over the roof.
"What in the world are you doing up here?" Ishiaki asked as he approached him cautiously.
Oita shuddered as the power seemed to fade, there for only a moment. He took a deep breath, then slumped face first onto the floor. "Training" he mumbled into the slightly dusty roof. He raised one finger up, a burn mark on the very tip, and pointed towards the book with the bad burn marks over one side. "Breaking the gates" was the title of the book... it was rather obvious what Oita had just done. The first gate had been broken.
Ishiaki knelt and picked up the book, running his finger across the spine. He felt the letters and looked at his student. "Breaking the gates? Where did you find such a book, Oita? These techniques are very dangerous."
"Book store" Oita replied weakly "Its not really got... techniques and stuff in it... but... I managed to pull a rudimentary method from the book." He pushed himself up slowly, blinking hard several times behind his glasses "I thought it would... be useful."
"Believe me, it is useful." Ishiaki told him with a proud smile. He couldn't honestly believe his student had opened one of the gates
Oita slowly removed his glasses, placed them on the roof beside him, then laid face down onto the floor. He'd only been able to do it because of his already incredible control, but even then he'd been overwhelmed by his own power. "I was trying... to fight my issues... with close combat" he said, obviously exhausted "With gates open... I would be able to cause damage with chakra strings... and even control people." There was a price though, each finger tip was badly scorched, from where the chakra had escaped his body.
"Every great jutsu bears it's own price." Ishiaki informed him, his hand drifting to his scabbard. There was a great price on his swords, but he had already paid a far greater one simply for the jutsu he had access to from birth
"I just..." Oita was getting half asleep right now, and from the grumble of his stomach he was starving after using all that power "wanted to make sure... others didn't get hurt." He took a deep breath, sitting upright again, eyes closed right this second but he was upright at least "The others keep fighting... If I get stronger... I can make up for them not working together." He was really obsessed with this, completely and utterly terrified that the others fighting would bring down the team; maybe it was from all the books he read, or the fact he'd relied on puppets his entire life, but he believed that team work was the greatest weapon on missions.
Ishiaki couldn't help but be proud of this kid. His fingers are singed from his attempt and he's utterly exhausted, but all he wanted was to keep the team going. "Come on, kid. Let's get you some food, then you can get some sleep, alright?"
Oita nodded weakly, standing up very slowly and moving over to his pack. The straps went over his shoulders, but the first time he tried to lift it he let out a groan and completely failed to budge it. "G-give me a second" he said, getting ready to try and lift it again.
"I can carry it, Oita. You look drained." Ishiaki stated, walking to the boy's pack. He placed a hand on it gently
El Smiled. "I hope I never let you down ether Hinji." El said clapping a hand on his friend's shoulders. "Once Kano is done in the greenhouse we should all do something together."
"What do you have in mind?" Hinji asked, not certain he would be very much interested in anything they would want to do.
Akane was making it up to the house now, thankful no one else seemed to be there. Perhaps she could get some peace and quite finally.
"N-no... I should... carry it" Oita panted, even though he had barely any strength left to do this "T-training... push past... my limits."
"I believe you are already past them, Oita." Ishiaki cautioned him, "Please. I do not wish to see you strain yourself."
Oita panted softly, then nodded slowly and let his pack go "O-ok... you can take it sensei... I guess I need to practice this a bit more."
"Oh I don;t know." El said. "Maybe explore what this village has to offer in terms of night life for three young lads such as ourselves."
"I don't know about that." Hinji said, "I think kids our age would just end up in trouble if we tried to enjoy the town's "Night Life".
Akane walked into the public bathhouse and paid for herself. She undressed and stepped down into the warm water, where other women were relaxing and bathing. With her hair wrapped up in a towel, she leaned back and started to read her medical book.
"I want you to research the gates a bit more before attempting to open any more of them, alright? It's dangerous to go messing with them in the first place." Ishiaki warned him as he took hold of the straps and hefted the bag, single-handedly
"Yes sensei. I did not believe the first one would give way so easily" Oita said honestly "I was merely testing if I could find the chakra gate in my head, and well... I rather lost control." He looked down at the street below "Where did you say we were going?"
"The Ramen shop is always a nice place." Ishiaki told him with a smile
"I am a bit hungry" Oita admitted, nodding at Ishiaki before making his way carefully down the side of the building. He wobbled when he landed, but managed to get upright without much difficulty. Food. Food and sleep.
Ishiaki nodded and jumped down from the roof, landing with an impressive THUD caused by the excessive weight of the pack. He did grunt a little as he straightened up, "I don't know how you haul this around constantly, Oita."
"I didn't suggest we get into any trouble." El told him. "Just investigate if there were any trappings for people our age. Where I'm from there were what we called Soda Shops where the young people could congregate in the evening."
"It is mostly training" Oita said, prodding at the pack "But you get used to it... it was a struggle at first, I could not carry all my things, but I managed to get everything I needed eventually." It still slowed him down a bit though.
"I think I have heard of those stores before." Hinji said, "I tried to go to one once, but was caught and punished severely."
Ishiaki shook his head lightly, "Come on. Let's get you something to eat." He told him, leading the boy into The Ramen Shop
"Yes... food" Oita said, running a hand over his stomach and following his sensei into the ramen shop.
For a boy like El that sounded quite shocking. "Why!?"
"Because, I had to abandon my studies in order to go to the shop." Hinji said, "My mentor was furious that I would take my studies so lightly."
"Oh I see." El said softly. "I thought maybe the people there didn't want you there or some such."
"Oh no, the rest of the people did not know I even existed, nor do they now." Hinji said with no emotion. "Very few people knew that I was existed and even fewer knew that I was being trained. My mentor is a very secretive person."
"I understand." El told him. "But it sounds to me like you need a little fun."
Hinji just shrugged and continued on towards the house. Whether or not he had fun was of little concern of his.
Akane managed to finish the first chapter of her book before growing a bit bored on the subject. All this about anatomy and healing was less than interesting. She thumbed through a few more chapters and tried to get into reading again while the bathwater smoothed her skin.
"When was the last time you had a good tiem?" El asked, seeing Hinji shrug like that.
"Considering the differences between us, you may need to give me your definition of fun." Hinji said instead of answering.
Akane yawned as she read, trying to focus on the interesting points in her book. Chakra control... she knew all about that. Chakra was really her primary way to fight. Having hollow bones didn't really help in hand to hand combat.
"Music, dancing, talking to pretty girls... you know, fun." El told him.
Ishiaki came with Oita from The Ramen Shop. He was hauling the boy's immensely large pack with one hand.
Oita was wiping his brow slowly with a hand; he'd really pushed himself earlier. It was nice that sensei had treated him a bit, it was really the first time he'd ever done anything like that... He didn't go out that often.
"In that definition, never." Hinji said without thinking.
Ishiaki lead Oita back to Oita's House, conversing slightly as they walked
"Well I hope you don't find me forward when I push a pretty girl into your arms then." El said smiling
"I do not believe I would know what to do." Hinji said.
Kano left the INC Greenhouse and decided to head back to the apartment. He headed in that direction and noticed that El hadn't gotten nearly as far as he had thought he would. And he had met up with Hinji. He smiled and hailed his friends. "Yo!"
Akane finished after about an hour or so and got out from the bath. She dressed herself and put her books into her bag. Letting her hair down, she paid and exited the bathhouse and took onto the streets.
Hinji heard Kano behind them and turned around. "Hello Kano."
"Kano!" El said smiling. "Tell me friend, how did it go with Kami?"
Kano couldn't help but smirk, his hand went to the back of his head absentmindedly. His face was bright red. "I don't think I scared her off, but I think I sure took her by surprise."
Akane rounded the bathhouse and spotted the other team conversing. She didn't stare, but took notice of their happy faces. Their team really seemed to get along well. Akane pondered if they were always like that when not in public? Did the three of them ever get into arguments or physical brawls like her team did?
"Details Kano." El said crossing his arms. "You are blushing." He had a broad grin on his face, but then again, when wasn't El smiling?
"A gentleman does not reveal such delicacies." Kano replied and winked at his fellows. "But he does embellish." He looked at the packages, "Come on, let's get my stuff back to the apartment, and then I'll tell."
Hinji nodded and ordered the shadow creature forward.
Akane broke her gaze and slung her things over her shoulder once more. The bath had refreshed Akane and her didn't have so much trouble carrying her things this time around. Bored with everything else in this village, she figured it was time to head back to Oita's place.
El beamed and began ushering his friends along, eager to hear how well Kano had done with Kami.
At the greenhouse Hana pushed Kami out the door. The aging herbalist smiled and shook her head as she closed the door behind Kami. Kami had a rather glazed expression on her face and her feet only moved out of instinct to stay out of people's way. She wasn't sure where she was headed, but her feet knew they were taking her towards Oita's home.
And so Squad Beta departed the village and returned to Kazankage's Commissioned Apartment
Ishiaki smiled at Tsu as he exited the INC Onsen. "That was certainly the most entertaining time I've ever spent at an onsen. Don't you agree?"
Tsu was waiting there, swaying on her feet and feeling creeping doubt running through her. What if they did think that she was Ishiaki's daughter or something? Or kept treating her like a child? She hated that idea... She looked up as Ishiaki appeared, smiling slightly at him "Oh? Yes.... wonderful. We should do it more often."
"I agree. Shall we head out?" Ishiaki asked her with a smile. "Or we could stay here, if you have something on your mind?"
"Hmmmm..." Tsu said, licking her lips slowly as she watched him, then shook her head and smiled "No, nothing right now. Lets just go enjoy some food." She offered her hand to Ishiaki... and instantly regretted it; it would look like a man and his daughter again, and it would all feel specially awkward. But she didn't withdraw her hand. That would be rude.
Ishiaki took her hand and held it affectionately as he led her towards the barbeque. "Something seems to be troubling you, Tsu. Is everything alright?"
"No... no" it was an obvious lie, but one Tsu needed to tell. She wasn't going to make Ishiaki realize just what he was doing. he might stop doing it for her... She smiled up at him, walking along side and looking around at the streets as they walked through them, unsure what to say.
"Alright, if you don't want to talk about it, that's fine." Ishiaki stated as they walked. "We're getting close. It's just past the ramen shop and just before you get to the market stalls. We should be able to follow our noses once we pass the ramen shop."
"I just don't want to talk about it right at this moment" Tsu said softly, leaning up and kissing Ishiaki's palm softly as she held his hand. She sniffed the air gently as they passed the Ramen shop, trying to figure out which direction to go in order to get to their barbecue place.
"That's alright." Ishiaki told her softly, smiling when she kissed his palm. It was such an intimate gesture, and to think only a few minutes ago he was performing in the shower for her...
She was a strange person, that was for certain, intimate but completely dirty at times. Tsu smiled up at Ishiaki, sniffing the air again before pulling him away in another direction "Down here, I can smell it... Smells good."
Ishiaki inhaled a great breath through his nose and nodded. "Indeed it does. Hopefully the price will be fair enough as well. I do hate to spend alot."
"Well, I'm paying tonight" Tsu said with a grin "I mean, you DID put on a show for me." She walked them over towards the restaurant, a little sway in her step as she headed in with Ishiaki, stopping in front of the waitress. Please let her not call Tsu a child. Please let her not call Tsu a child. Tsu couldn't take it if she did.
Ishiaki couldn't help but smile at that news. Any time he didn't have to pay for something was good to him. "Maybe I'll pay, and you can give me a show later?" He offered quietly in her ear before the waitress. He held up two fingers, "Table for 2 please."
The waitress showed them to their table without a word, just a simple bow and a nod. Tsu let the breath she had been holding out slowly, no need to let Ishiaki know she had been nervous. But he could probably guess she was because of her lack of comment; she usually jumped on comments like his the first moment she got. Now she was sliding into her seat opposite him without a word, thinking about the food.
Ishiaki looked down at the center of the table curiously, he could sense the heat there from the grill. Barbequing had always been a bit of a challenge for him. It was difficult to judge when the meat was done by his 'sight' alone, his sense of smell was very little help as well. All he smelled was all the meat cooking in the entire restaurant. He smiled across the table at her, "Hope you've got a big wallet."
"I don't go out to eat, and the things I do eat... well, I like to hunt for myself a lot" Tsu said with a shrug "To be honest, I don't know what to spend my money on half the time." She giggled gently and looked down at the grill "so, what kind of meat to you fancy?" She tried not to grin to herself at those words.
Ishiaki shook his head and smirked, "Naughty mind you've got there. I prefer the beef steaks for the barbeque. It's easier for me to tell when they are finished."
"Well, if you wanted to get anything different, I could always help you a bit" Tsu said, wondering if she was going to have some chicken or some pork tonight. She really liked chicken... "And yes... I have a terribly naughty mind..."
"No, thank you. The beef'll be fine." Ishiaki assured her with a smile. "So you haven't eaten here before either?"
"No, never. I don't really eat out" Tsu said with a small shrug, grinning as she warmed her hands on the grill in front of her; it felt cold out there compared to the onsen and she wanted some heat. The waitress came over for their drinks, her smile quite obvious at Ishiaki. Tsu waited for Ishiaki to talk to the woman.
"Some coffee would be nice." Ishiaki told the waitress with a smile. "And a bottle of saki. Tsu?" He asked, implying that he didn't know what she would want.
"That would be nice" Tsu said, giving the girl serving them a suspicious eye. She was looking a little confused, but was managing to hide the fact. "Thank you very much" Tsu said as the girl disappeared; it hadn't gone that badly.
"That's didn't go so badly, did it?" Ishiaki asked her with a grin, he was beginning to suspect what the problem was. She looked very young, he knew that much. "We are the only jonin in the village assigned to to teams of genin. After the display all those weeks ago, I believe the majority of the village knows of us at the very least."
"No... no it didn't" Tsu said, her cheeks changing to a slight pink color as she sat at the table "I didn't even get handed a kiddy menu or anything." She let out a weak chuckle, shaking her head; she had to say something or she might just explode... "Are you sure you don't mind being... seen like this with me?" she had to ask.
"Why would I?" Ishiaki asked her, he had seen and been seen with far stranger things that a woman who looks younger than she is.
"Well... I mean... I look so strange" Tsu whispered gently, giving a weak shrug and chewing on her lip "So... young... so... weird." She swallowed hard, her cheeks burning with shame now "I guess I'm just not used to getting dates... that's all."
Ishiaki leaned across the table, careful to keep his hair off the barbeque, "If you were really as young as you look, then you wouldn't have wanted a show like that now would you?" He smiled coyly and tried to make himself look skeptical, "You probably would have thought I had cooties or something, right?"
"Mmmm... you can cover me with cooties any day you want" Tsu said in a half purr, a smile spreading over her lips as she leaned on the table; she was getting some WONDERFUL mental images right now. "In fact, just for watching you today I think I should get some cootie shots later... what do you think?"
Again, Ishiaki couldn't help but smile. "If you're willing to." He told her with a grin. He turned just in time to see the waitress returning with a tray of their drinks. A pot of hot coffee and a pot with a bottle of saki inside, along with 2 coffee mugs and some saki shot glasses.
Tsu giggled softly and shook her head slowly, smiling across the table at Ishiaki "Mmmm... maybe if you play your cards right Ishiaki... It's been a while since I've had any shots..." She giggled lightly and licked her lips slowly, eyes slipping into the past, roaming across Ishiaki's body in the shower "such a large inoculation... might sting a bit."
Ishiaki was growing more and more confused by her choice of words. She seemed to be taking plenty of time collecting them, so she was certainly being careful. Was she playing with him again??? He nodded politely to the waitress, "I'll have the beef steaks, and I believe the lady was wanting the chicken." He smiled and looked back at Tsu for reassurance.
"Yes, thank you" Tsu nodded to the waitress after Ishiaki had spoken "Chicken for me, breast please." She giggled slightly as the girl walked away, yes, she was quite happily playing with Ishiaki "We should really start changing the subjects before I convince you to play doctors and nurses."
Ishiaki nodded, "There's nothing wrong with playing doctor and naughty nurse. It's better than pirates vs. ninjas." He grinned at that last statement, he had found himself up against countless pirates before. He still didn't understand the what was so funny about the situation.
"Pirates are so filthy" Tsu sighed softly, shaking her head and giving a weak shrug as she thought "They have ALL that water and they never bathe... I know that they can't DRINK that water but still... they could wash a little before I have to attack them." She had been on missions before, and Pirates were always a bother for island nations.
"I must agree, it makes no sense why they don't bathe." Ishiaki replied, shaking his head as well. "Well, the good news is, for the moment there doesn't seem to be any around and the waitress should be back soon with our meat. So far, this has a been a pretty decent experience." He took the pot with the saki bottle inside and placed it on the grill, off to the side so it would be out of the way once the food arrived. The coffee was already hot and he figured that the saki would be as well, but you always drank that warm anyway. He poured himself a cup of coffee and set the pot down. It smelled heavenly.
"Mmmmm... then doctors and nurses it is" Tsu half giggled, taking a cup, pouring the saki carefully out into the small bowl. She took it, sniffed the Saki softly, then sipped from the small bowl "Mmmmm... lovely stuff... but I cant have to much. Gets to me... quite quickly."
"It has that effect on a lot of people." Ishiaki assured her as he poured some into his coffee. In his experiences, he had often wondered why people did this. All it surmounted in was creating a hyper drunk, unless of course it was taken slowly.
Tsu grinned as he poured a little bit of saki into his cup. Good, she hadn't wanted to be the only one drinking. She put down her cup gently, her smile still fixed "I remember the last time I had barbecue... spy mission for my village, just checking up on things you know? Just a small place on the outskirts, but so nice... they had a herb garden and everything, let you bring in a few handfuls right from the bush."
"That's quite nice." Ishiaki said with a smile and a nod, for it was. He looked up again and smiled as the waitress brought the tray with their meat slices on it. "My my, what speedy service."
It wasn't as if they needed to cook the food, Tsu mused, gently fishing a piece of chicken from her plate and lying it on the grill with a gentle sizzle. "Been on any interesting missions lately?" she asked, watching the chicken cooking.
"Do you mean besides the one we all just got back from? Then no. Not really." Ishiaki said with a shrug. "It's rather nice to have some time off."
"I suppose" Tsu said with a small stretch in her seat "I mean, I like mid-day naps as much as the next kitty, but I still want to feel useful around here..." She gently flipped a piece of meat, as if checking how cooked it was "Fledgling communities take time I suppose... by the way, how DID they get someone like you here anyway? A legendary swordsman in such a young country..."
"They pay exceedingly well." Ishiaki replied nonchalantly as he placed a couple of pieces of beef on the grill. He sipped at his spiked coffee and leaned back in the seat, content to leave it at that. If she pressed, he might feel like divulging some more information, but probably not.
"Really? Then I need to check the difference in our pay grade. There's a reason I catch my food" Tsu said, raising an eyebrow up at Ishiaki "I mean, I can afford this, but still..." She knew there was more, knew that Ishiaki had another reason, but she wasn't going to press this.
"There are more ways of paying than with money." Ishiaki explained simply enough. He wasn't precisely willing to discuss such matters out in private, but could tell she wanted to know a little more
"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to" Tsu said softly, raising a hand to make it obvious that she had no intention of pushing this past Ishiaki's comfort zone. "We're here for some food and a fun time. There's no need to bring the mood down."
"Sounds good then." Ishiaki told her with a smile as he reached forward and turned over the pieces of meat he placed on the grill. The smell was very nearly intoxicating.
"Food food food" Tsu said in a sing song voice, pressing down on the chicken a bit, making it hiss slightly as a few juices escaped. "Mmmm... maybe we should head back to the onsen after this. Don't want you returning to akane smelling of chicken."
Ishiaki chuckled and shook his head, "Nonsense, I'm not the one who ate it." He pressed down on his own beef steaks and relished in the sound of the sizzling flesh.
"Ah, she's a difficult one though, always looking for trouble, or a reason not to like someone where there isn't one" Tsu sighed softly, shaking her head and carefully pressing a piece of chicken. It didn't sizzle, and it was nicely cooked, so she picked it up and began to eat.
Ishiaki seemed to tell when the beef was cooked without even looking at it. He picked up a piece and popped it into his mouth. He let out a breath quickly and took a sip of his coffee. "Hot..."
"I'll kiss it better later" Tsu giggled, nibbling on her chicken gently, blowing on it occasionally. For one moment it slipped from the chopsticks, but before it even hit the table the piece of chicken was back in the chopstick's grasp.
Ishiaki grinned and felt his cheeks flush a little bit to her comment.
Tsu blinked, then felt a wide grin spread across her face. Really? Blushing? She fluttered her eyelashes slightly, giggling and taking another sip of saki. Of everything she had said, THAT made him blush? It was rather cute.
Ishiaki finished off the remains of his cup of coffee and then started popping pieces of steak from the grill quickly. He blew on them and then tossed them into his mouth. Sooooooo good....
Tsu giggled as she watched him, eyes following the pieces of meat into his mouth as she occasionally enjoyed her own. She stayed in silence for a while, unsure what to say; read any good books lately seemed a little cliche, and a little mean considering...
Sighing with contentment, Ishiaki leaned back against the seat of the booth. "So, read any good books lately?" He asked her with a smile. He was just thinking of one he himself had read recently.
"A little book on advanced fishing, and recently read a report on slow acting poisons that are almost undetectable after death" Tsu winked slightly at Ishiaki, taking another piece of chicken from the grill. Now this WAS playing around.
"Puffer fish poison is a pretty good one." Ishiaki pointed out to her with a grin. "Strangest thing being that people still eat the horrible creatures despite the fact the poison is there..." He shook his head as he took another piece of beef. "Have you read the newest Make Out Paradise?"
"Whenever I try and buy those sort of books they give me weird looks and refuse to sell me them" Tsu sighed, taking a large bit out of a piece of chicken. she had stopped trying to buy them eventually. she hadn't even tried here.
Ishiaki couldn't help but chuckle at that. "I bet you could get them here if you really wanted to." He assured her, just like the waitress hadn't said anything when he ordered saki for the two of them.
"Maybe you would be able to get them for me, but I don't fancy having another awkward moment" Tsu sighed, carefully pushing a piece of raw chicken around on the grill. "So I'm guessing you've read the new Make Out Paradise?" she asked, trying not to betray in her voice that she wasn't quite sure he could read.
"Of course. I receive the newest copy by mail every time the writer releases one." Ishiaki told her with a proud smile. "He's a brilliant writer and I honestly hope to meet him someday, maybe get him to sign some copies."
"I don't think I'd like to meet him... shaking his hand would probably feel weird... like shaking a frog's hand or something. All slimy and gross..." Tsu wrinkled her nose at the idea. Anyone who wrote that kind of literature probably spent a lot of time doing something that wasn't training.
Ishiaki chuckled and shook his head. "I'm sure he's not as slimy as his writings would lead you to believe." He turned over a couple more pieces of beef and again found himself savoring the scent
"Well, it would be an... experience" tsu replied with a small shrug, a grin appearing on her face. She took the saki again, sipping it and pouring another cup "My my, how did our conversation turn onto THAT kind of writing anyway?"
"I asked if you read anything good and then I asked if you've read that; therefore indicating that I have." Ishiaki explained easily enough. "I figured it would be better conversation if I participated a little bit."
"You know, for a great and wonderful romantic you sure need to work on your flirting skill there" Tsu giggled softly, shaking her head and winking at the man "and don't worry. I'm sure you must be exhausted after that show you put on..."
"I assure you, I've got much more energy that you'd think." Ishiaki told her with a grin. "A little show like that wouldn't exhaust me. I'm thankful the water was cold." He would have winked at that if he were able, he tilted his head to the side in a gesture that had become his synonym to it.
Tsu giggled gently, smiling at Ishiaki with a playful grin "More energy than I think hmmmm? Well perhaps I should check that out later..." He should really be careful with what he says around someone like Tsu.
"I can hardly wait." Ishiaki told her with a sly grin. He was already thinking of several ways to pay her back for that show she made him do.
"Well, you'll just have to wait" Tsu said softly, sticking her tongue out at him slightly "I do so love to play... it'll be more fun when you're not expecting it."
"If you insist." Ishiaki told her, "But I find the most fun is when both parties are aware of what they're doing."
"Mmmm... you should really try it my way. It's quite thrilling" Tsu giggled happily, eating another piece of chicken and grinning at the man opposite her "Specially for you... it'll be quite an experience."
"Well then, what do you say we wrap up this dinner and go have some fun?" Ishiaki asked her with a grin. He knew her idea of fun was a little bit different from his, but maybe they could meet in the middle.
"Soon" Tsu said, carefully reaching over and pouring a little bit of Saki into his coffee cup "And don't worry, you'll like it." She giggled softly, pushing the last few bits of chicken down onto the grill.
Ishiaki nodded in thanks and took a drink of the saki-coffee combo. He laid the last of his beef onto the grill and sat back again. This was the one thing he didn't enjoy about barbeque, it was time consuming...
Tsu smiled softly, leaning back herself and grinning at Ishiaki "I must say, I never thought that I'd wind up with a date when I headed out today. Then again, I never thought I'd ever have a real date."
"I don't see why." Ishiaki told her, a genuine smile on his face
"I'm not usually considered dating material" Tsu sighed softly, shaking her head slowly "Though I'm not sure why. I'm the perfect height to stare most men right in the crotch. From what I've heard they LOVE that..." she giggled softly at her own words, eyes roaming over Ishiaki.
"That is a bit of a bonus." Ishiaki replied with a grin
"Ah ah, no funny ideas yet" Tsu giggled "That's my job. Though it IS a wonderful way to meet people, they usually lose interest after a while when my eyes never go any further up past their belt. If they even decide to talk to me that is."
Ishiaki shook his head and laughed. He reached forward and turned over his beef slices. "I'm the one who's read the Make Out Paradise series, I think I've got plenty of funny ideas in here." He told her, tapping his temple with a grin
"Well speak up man" Tsu said with a grin that almost lit up the place "I'm QUITE happy to hear each and every one of them... if you want to share that is..." She giggled softly, wondering how far Ishiaki would go.
"Now's not exactly the time nor the place for such things as those books, though I'd be happy to let you borrow them." Ishiaki offered her with a sly grin
"Well, it's not the contents of the BOOK I'm interested in" Tsu said, tutting softly and starting to nibble playfully on a piece of chicken "But, if you think that this is not the time or the place, I'll make sure you tell me every idea you've ever had when we get somewhere more... private."
Ishiaki tilted his head to the side and grinned again. "First we've got to get somewhere more private."
"Mmm... well..." Tsu picked up the last of her chicken, pushing the long strip far into her mouth before biting down and eating it. She swallowed silently, finishing her food before carefully downing her last cup of Saki. "I'm ready" she said, her cheeks a little flushed.
Picking the pieces of the grill and popping them one by one, Ishiaki finished his own and then took the bottle of saki and emptied it down his throat. "As am I." He replied, setting down the empty bottle
Tsu made a small tutting noise from behind her teeth, shaking her head slowly at Ishiaki "Such a naughty boy." She looked up, catching a waitress' eye in a moment and motioning for the bill wordlessly before turning back towards Ishiaki "Now, where should we go?"
"My place or yours?" Ishiaki offered with a slight drawl. The saki was a drink that was quick to kick in, in many people. It was one of the reasons he enjoyed it so much, that and the fruity flavor that the rice wine was known for.
"Oh you" Tsu said, sighing softly and taking his hand, kissing the back of it lightly with a smile. "Mmmm... maybe we should go to yours... the ceiling is a bit low in my place, I never expect visitors."
Ishiaki smiled and climbed out of the booth, keeping his hand in hers as he did so. "Come along then..." He told her with a grin
Tsu giggled softly "Hold your horses Ishiaki." She met the waitress half way to the table, putting the money on the small tray, enough to pay for the food, then took Ishiaki's hand again "There. All paid. Now if you would be so kind as to lead the way?"
Ishiaki smiled and nodded, "It would be an honor." He lead her out of the barbeque and along the streets of the village to the Hirameki Cottage, his little home away from home
"Ohhh people are going to think such naughty things of us" Tsu giggled gently, walking with Ishiaki towards his cottage with a grin on her face and almost a skip in her step.
Stumble!