"oohhhh... kitty needed this" Tsu groaned, sinking deep into the tub she was occupying outside, feeling warm marble beneath her and grinning as wide as a Cheshire cat. She might not have her team sharing their problems with her, but she could have some alone time to get her mind off her troubles. Her troubles weren't always troubling, but this place did deals for a sensei, and she just loved having a long hot bath. Not everything about her was cat like it seems.

"Is this seat taken?" A low and sultry voice whispered from above her. Ishiaki smiled down at her, his towel wrapped around his waist for decency purposes. He walked over to the steps and lowered himself into the hot steamy water, removing his towel and setting it aside as he slowly entered. "Nothing beats a hot soak after a long day."

Tsu waved a slow, small hand over towards the seat next to her, not opening her eyes as she remained on the stone kiddy seat. Damn her small body... but it usually meant she had somewhere free to sit in a place like this. "Tell me about it..." she leant up her small head and grinned at Ishiaki after he was seated "And I mean that. It helps to share... if only I could teach my boys that."

"At least yours seem to be getting along." Ishiaki told her as he moved through the water to the seat next to her. His long blue hair flowed out around him like a great oceanic creature. "I'll just be glad if mine survive the night without killing each other."

"I suppose" Tsu said, letting out a small yawn and stretching out, clicking her spine loudly "You can work on that though. I think being taught by someone who looks like me has made them rather unsettled around me. And there's not much advise I could give them." She hated her body... stuck looking like a pre-teen; if any of those woman who wanted to look younger than they are wanted to switch bodies she would happily trade.

Ishiaki chuckled softly and shook his head slowly. "You really ought to stop belittling yourself so much, Tsu-chan." He smiled and 'looked' at her, he was still wearing his customary forehead protector on his face. "You look perfectly aged to me."

"Ishiaki, every man who has said that to me has wound up on some kind of register" Tsu pointed out flatly, shaking her small head slowly "If you weren't blind someone would be doing it at this very moment."

Ishiaki simply grinned and tilted his head to the side, it had somewhat become his symbol of a wink. "Maybe I'm not as blind as everyone believes?" He asked her, rather than flat out telling her

"You're blind as a bat. Doesn't mean you can't see though" Tsu yawned slightly, relaxing back on the stone seat "But... how I look doesn't matter. Even if I managed to get a guy who wasn't a real creep, I could never have kids. What husband wants that?"

Ishiaki leaned back into his own seat and relaxed as well. He looked at her thoughtfully though. "Perhaps a man who'd hate to pass on certain genetic traits?" He parried her question with one of his own. He hadn't known she was infertile...it wasn't exactly a topic of conversation either. He felt it necessary to divulge something just as personal. His hands slid up to his protector and shoved it up along his head, pushing it to where it was traditionally worn.

"But... once or twice in every man's life..." Tsu said softly, gazing at Ishiaki's blank face without giving a hint of being disturbed, or at least trying to "They want a child. I don't know why. Something to do with wanting someone to raise and love and be there own. Even someone who doesn't want to pass on... genetic traits... might want to gamble their chances one day."

He was touched that she didn't say anything at all about it. Ishiaki smiled and brought the protector back down to it's place. "That is human nature, but it is also human nature to adapt. We ninja do that last part rather well, wouldn't you say?" It was true, it was in man's nature to want to procreate, but they were an adaptive race and being ninja made them even more adaptable. If the time came and he wanted a child, there were other ways to have one than risk passing his problem along...

"I suppose" Tsu said, rubbing a hand across her stomach without thinking about it "I've learned to do a lot of adapting with what I am..." She sighed and straightened in her bath, stretching out again "No need to bring the mood down in here though."

"Indeed." Ishiaki said simply and stretched his arms out behind him, along the edge of the bath. He rested his head back against the edge as well. The water was working it's healing magic on him and easing all the kinks from his system. He couldn't believe it had taken him this long just to find this place!

"Got anything good planned for your students?" Tsu asked with a grin, her little cat like teeth showing in the light as she thought of her own plans. She wanted to know what kind of routine Ishiaki had thought of, considering his own difficulties with his students.

"Right now I've got team building in mind. It's what they really need." Ishiaki explained easily, "I've shown Akane some basic medical jutsu in hopes of bringing them together that way. Kind of forcing her hand at it really."

---

Akane and Kami stopped at the gate of the hot springs and paid. Kami was lucky enough to use her coupon from work and the two headed in. They were directed over to the sinks and buckets where they could rinse dirt off of themselves before going into the pools. "This place looks nice." she said, looking around as they strolled to the stools and soaps.

"Do you think we'll have to soak with boys?" Kami asked. One ordeal with a boy was all she could handle today.

"Not sure. It really depends how new the place is. But look- there are walls by the bigger pools, I'm sure we can find a spot that's empty or where other girls are." Akane explained. Was she just...trying to comfort Kami? That sure was different. Finding an empty area by the faucets, Akane set her towels up on a high shelf of the bamboo wall. Without waiting or warning, Akane started to undress.

Kami looked around and not seeing any boys she saw no reason to be shy. She slipped out of her dress and folded it carefully. she placed it on the shelf with her towels and began to watch Akane to understand what to do. There were subtle sufferance in their bodies but Kami couldn't help but feel a little... top heavy next to Akane...

Akane felt just as insecure suddenly. She was older and taller then Kami and yet... she was FAR more developed in the chest region then Akane was. She did her best not to stare and sat herself down on her stool. She kept her elbows in against her sides, hoping to give herself some cleavage in doing so. It didn't work... Trying to ignore Kami's mammaries, She turned on the faucet and grabbed the nozzel and hose from the wall and waited for it to warm for a moment before rinsing herself off.

Kami copied what Akane was doing with the faucet and accidentally sprayed herself in the face. It was brief, only a quick spurt, but it was quite embarrassing.

Akane snickered, but tried not to show it. "I always love these spa shampoos. You just cant get them in the market." She opened a container and took a whiff. "Mmm...this one is coconut." It was odd to see Akane suddenly so passive in her element like this.

"This one is nice." Kami said offering Akane a scent. She hadn't begun washing her hair yet, it took far too long to take down. Finally it dropped down and hung behind her knees. She placed her ties and headband with her dress, wrapping it all together so she didn't loose anything.

"Jeez...that's not where you hide your sensei, is it?" Akane asked sarcastically. She couldn't imagine dealing with such a vast amount of hair.

Kami covered her breasts and knocked her things over into the sink as she grabbed her robe. "Ishiaki Sensei! Where?"

---

Tsu laughed softly at Ishiaki's words "Well we are here to make the kids learn. Sometimes you've got to be more active in the making part though." Tsu sighed softly and dunked her hair under the water "I'm trying to make my boys learn how they can work well as a team. They're quite powerful by themselves, but together they can be amazing. They just need to learn how to plan on the spot."

---

"Jeez! Relax! I was talking about Risu." Akane said, not sure she got his name right. "The squirrel. It's a joke." she clarified. "Besides, Ishiaki sensei is BLIND you know."

Kami seemed to slowly calm down. "Yes, but he still sees through the chakra network. He can see me naked just as well as you can." She told her.

"You're...joking, right?" Akane asked, her face tensing a bit. "He barged in when I was taking a bath a few weeks ago and said not to worry because he is blind."

"I don't think he can see beneath the surface of the water." Kami told her. "But I have trained with him enough to understand that he sees very well and not just with his ears."

"Mmm...You know what I think?" Akane asked, opening the soap. "I think he's a pervert."

Kami's eyes widened. She couldn't believe she said that about their sensei. "I do not wish to fight with you Akane... but I do not think that that is a nice thing to say about out sensei."

"Hey- he didn't see your tits like he did mine. He was perched on the wall just staring. Well... can blind guys stare?" she wondered aloud. "I'm just saying....he was creeping."

"Were... they above or below the water?" Kami asked.

"Well below... at least they were when I realized he was there. I don't know... it's just weird I guess. He's an old guy...he should at least knock or something."

"He is not old." Kami told him. "He is what? At the dawn of his fourth? That's not old. We're only just beginning out second."

"At the dawn of his- oh..." Akane said, getting it after a moment. "Still, I didn't really feel comfortable." She lathered herself up with soap, scrubbing away with a cloth that was offered."

It took Kami took a little longer to rinse her hair but she followed Akane. "I understand." Kami told her. "My reaction may have been a bit... much. I sometimes forget that he doesn't see what we see. I mean the Chakra Network is just lines wrapped in a human shape..."

"Let's just forget about it, alright? I don't need to get stressed out arguing about how perverted sensei is right now." Akane said honestly.

---

"I just wish they'd start getting along already. It doesn't make any sense that they wouldn't. There's so many similarities between the two of them that it's absurd that they fight so." Ishiaki told her, rubbing his forehead with a cloth

---

"Alright..." Kami said, still feeling a little miffed that Akane was talking about Ishiaki like that. "So... where do we go from here?" Kami had put her robe on but so far she had only seen other woman.

"The main event." Akane replied, standing from her spot and cleaning up her station a bit. She didn't bother grabbing her towel just yet. She didn't want to get it wet unnecessarily. "There are some steps over here I think." she said, spotting a railing. 

Kami secured her clothes in the cubby and put away the things she;d knocked over earlier. "Alright..."

Akane led Kami to the water to step in. It was clear from this angle that although she was lacking in her front, she made up for it on her backside. Her hips seemed to be developing and her rump and legs were lean and firm....probably from walking around on her toes all the time. Without waiting, Akane walked down into the water, already smiling at how warm and perfect it was.

Kami followed feeling a little silly now that she was wearing her robe. There seemed to be several women who weren't bothered by public nudity.

Akane walked deeper, crouching into the water until it was up to her shoulders. "Ah~" she exhaled with a smile. "You're boss picked a great spot to give you a coupon. I can't believe I hadn't heard of this place. It beats that bathhouse in town for sure."

Kami dropped her robe by the edge and stepped in. At first it was too hot, but she slowly dipped her toes back in and sighed as she slowly entered the water. "I've never been to one before." She said in a cadence wavered voice as she acclimated to the heat. Finally she made it into the water next to Akane, but her bosom bobbed against the surface, reluctant to sink like the rest of her.

Akane moved to the side of the tub and placed her arms crossed on the ledge. Her chest pressed against the wall a bit and she let herself float there for a while. She sometimes really hated her hallow bones and how much even her own sweat weighted her down.

"This is really nice." Kami said, easing over to the side. She draped her arms across the stones behind her and smiled. "I am glad we have spent this time together Akane..."

"Really?" Akane asked, "Aww... and all this time, I thought you didn't like me." she said in a slight whine. Her tone was sarcastic, but it was only to diffuse the truth of her words.

Kami wasn't completely aware of the dynamic of sarcasm. "I didn't think you liked me ether..."

"If you are expecting me to open up to you just because I'm in a tub, you have another thing coming." Akane said flat out, giving her a serious look. "But..." her voice calmed and she relaxed, staring ahead at the floor tiles in front of her. "You remind me too much of my little sister."

"You don't like your sister ether?" Kami asked, not batting an eyelash at Akane.

"I love her dearly, she's my best friend." Akane explained. "But she can be very naive and careless." And it was carelessness that made her lose an eye.

"And you think I'm naive and careless?" Kami asked.

"I really don't think you want to hear me answer to that, can we talk about something else?" Akane asked, sensing a fight on it's way. They had gotten along rather decently in the past few hours...Ishiaki would be proud.

"If it helps us further shed this gap between us..." Kami said quietly. "I would hear it..."

Alright, she asked for it. Akane sighed and began, "Yes Kami, you are very naive and careless. You need to stop being so quick to put your full trust in someone or one day you are seriously going to get hurt because of it. Rin is the same way."

Kami was about t say something, but closed her mouth, thinking it was better than saying what she had been thinking. "Um... Who is it I've been mistrusting?" She asked. "We are surrounded by allies, by comrads... who here can I not trust?" Besides, she had only ever met nice people in the village. Normal folk. The only person she didn;t really trust was Akane.

"Sometimes the closest allies can be our biggest enemies." Akane said, her tone seemed to be full of wisdom as those words rolled off her tongue, as if she had once suffered the pain of discovering just that.

"Alright..." Kami said narrowing her eyes. "Make a pact with me then Akane. I will try not to be so naive and careless... if you try to be a little less heartless and mean. Perhaps you should learn to trust a little more. Give people the benefit of the doubt."

"Heartless?" Akane asked, a bit surprised Kami would use her such a cold word to describe her. Sure, she could be a bit of a bitch, but heartless? She healed up Oita just a few hours ago, didn't she? Not to mention, threaten to beat the shit out of Kano for her. "I wouldn't go that far...." she pouted a bit, avoiding eye contact.

"You are not on the receiving end of your words Akane." Kami told her. "They are cold and they hurt. I do not know what has been done to you in your past to make you the way you are, but I would have a friend, not an adversary."

"Are we supposed to... shake or something now?" she asked, glancing Kami's way, not sure how to preceed from here. It was an awkward moment after all.

"Are you willing to at least try?" Kami asked.

"I'm not going to paint your nails or anything like that." Akane said seriously. She wasn't that sort of girl anyhow. 

"Did I ask you to?" Kami asked.

"Fine.." Akane said, turning around so her back was against the wall of the pool.

"That is what I am talking about Akane." Kami told her. "Cold indifference, but I know you will not change over night..."

Akane went quiet for a while. She exhaled slowly and watched the gentle bobs of the water in front of her. In an insecure tone, she muttered, "Sorry."

Kami wasn't quite sure she had heard Akane right, but upon refection, she realized she had. She smirked, trying to hold back a smile. "Thank you Akane. I accept your apology."

Her cheeks were starting to feel warm and she sunk down into the water so that the surface was just below her nostrils. Well this was embarrassing. Still... it felt a bit, relieved to say it.

So..." Kami said now that was over with. "Is it alright to swim in here? I wouldn't want to disgrase the pool or anything, but I would like to stretch out a little."

"Of course." she replied, lifting her mouth from the water. "I would try not to splash some of the older folks though. Just to be polite."

"Alright." Kami said and gently pushed away from the wall so she could experience the deeper end of the pool.

Akane stayed where she was, resting against the wall of the pool. It was always hard for her to apologize, but she felt glad she did. She was also especially glad Kami accepted it and didn't dwell on the topic.

Kami stayed out in the center for a bit. Swimming around a little, catching up with her hair as it followed her path. She began to tread water near the center. "So... is your sister back home in your village? Do your parent's miss you?"

Akane opened her mouth to say yes to the first question, but the second caught her off guard. It felt like a needle had just shot through her stomach. "Yes, Rin is back home. In a few years, she will be of age to become a young ninja herself. She is a bit... clumsy though." Akane ignored the parent comment altogether.

"I know what that is like." Kami said, her head bobbing as she continued treading water. "She will grow out of it... I did... or well, I mostly have." Kami laughed slightly and kicked her feet beneath her. "Say... do fish live in these things?"

"Beats me....If so, I don't think a fish would be stupid enough to hang around over here." she replied, pushing off the wall a bit to swim as well. Kami made it look...a bit fun.

"Probably not..." Kami said. "But it's interesting to consider. This is a very nice place... I can see why you enjoy bath houses so much."

"It's not just because I enjoy it." Akane began. "Do you know why birds are constantly cleaning their feathers and splashing around in bird baths? It's because they have hallow bones and the slightest amount of dirt of dust on their wings can effect their flight and balance.

"Um..." Kami thought about it. "I know if they don't keep their feathers clean they can't fly properly... But you do not fly with feathers..."

"Well...obviously." Akane began. "I can still be a bit sensitive to weight other then my own." She never liked talking about weaknesses, especially hers and wanted to change the subject. "But it's at least a nice excuse to visit the bathhouse twice a day."

"It must be expensive though." Kami said. "Why not just use the tub at Oita's house?"

"Oh I do, but sometimes I don't mine spoiling myself. The water is always warm and it's bigger so I can move around." she explained.

"I like the creek outside the village." Kami said. "There are nice flat rocks where I can let my hair dry. I don't like wrapping it up wet... it smells funny..."

"It... smells funny? That's kinda gross..." Akane muttered, wincing a bit.

"Which I why I don't like wrapping it up wet." Kami said. "I had a friend back home who would help me with it and I would help her... I don't have anyone like that here."

"Sorry, can't help you there." Akane said, pointing to her hair. "I know nothing about dealing with long hair. I like mine short, light and easy. Why don't you just cut it if it's a hassle?"

And wouldn't... Kami thought. "The people of my village don't cut their hair." She explained. "It's a sort of discipline to maintain and keep it..."

"Doesn't sound like a good idea for a ninja if you ask me. Someone could grab it... or it could get snared. Besides, don't you at least keep the ends clipped?" she asked, not sure how strict that village rule was.

"That is why I keep it wrapped up." Kami told her. "But we do trim one to three inches once a year to keep the dead ends under control. We aren't savages after all."

"Well yea, I didn't say you were." Akane clarified, not wanting her to think that she thought that. "I've never had my hair past my chin but Rin's has always been a bit longer. Her's was at her shoulders when I left the village. Mom and I used to braid it when she was younger."

"I wish I had that sort of relationship with my sister." Kami said returning to the edge so she could cool down. She left her feet in the water while she sat on one of the rocks.

"She was one of the judges for the sparing demonstration, right?" Akane asked, lifting her body so that she was floating on her back at the surface.

Kami nodded. "Yes... we have never been close and I am sure she returned home and told our father about the mess I made of my battle with Kano..."

"At least your rival didn't hide in the bushes the entire time, making you look like an idiot." she said, still not proud of her spare with the short El from the other team. Akane paused, "You think he liked you then?"

"Oh I don't know." Kami said. "I expect he got the notion in his head around that time though..."

"Well then forget your sister. She can piss off~if you don't mind me saying. You got yourself a boyfriend instead of a sister. A pretty decent ninja too." Akane said. Was she trying to make Kami feel better?

Kami smiled at Akane. She had made her feel better. "Thank you Akane... I suppose I shouldn't let Ikeike bother me. It is not as if she really taught me anything. She was always too busy training to bother herself with me."

Akane hummed lightly to herself, "I'll have to be sure I don't do that to Rin. Perhaps I can visit her when we get a break from training." she said, not sure that even existed.

"I'm sure you can request time." Kami said, running her fingers through her hair.

"We'll see... I should write her sometimes this week." Akane thought aloud. "So-" wanting to change the subject off of her personal life, "You and Kano are apparently...dating or something? Is that allowed?" she asked.

"We are not dating." Kami told her. "I accepted a gift and... we... kissed... That does not mean we are dating."

"Oh of course not. In your culture it means your married." Akane argued as she floated along.

Kami glared at Akane. "You are the one who suggested I not take it so seriously. That is what I was attempting to do..."

She chuckled a bit. "Alright Kami- no offense, but you need to learn when I'm teasing and give you a hard time to when I'm ACTUALLY being a bitch."

"Is this the... sakrasm I have heard about?" Kami asked, "Hana tried explaining it to me but I don't think I understood completely."

"Sarcasm." Akane corrected. "Yes. It's basically a way of saying something. I may say something, for example, but mean the opposite...usually you can tell by the WAY it was said. It's like- a taunt, sort of."

"May I have an example?" Kami asked. She scooted down a rock so she were sitting next to Akane again. "I would learn this s... sarcasm... perhaps I might understand you a bit better."

"An example... uhm... let's see." Akane thought for a moment. "Alright, here's one: Yes, I absolutely haaaate taking bathes." she paused and went on, "Like that, get it? For all you know, I very well may hate baths, but because of how I said it, I am being sarcastic meaning I really do enjoy bathes. That and- you KNOW I like bathes, but that's not the point."

Kami blinked. "Why not just say you like baths?"

"Primarily because I'm being ironic. I'm sort of poking fun at the blatantly obvious fact that I LOVE bathing and saying such a thing just has to be false." she explained, wondering if she made sense at all.

"I think I understand..." Kami said squinting. "Um... Ok.... I absolutely hate this hot spring... um... it's not as if the shampoos were free or the coupon gave us a great price... um... or anything like that..." She looked at Akane with uncertain eyes. "Did I do it right?"

Akane couldn't hide her smirk. "Uhm... how about you let me be the sarcastic one and you be the innocent one. At least until you catch on to it..." she added, amused by Kami's attempt. "You used it a bit too much in that."

---

"People alike don't always like what they see in each other" Tsu sighed softly, wondering if she'd be allowed to bring a rubber ducky to this thing next time "It might just need time..." She froze, an ear giving a small twitch as she looked around towards the other pools "Yeah hear that?"

"Kami and Akane are here..." Ishiaki sighed and placed his hand on his head. "That's just what I need. If they see us like this, I'll never hear the end of how big of a pervert I am from Akane...I'm really not you know."

"Please, with me in the tub? there's nothing to perv over" Tsu sighed, giving a small shrug and settling back on the edge of the tub "And it is a bath house after all. Were they expecting people NOT to be naked in here?"

"It doesn't matter. We're both in the nude. That'll be enough for her..." Ishiaki said with an exasperated sigh. There were many times when he wished he had eyes, if only to roll them.

"Ah, relax. Anyway, who says I'm not the one hitting on you" Tsu gave him a wink, shimmying a little in the water, how a much bustier woman might have done to jiggle her assets. Since it was Tsu it just looked weird. But it was obvious she was just messing with the man.

"Now now, you don't want to start something you don't want to finish, do you?" Ishiaki asked her with a coy smile on his fast. There was so many expressions that really relied on the eyes and surrounding bones that he missed out on. Like the raising of one's eyebrow for instance, that would have come in handy right now.

"Smooth, and this way you don't even have to do that awkward 'you aren`t my type' thing that most guys do when I flirt" Tsu half laughed, shaking her head and dunking herself under water again, planning on boiling her head for a little while.

Ishiaki simply shook her head when she went under. And they say I'm blind? He thought to himself as he relaxed in the water

If it was anyone else they wouldn't be able to tell, but Ishiaki no doubt noticed that Tsu was moving towards him under water, slowly, swimming carefully along beneath the water's surface. She was probably the only person her age who could do that here.

Ishiaki tilted his head toward the water, wondering just what was this woman up to? He smirked as she noticed she was moving towards him. That was interesting....

Tsu got right in front of Ishiaki, still being underwater, then popped up and patted Ishiaki gently on the nose with the flat of her hand. "I boop your nose" she giggled before vanishing underwater again. she wasn't that type of girl, and if she was, she wouldn't do it in public.

He couldn't help but laugh at that. Ishiaki shook his head lightly and waited for her to surface again. It was so very relaxing here, despite the fact that his students were here and no doubt about to bother him any minute now....

Tsu surfaced again, a little closer to Ishiaki than her previous seat, smiling at him and glad that he had laughed. It had been a toss up whether she did that or something else, but she'd decided that it was the time and place to boop his nose.

He leaned back and again rested his head along the edge of the pool. Ishiaki couldn't believe that that little woman had booped him on the nose. The thought of it was absurd, and again he couldn't help but laugh.

"JYNX!" shouted a familiar female voice from around the wall.

That shout was followed by "Don't make me zap you!" a moment later.

"That's Akane, and Kami!" Tsu said, leaping out of the tub. After a moment of standing there naked, there was a flash of speed and she was wrapped in a towel. "Come on" she said, gazing over at Ishiaki "Can't let them kill each other."

Ishiaki groaned and started to get to his feet. "So much for relaxing..." He mumbled as he climbed out of the bath. He was fully naked as well and it took him a moment longer to grab his towel than Tsu had taken.

---

Kano leaded the others from their apartment. "See? Isn't it great?"

Hinji looked around with a doubtful look on his face. "That is yet to be determined."

"The sun is setting Hinji." El told him. "Once you're beyond risk of burning you'll see how enjoyable this is. We don't have hot springs where I am from, but I have experienced them in my travels. They aleays seem to remind me of home." And of course they would know from hearing El's stories of his homeland that his village was a very hot and dry place.

Hinji hoped he would be correct, the risk of burning was a big thing on Hinji's mind right now and if that threat was removed he may be able to enjoy his time here.

"Ok, we have to wash up over here before we get in." El said directing them to the boy's side of the showers. There were a few men already there, seeming not to mind their nudity at all.

"And...apparently the trunks were not necessary?" Kano pointed out by all the dangling sausages around. He had known that some Onsens were like that, but the ones he had back in his own village had required the little piece of modesty.

"We did not have the luxury of a hot springs in my village." Hinji said as he took off his kimono and hung it up delicately, "We had a cold bio-luminescent spring, it is something that you don't see every day." he removed his large hat and the cloth that covered his eyes, hanging them up on the hook with his kimono, revealing that he had no hair and his eyes were nearly white.

"Oh a cold spring!" El exclaimed. "That sounds really great! We have public pools to keep people cool in the summer, but they weren't all that cold."

"Dude!" Kano started, staring at Hinji. "You don't have any hair?" He took off his vest-coat and hung it up on the hook before taking his sandals off and setting them on the shelf beneath it.

"An astute observation Kano." Hinji said as he stepped under the shower head to clean himself off before getting into the hot springs.

"It is not polite to say such things Kano." El told him. "Hinji knows he is folically challenged. He does not need you to tell him."

"Yeah, but I didn't know." Kano pointed out as he as well stepped under a shower head. "So the real question, fellas, is do we go with the flow or do we wear trunks?"

"Well I prefer modesty." El said as he dunked his head beneath the shower and rinsed out the suds in his hair. It was an odd thing for him to say considering the severity of his garment.

"If I were allowed to I would be wearing my robe in." Hinji said in way of expressing his decision. He finished washing himself off, since he had no hair he could skip the shampoo part and get done quicker. He saw that there were different tub options, "Do the two of you have a tub preference?"

"There aren't any tubs here." El explained. "It's not like the public bath in town. These are natural springs, pools, like small ponds."

"What hotspring containing material preference do you two have." Hinji said with a sigh.

Kano chuckled, "Any one of the tubs that doesn't have other naked dudes in it is fine by me." He grinned and grabbed a towel, dropping his trunks and wrapping himself up in the same motion.

Hinji was about to set off when he noticed that Kano's trunks were now around his ankles. "Must you?" He asked pleadingly.

"It's traditional to really." Kano stated with a grin as he tucked the towel snugly. He shrugged and grinned, "Besides, think of how little the girls are likely to be wearing?"

Hinji just rolled his pale eyes and walked off in search of a vacant tub. "Always with the girls." he could be heard mumbling as he left.

El clapped his hand on Hinji's shoulder. "They make the world go round my friend." And he began to follow Kano. "Though I will say, Kano, if you intend to sneak a peek at our female neighbors, I will have to dunk you. That is not honorable behavior for a young man."

"In my village, it is a test of one's ability as a ninja to sneak a peek without getting caught." Kano told El with a wide grin. "But for the girls, it is a test of their ability to inflict the greatest amount of pain for one who manages a look."

"Still..." El said, not liking the sound of it. "In my village we respect women and their right of privacy."

"Oh we respect women and their privacy as well. The women tend to peek more than the men do." Kano told him with a wink. "Besides, whoever said that the women in my village let us peek? They are horrifically fierce ninjas. Not many at all manage to get a peek and still be able to walk away from it...."

"So it is believed to be a measure of your ninja capabilities, in your village, if you are able to sneak a peek of the opposite gender without getting caught?" Hinji said, completely baffled. "I don't think that excuse would work here, so I wouldn't try it."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Kano assured them both. "It is not a true test of one's abilities, just one that's kind of observed by the young ninja."

"JYNX!" shouted a familiar female voice from around the wall.

El perked up from head to toe. "That's Akane." He said securely. After all he was a sound ninja and if he knew the voice of anyone it was his lovely Akane.

That shout was followed by "Don't make me zap you!" a moment later.

"I'd set my watch and warrant that that's Kami." Kano said worriedly and tightened the top of his towel, now that he thought about it, maybe it was foolish to leave the trunks behind. They hadn't even gotten into a bath yet and already there was a commotion.

"Come on." El said and began hurrying in the direction their voices had come. "If Kami and Akane are in the same place, it's likely blood will soon be shed." He trotted towards the male side's stone pools.

Hinji followed El in hopes that he was searching for a vacant pool and not the girls.

Kano followed them eagerly, wanting to know if Kami was alright. He knew what she and Akane had gotten into before, even if the others didn't.

El reached one of the bamboo fences on the stone side and held out his hand for them to stop. "I hear their voices." He whispered.

Stopping and kneeling beside his comrade, Kano pressed an ear to the fence. He couldn't hear anything though.

Hinji sighed an aggravated sigh, "I came here to experience the hotsprings, not to spy on girls. If you need me, I will be in the water." With that he turned around and left the group.

"Eavesdropping and spying are two very different things." El hissed back at Hinji. He heard other voices... was that Tsu sensei and Ishiaki?

Kano watched Hinji go and felt a little pang of failure. He turned back to El, "He has a point though...we really shouldn't be spying on them." He shook his hand at his side and then got up and walked briskly around to the other side of the wall.

---

Hinji wondered around the hot springs till he managed to find a spring that was located near a wall to help block the now setting sun. He stepped in slowly, letting his delicate skin acclimate to the temperature of water. Once he was in, he moved over to the far side against the wall and removed his hat, setting it in a small dry spot.

---

"Ok..." Kami said, then her eyes brightened. "This is fun though... Can I teach you something?"

"Uhm... I suppose so. What exactly?" Akane asked, heading over.

"How to say thank you." Kami told her. "I don't often mind... but it is nice to hear from time to time..." After all, she did get them into the springs at half price.

"I thanked you for the meal, didn't I?" Akane asked, a bit taken back by her words.

"I believe that was the first time I had ever heard you say it." Kami told her. "And I only mean that it is very nice to hear from time to time..." But she wouldn't force the issue of the coupon. The shrinking of the gap between them was compensation enough for that.

It was true, Akane did have a problem saying 'thank you.' In her mind, it meant she was relying on someone, which is definitely what she didn't want. "Noted."

Kami sighed. "Well I am very glad we had this time together." she told her. She chuckled. "If Ishiaki could see us now."

"Yea... he'd stare." Akane said with a smartass shrug. He wouldn't stare of course....he would...well, he would do whatever it is he does to "see".

"You know what I mean." Kami said. "He would hardly believe how well we are getting along together."

"I hope you know what a 'jynx' is." she said seriously, not very confident that this peace would last too long. They were bound to fight about something sooner or later.

At the sound of that word Kami lifted two fingers to her forehead and spat three times over the side of the pool. "Don't even say that!" She hissed.

Akane frowned when she saw Kami spit like that. Her eye tensed and she looked at Kami, confused. She froze and turned her head a little to the side, eye locked on her, "...Jynx."

She then got a face full of water as Kami splashed her. "Don't!" and she spat over the side again. It wasn't really spitting spitting, more of a ceremonial gesture of spitting.

When she got water in her face and (previously)dry hair, she took a breath and shouted "JYNX!", probably a bit too loud. Luckily, there weren't that many people in the bath with them. Akane's breath hit the surface of the water and blew water up at Kami. 

Kami was quite sure they were playing. She shielded her face and splashed Akane again. "Don't make me zap you!" She laughed, probably causing the rest of the women in the pool to take notice.

Akane always liked a challenge. She sprung up and grabbed Kami's wrist and leg, pulling her into the water with a firm yank.

Kami squawked and fell in with a splash. She was glad that Akane was not so strong, she could have seriously hurt Kami. She knew what weak joints she had. Though Kami didn't surface immediately after Akane threw her in... as a matter of fact, the ripples had finally subsided and she still hadn't came back up.

Akane looked around at the water, but it was hard to see with the steam and bubbles of their splashing. She swam back a bit, thinking Kami was going to try a sneak attack.

"Right you two!" Tsu said, practically sliding into the room across the floor. She skidded, then with a small "eep" noise landed on her backside as her foot slipped. she blinked, having this moment to look up at them and go "Uhh... weren't you fighting a moment ago?" Thankfully she was still covered by a towel.

Kami had decided to hide till Akane got in trouble for splashing, but hearing Tsu sensei above them, she decided not to let Akane take the heat. "No Sensei." She sputtered. "We were only playing." That comment made Kami blink twice... had she said that right? They'd been playing?

Ishiaki appeared behind Tsu and held out a hand to help her up. "You two better have a good reason for disturbing our relaxation time."

"Mine particularly. I need these baths" Tsu sniffed, standing up slowly with Ishiaki's help, sniffing and watching the two with interest. Playing? Strange... that was... fast.

"What are you talking about?" Akane asked Tsu, before wrapping her arms around her chest as Ishiaki came in. Oh of COURSE he would be here. Not to mention, he was here... with Tsu, now that was an odd concept. Scowling, Akane sunk into the water until it was up to her nostrils. She had a little vendetta against Tsu as it were.

"I'm a cat person" Tsu said with a small shrug, rolling her shoulders slowly "I'm used to long snoozes... and with all this being a teacher stuff going on I'm just not getting the naps I'm used to. So... these baths help me unwind at the end of the day. I've been coming here for WEEKS." She groaned as her back gave a loud cracking noise "Ah... that's better."

Kami quickly put her torso deeper into the water. "We were only playing Ishiaki sensei. We didn't mean to disturb your relaxation."

Akane stayed low in the water, feeling a bit foolish for letting her guard down like this. Finally, she lifted her chin out of the water. "Sorry about that." she forced out, just wanting these two to get the hell away.

"No... no, I'm sorry" Tsu said, waving a hand and smiling slightly at the girls "Don't worry. I just... wanted to make sure you two didn't get into any more trouble. Have fun, I'm glad you two are getting on." She gave them a small bow out of respect, then vanished from the spot she had been occupying. The towel fluttered in the wind for a moment, before there was another flash and the towel went with her that time.

"Playing?" Ishiaki asked them with a smile, "Very glad to hear that. As long as you two aren't about to drown each other, I'll be heading back to my bath." He nodded his head at both of them, for the first time proud of both his students for actually behaving.

Akane rolled her eye and tucked her chin under the water once more. Gods, how embarrassing.... Her hands were still over her breasts, just in case. Ishiaki apparently didn't SEE how they did, but it was still unnerving to have an adult male instructor peering in on them like this.

Kami looked at Akane, not smiling, but seemingly glad that their sensei had seen them getting along well. She bowed gently and said "Enjoy sensei."

"Bye." Akane said quickly, lifting her chin out of the water for a moment. This was awkward. 

Ishiaki smiled again and turned to head back to his bath. He hoped that Tsu would be returning there as well, she was pleasant company after all.

Kano came around the wall briskly and saw the two girls in the tub. "Hey! Fancy meeting you guys here!"

Kami's eyes became as round as saucers and she suddenly went out of sight, dunking into the water to hide from Kano. She;d been concealing herself beneath the surface already.

El couldn't believe what Kano had done. He'd only simply wanted to listen at the fence to be sure it was them. He came forward in his tight little "banana hammock" as Kano had called it and grabbed his friend by the shoulder. "I told you not to-!" Then he realized what was before his eyes. His beautiful Akane was here, wet... naked... if only she hadn't been hidden by the water... His banana hammock suddenly drew tight across his middle.

"Jeez!" Akane's shoulders jumped from surprise at seeing the other team here. "Warn someone before you come prancing around the corner, you dicks! You know how sensitive Kami is...you should especially, Kano." she said, knowing full well what he had done to her earlier today. She turned her head from side to side, looking around until she spotted Kami's blurred body through the water. Glaring at the two ninja's, she snapped her fingers and pointed to a towel rack on the wall behind them. "Towels. Now."

El took his hands off Kano, realizing his state he dashed behind the fence to hide his... embarrassment.

Kano held up his hands, "No harm meant. We're gonna be over there in the neighboring bath." He turned and barely even saw El move off behind the fence. "I take it that means we'll be goin now. Sorry to disturb you two." He waved at Akane, and wished he could wave goodbye to Kami, but she was still under water. "Enjoy yourselves."

Kami didn't surface till she heard Kano leave. She was as red as a tomato.

Akane noticed Kami was red in the face and smiled deviously. They were supposed to be wed, right? Why not have some awkward bonding time. Akane didn't mean it in a cruel way, but more so in an annoying big sister sort of way. No doubt it was all Kami could think about right now anyway. "Get your tan ass back over here! Towels! Toss them over." she called forward, pointing again, wondering if Kano was a bit thicker then she had originally thought.

"Oh!" Kano said in shock, kneeling and picking up the indicated towels. He hadn't realized that she was telling him to get them before. He turned and tossed them over to her. "Does this mean we should join you?"

If Kami's eyes grew any bigger she would drown from ocular inhalation.

"Sure, I'll bet Kami would like that." Akane teased, elbowing her teammates arm. No doubt Kano would catch on that Akane knew about the two of them making out earlier. So it seemed, Kano and Akane were on the same page when it came to modern times and bathing. El and Kami were apparently a bit shyer about themselves. Akane was quite a bit more comfortable around boys her own age then older, naked men...for reasons she would rather not say.

Kano smiled and turned back around, towards El. "Dude, come on. We don't have to go to another pool."

Kami had taken to only leaving her nose and eyes out of the water just as Akane had earlier. When Kano turned away to call for El, Akane felt a sharp finger poke her in the side. Kami's eyes were livid.

El was still on the other side of the fence, he'd found a rock with which to hide himself, but... well he was still holding a rock. "Hinji is waiting for us." He told Kano quite sternly.

Akane chuckled and smirked, "What's wrong? You like him don't you? Besides, he seemed quite excited to see you here. Why not spend some bonding time together?" She swam away from her to the edge of the bath. Grabbing the side, she lifted herself out of the water while Kano spoke with El. "Don't be so old fashioned, Kami." Akane grabbed two towels from a shelf and wrapped one around her torso, tossing the other into the pool at Kami to wrap in. "I think I'm going to give you two some alone time. I want to check out the saunas anyway."

Kami was bubbling with fury and fear but she grabbed the towel and pulled it around her without raising one inch in the water. The towel was of course soaked, but it was at least around her.

El heard Akane coming his way and panicked. Here he was, full mast with only a rock to hide himself... in any moment she'd see his... state of affairs... After a quick hand sign he erupted in smoke.

Akane waved a hand to Kami, hoping she would get a 'thank you'. later. Walking past Kano with a towel around her, she said, "She's all yours, lovey boy." Akane hadn't even noticed El in the first place and walked on to the saunas. Kami had gotten her hair wet and it had a slight visible wave to it, draping over her forehead, cheeks and neck. Reaching the saunas, Akane admired how well made they were for a moment as she gripped the handle and pulled. She prayed to the gods there weren't any old, naked people in here. Taking a last breath of cool air, Akane walked through the steam and found an open seat on a bench.

Kano smiled as Akane walked by. He shrugged at El. "Whatever dude. He said he wasn't interested anyway. Go ahead and join him." He turned around and saw Kami with a towel wrapped around herself now. He walked over and slowly got in, keeping his own towel on as well, in hindsight he wished he had kept the shorts now. He smiled to Kami and settled into the relaxing waters

Kami hated Akane more now than she ever had before. "Hello Kano..." She said softly, nervously.

"Hello Kami..." Kano replied, his face flushed, and not from the heat of the pool. "Ca...can we talk about earlier?" He was glad that the others had all left, though he did feel bad about ditching both his friends. He knew El would understand, once he told him the real reason behind it. Hinji though...he might not trust Kano ever after ditching him like this.

"I guess..." Kami said moving over so she could sit on one of the low seats. Since she was covered she at least left her shoulders and the top of her towel out of the water. "I... I needed to confess something to you any way..."

"I'm sorry..." Kano told her and found himself wanting very much to look away from her. "I feel like I took advantage of you and I don't want to screw this up. I..I really like you Kami..an..and I want to get to know you more." He took a deep breath and felt like sinking to the bottom of the pool just to hide his embarrassment.

"I... I like you too Kano." Kami said, nigh boiling the water from the heat of her red cheeks. "And I would like to get to know you better... but... we cannot kiss again..."

"What? But why?" Kano asked her, not understanding why they couldn't. He thought it was a good kiss. "Did...did I do something wrong?"

"No!" Kami said quickly. "It was fine, very well executed actually... but..." Kami sighed and searched for her words. "Where I'm from... when a girl lets a boy comb her hair... it means she likes him. I should have told you that before I allowed it to happen... And a boy and a girl do not kiss until... well... until they are engaged. By all rights of my village... we are..." She didn't know where to go on from there. She looked at him with eyes that sought forgiveness. "I... I tricked you Kano... I'm sorry."

"You didn't tell me something shocking, I wouldn't say that qualifies as a trick." Kano told her, wanting her to feel better about it. He was shocked that according to her customs, now they were engaged! "I'm the one who tricked you. I bought you a present and asked a kiss in return."

"I... I did like it though..." Kami told him. "So don't feel bad about it... but... what do we do now?"

Kano bit his lip and looked at her. "What can we do?" He asked her curiously. If kissing meant they were engaged, he'd hate to do something and find out it meant something totally different to her people again....

"You mean...?" Yes... that's exactly what he meant. What else would a boy ask after being told he couldn't kiss the girl he liked. "There is something..." Kami said softly. "But... It's a little silly."

---

Tsu was already in the bath by the time that Ishiaki would return, relaxing back again after getting all flustered for nothing. "Well... that went well" she said with a small sigh.

Ishiaki returned and left his towel on the edge of the pool just as before. He slowly entered the bath and felt himself relax immediately upon touching the water's surface.

"Now how did you manage that?" Tsu said with a gentle laugh, shaking her head and watching with one eye as Ishiaki stepped in. She liked her eyecandy as well.

"Manage what?" Ishiaki asked her curiously. Her timing on the question was perplexing. She could be speaking of two things at the moment, really...either the two girls finally getting along, or the family jewels between his legs.

"The girls..." Tsu said, raising an eyebrow at Ishiaki but knowing that he probably couldn't sense that "What did you think I was talking about?" There wasn't anything in her head that she could be asking about right now.

Ishiaki grinned and gestured downward with his open hands. "Your timing was impeccable, Tsu. I had just dropped my towel and was entering the water. What do you think I was thinking?" He settled into the water and shrugged. "I had it narrowed down to two things, either the girls or myself."

"Well it's not like I don't know how someone gets their boys" Tsu half giggled shaking her head "But right now, I'm more interested in your girls. This is a rather drastic change around after all." Maybe she would come back to the questions about his testicles later.

"I would like to know what happened between when I left them last and that strange sight of them playing..." Ishiaki explained with a smirk. , "But enough about my students. How do yours fare?"

"Oh they're doing okay" Tsu said, waving her hand lazily "Working on getting them to work together, be smart... they're bonding alright. Hinji still acts a little anti-social at times, but they are trying their best." She leant on her arm for a moment, then smirked "I'm more wondering why you thought I was so enthralled by your testicles. I mean really... what a subject to raise with a lady."

"I never said enthralled. You simply asked that question the moment I dropped the towel." Ishiaki replied with a shrug and a smirk on his face.

"Well you did drop it the moment you arrived. Didn't exactly give me a chance to strike up conversation before hand... though now I AM wondering, because if there IS a reason for me to raise the question of how you managed your testicles, there's either something VERY interesting about them you haven't told anyone, or you really DO have a one track mind." Tsu smirked at Ishiaki. It kinda felt good to have an adult conversation. she didn't get those often.

"Some would certainly agree about the one trackedness of my mind." Ishiaki told her with a certain flare to his smile. "Personally, I prefer to say I have great focus. Such a nicer way of phrasing it, wouldn't you say?" It was her fault he had thought she was captivated with his nakedness anyway. After the nose bop earlier, he really hadn't expected her to surface and bop him on the nose...was he so wrong in thinking something as simple as that, given their current circumstances?

"Much nicer..." tsu said with a chuckle, relaxing back. She liked flirting. She liked being able to feel like a woman. She took a deep breath, her eyes closed... In the silence of the moment she became... a little too aware of her own body... how the water buffeted at her... how it wrapped around her tiny frame... She became too aware of how twisted she looked. She snapped her head up, taking a sharp breath and saying "So... another topic. Yes. Something... something else."

Ishiaki tilted his head to the side in wonder. "You sound troubled. Is everything alright, Tsu?" he asked her, moving to a closer seat in the pool. He could tell that she wasn't exactly wanting to talk about something, but he wasn't a mind reader and had no way of telling what topic she was trying to avoid.

"I... HATE... my body" Tsu sighed softly, reaching down and prodding herself in the belly "And... well, talking like this... and with the feeling of water all around... I guess I got a little self-conscious for a second. Don't worry... these moments pass if I talk about something..."

"Then by all means, a change of subject is required." Ishiaki told her with a smile. "You said your boys were doing well?" He asked, hoping she didn't mind repeating herself. She had to have known how much he hated it.

"Kano is still the little powerhouse" Tsu said, swirling her finger in the water slowly "Control is something he needs... El is more complex and easily disturbed than the others really seem to realize... He needs to learn a bit of endurance as well, his fingers get hurt very easily. Hinji has all this power inside him... good power, useful power, but he has a habit of relying on one jutsu at a time to get him through situations. They all need to work on their battle strategies, but he should most of all of them." Tsu sighed gently, closing her eyes again and relaxing "What about your lot?"

Ishiaki sighed, "Well as you saw, the girls are doing much better. Kind of in an overnight transformation. Oita has begun reading on the Eight Inner Gates...a jutsu that proves extremely dangerous to the user."

Tsu let out a low whistle at this news "The kid's trying to become a one man platoon or something? He's ambitious, I'll give him that, but do you think he'll be able to handle that as well as his puppets?"

"I'm not sure. Right now he should be laying in bed resting and healing from his first attempt..." Ishiaki explained with a heavy sigh. "He at least listens. He went willingly enough when I told him to go and rest. Then again, I would have as well, given how draining the gates can be."

"He broke one already? Well... maybe he can handle both things at the same time" Tsu said, grinning to herself as she thought about the little figure breaking the gates. Quite the challenge he set himself. "You got a determined kid on your hands there... careful with him, he could really be an ace in the hole."

"Indeed he is." Ishiaki replied with a wide smile, "Apparently all he did was due some reading in one of his new books and apparently he had accidentally opened the first gate."

"Ah... I THOUGHT there had been some kind of explosion earlier... amazing really..." Tsu sniffed slightly, feeling the steam flooding her sinuses. It really cleared the head, and left you feeling all cleaned out afterwards. "Mmmm..." she groaned as she relaxed "Buy the kid a library card and he'd be a master ninja by the end of the month."

"He needs to rest far more than he gets. That's something I'm trying to instill in him." Ishiaki explained and then shrugged, "All he seems to do is work on the puppets. He told me himself he'll often just pass out at the work bench."

Tsu giggled gently, shaking her head at the idea of Oita passed out on his desk "Trying to make a student train less? That's... novel, I must admit. Maybe you should see if there are any ninjas from the Konoha willing to teach him the miracles of slacking?"

"He needs not slack training, simply rest training." Ishiaki said with a grin. "I'm tempted to show him some of my luxury jutsus, it might entice him into sleeping more."

"Oh please, half of the jutsus you know he isn't old enough to perform without a license, the other half he's too socially awkward to perform" Tsu giggled gently, shaking his head at Ishiaki "But... I'll amuse you. what kind of thing were you thinking of teaching him?"

Ishiaki tilted his head to the side. "Woman, thou wounds me! Do you believe that I have anything so perverse within my repertoire of jutsu that I should not teach it to a student?" He looked at her and shook his head slowly. "I was thinking of teaching him my luxury bed jutsu."

"Oh really now?" Tsu raised any eyebrow, not answering the question about his lewd jutsus "And what does this luxury bed jutsu exactly do? I can tell it is a great and powerful one, and you have been saved by it many times before in your fights."

Ishiaki chuckled and shook his head. "It's not for use in battle. It makes the time in between them easier. Hence the luxury part. The luxury bed summons a great bed covered in pillows and soft blankets. Perfectly ideal for sleeping and roughing it on the road. When you're done, you disperse the jutsu and it leaves no trace."

"So... summons... a big bed... And what if he attempted this in say... his workshop? which is probably quite crowded. And small." Tsu could just imagine it destroying half the puppets in there and giving him even more work to do... From the sound of it, the problem was that Oita didn't even go OUT of his workshop as it is.

"It's a summoning jutsu. You have to prepare the bed to summon personally. I've arranged a massive bed for myself. If I show him how to do it, he can make any sort of bed he wants, even one that fits in the workshop." Ishiaki explained a little further.

"I'm still not sure that would work" Tsu said with a gentle sigh, rubbing her chin slowly "I mean... the kid has a room, right? And a bed? so why wouldn't he just... go to bed if that was the issue? The issue seems to be that he just keeps himself working for too long."

"The kid is a bit overzealous. It's admirable in such a young ninja. He wants to learn more, who am I to not teach him something?" Ishiaki replied with a shrug. He knew that the jutsu probably wouldn't help with Oita's sleeping problem

"Admirable, but not always recommended... I mean, almost everyone is out here today, socializing... and you say that Oita is resting in bed because he hurt himself from trying too hard. If he just works then he's going to miss out on a lot happening around him" Tsu sighed, sinking a bit lower into the water so it slid up around her neck.

Ishiaki shook his head and allowed himself to sink into the water as well. "He overworks himself, that's all. Once he heals up, I'm gonna talk to him."

---

---

"Maybe you should have your little medical ninja in training have a crack at it?" Tsu said, pointing back towards the room with Akane in "Unless she's still almost killing herself with her new tricks."

"I have every intention of teaching all of them the basics of the luxury jutsus. Let them do as they may with them. It's a very basic summoning jutsu really. I just embellish the title essentially. The real trick is getting a place to store a bed the size of the one I summon." Ishiaki explained with a wide grin. The bed he could summon was indeed far larger than most and so finding a place to store it until summoned was always tricky.

"I mean have her take a shot at healing Oita, if he's that badly hurt" Tsu said with a wave of her hand. He had rather grabbed the wrong end of the stick there. "But I think you might bore Oita with the summoning jutsu training, considering he already uses it multiple times to summon his puppets to the field. Hell, he can probably write one better than I can."

"I know he can summon, that's part of the reason behind wanting to show him it." Ishiaki replied with a shrug. It was pretty much an easy step for Oita to understand the concept of the luxury jutsu. "As for having Akane try and heal him, I cannot force her to do anything. If she feels like trying, who am I to stop her? Like I told her when I showed her the basics, it's good for the team."

"And I suppose with someone like her, even suggesting it in passing would mean she's dead set against it" Tsu sighed softly, swirling her fingers in the water to make a miniature whirlpool "Oh well. She's starting to seem a bit more of a team player..."

"I have found a way to get her to study the medical jutsu just fine." Ishiaki explained, quite pleased with himself on that one really. But he wouldn't reveal his training methods just yet.

"That's good" Tsu said, guessing that he wasn't going to say anything. Some people could be so secretive. "I should really introduce my lot to a few new jutsus, but the work they need right now should really be applied to the jutsus they already know..." She sighed softly, closing her eyes again and relaxing back "Enough about the students. Come on, that's all we've talked about since we got here. What about you?"

"What about me?" Ishiaki asked her, wondering just what about him it was she wanted to know.

"I dunno. what about you? What do you do in your spare time? What do you like? Just... you..." Tsu waved a hand slowly with a chuckle "tell me about you." Was this flirting? she wasn't sure. If it was it wasn't exactly on the same level as talking about his testicles... she should stop thinking about that.

"Well, I enjoy long walks on the beach, dinner by a fire, and champagne on the boardwalk." Ishiaki explained with a debonair smile, "Not to mention karaoke at sunset."

"Charming" Tsu laughed gently "But what about the other stuff? The stuff that doesn't sound all romantic and flirty? As much as you love those things, it rather limits the time to do them. What do you do when you've only got a few moments to spare?"

"One does not become a legendary swordsman without practice." Ishiaki said mildly and shrugged, that was pretty much what he spent his real spare time doing. Keeping his abilities honed to perfection.

Tsu let out another small giggle, but simply shrugged and let out a sigh "I suppose because I've never had to be a master anything I'm not exactly under that pressure." She yawned gently, smiling at Ishiaki for a second before saying "So... Mr. charmer... have any lucky ladies caught your eye around here?" Figuratively of course. But it would be worse to actually say that.

"I believe myself to be a gentleman, first, dear lady." Ishiaki told her sternly, but still with that smile of his. "And a gentleman never kisses and tells." Yet again, he found himself wishing he had eyes, just for the simpleness of winking

"Oh come on" Tsu said with a small pout "If you're going to say you're a big stud, and in your spare time you just practice your sword skills, give us something to chat about. I don't even mind if it's other ladies."

"Oh come on, I think you wouldn't like hearing about that very much." Ishiaki told her with a small smirk. But nevertheless, he leaned in to disclose a few things. "No doubt you've heard of my rather colorful reputation?"

"Oh... one or two things" Tsu said, smirking to herself as Ishiaki leant in close to her. She wasn't thinking that he would do anything funny with her, she was just a little shrimp after all... he probably liked fully bodied women.

Truth be told, Ishiaki liked any and all women. His reputation was colorful, but for the most part it was true. He was leaning close enough that he could have kissed her, if he wanted to. Honestly, he had thought about it. It would have made things interesting, that was for sure. "It's all true." He whispered with a smirk.

"Really?" Tsu said, sounding shocked at his words, but she was toying with him in her head. She liked toying with people "Even the guys? Well I didn't believe that much... but now you've said it's all true... well, I'll just have to spread it round a bit more." She sniffed, facing forwards and leaving him to a moment of panic.

There was no panic, however. Ishiaki simply sat there and stared at the side of her face. "I have never done a single thing to provoke any such rumor, and you know it."

"I'm sorry... but rumors do have a habit of spinning out of control sometimes" Tsu said with a shrug "And well... if you just told me that EVERYTHING I've heard about you is true... Then that means that you must have done... something, right?" She was trying to not sound like she was toying with him. Too much resemblance to a cat for her own good really...

"You and I both know you've never heard any such rumor." Ishiaki told her sternly. He was not amused.

"Getting touchy now" Tsu said, placing a finger on his nose "Alright. I'll drop it. But if a gentleman never kisses and tells, I'm surprised by your willingness to reassure the rumors about you. Rather going against your code there isn't it?"

"Just because I don't kiss and tell, doesn't mean I will stop the women from telling." Ishiaki told her with a grin. The majority of the rumors about him came from the women he had been with, after all.

"But then you confirmed it" Tsu said, grinning up at him like the cat who has cornered a sly mouse "They could have boasted, they could have lied, no one trusts rumors because... like I proved... they can be rather twisted. You however, decided that ALL of them are true."

"That would be because the ones that are out there are pretty much true. You are trying to falsify rumors on the fly." Ishiaki explained, still 'staring' at her.

"There you go again... kissing and telling" Tsu giggled playfully, batting at Ishiaki's nose softly "Girls share those rumors in secret. You shouldn't be so boastful of your skills, whether they are true or not."

"Why shouldn't I be boastful? It isn't just my reputation among the ladies that I'm speaking about. My reputation extends further than my apparent womanizing, though truth be told, I haven't mistreated a single one of those women. I treated each of them as the goddesses that they are." Ishiaki explained, a shiver running down his spine as she batted his nose again.

"I bet you did" Tsu said gently, leaning in and planting a soft kiss on the tip of Ishiaki's nose "I bet you did..." She liked playing with Ishiaki... he didn't seem to expect it to come. It was amusing when he became flustered at her actions.

Now it was Ishiaki's turn to play with her. When she planted a kiss on his nose, his arm quickly snaked out of the water and deftly wrapped around her waist, pulling her through the water until she was against him. He leaned his head down and planted a kiss directly on her lips with the same fluid motion.

Tsu grinned, actually responding for a moment, then forcefully pushed Ishiaki back from the kiss "Mmmm... now now, enough of that lover boy." She giggled softly, not moving the hand from her waist "Not with the kiddies around. Someone might see."

"Doubtful, the only one who'd make any fuss is over in the sauna." Ishiaki pointed out with a grin. He kept his hand on her waist, holding her against him. "Besides, so what if someone sees?"

"I don't want them to, that's what" Tsu said with a grin, raising her eyebrow slowly at Ishiaki "And you I thought you wanted to treat every lady like the goddess that they are? If so... then respect my wishes. The kiddies must not see."

Ishiaki grinned and thought for a moment. "I have a way, but I'd have to let you go." He told her reluctantly. He didn't really want to release her, but he'd need his hands for his plan.

"Uh uh... nope" Tsu giggled gently "I like this. and I like this bath. No fancy jutsus, you're just sitting here with me, ok?" She smirked slightly at him "That is... if you're ok with that?" She wasn't quite sure what she was doing, but she liked it.

"I was just going to put up a privacy wall." Ishiaki replied with a shrug, "Honest. Nothing fancy about it. Just another of my luxury summons."

"Nope" Tsu said with a grin, licking her small sharp teeth as she gazed up at Ishiaki "No jutsus. No luxury summons. Just you and me sitting here in a bath. Okay?" She purred softly as she gazed up at him... such a strange man.

"Woman, you are a confusing one." Ishiaki told her but nodded his head. "First you want to not be seen, and now you don't want me to construct walls for privacy."

Tsu giggled gently and nodded "Of course I am..." She sniffed slightly, then gently pulled Ishiaki's hand away from her hips "Ok, you can make the screen if you want. But don't you think that'll look suspicious?"

"Would you prefer we leave the onsen?" Ishiaki asked her plainly. In truth, he didn't much care if it did look suspicious or not.

"Hmmmm... no... we're fine here. I like my baths" Tsu said, sinking a little lower in her bath and smiling to herself "I just wanted to make sure you realized that people might think you were... doing something."

"And what if I would like to do something?" Ishiaki asked her, placing both his hands on her hips again.

Tsu raised an eyebrow slowly, staying relaxed back and watching Ishiaki with interest "Then you better run it by me first... and ask nicely." She let out a soft laugh, closing her eyes almost entirely, but peeking out at him, watching his expression.

Ishiaki looked at her and let out an exasperated sigh. "Woman, thou art a true vixen. You have heated my blood and when I attempt to rectify the situation, you say something like that." He couldn't help but grin as he looked at her. "say true, you are a real tease."

"Just know this, oh great and wonderful lover of women, I like to play" Tsu almost purred, leaning in and kissing him softly on the lips. she wasn't even sure why she was doing this... but it felt nice to flirt... felt nice to play.

This time, Ishiaki held her to him, keeping her in his arms as he kissed her back. He moved suddenly, turning them over, so she was the one on bottom of the coupling. He broke the kiss and looked at the little woman beneath him. "Know this, there is a fine line between play...and torture." With that, he nipped her on the nose gently and got out of the bath, modesty be damned, he strolled away from the pool with himself swinging through the air as he headed for the showers and his clothes.

"Ohhhh, just watch me cross that line" Tsu giggled over to Ishiaki as he left... or so he thought. She grinned, watching him leave towards the shower. She got out slowly, picking up her towel and walking around... she could find the outside of the shower no problem... She would even be able to pick up which one he was showering in... this would be fun.

---

"Hinji?" El called, having left his boner behind he was now searching for Hinji on the men's side of the hot springs. He was angry at Kano for ditching them like this and now he couldn't find Hinji.

Hinji heard El calling his name loudly through the facility. He let out a semi-disappointed sigh before responding, "Over here El."

El followed Hinji's voice and joined him in his pool. "That was so embarrassing..." He said with a sigh. "I wanted to just listen for a moment to make sure it was them and Kano just WENT ON OVER... That's no way to act around women. "

"That is definitely not the way to act around women. Eavesdropping and listening in on their conversations is much more polite and gentlemanly." Hinji said with much sarcasm.

"I only wanted to make sure it was them." El repeated defensively. "I had no intention of eavesdropping." Though perhaps he was lying a little. He was a sound ninja, he knew who's voice belonged to who when he heard it.

And Hinji knew this, "You seemed pretty sure who it was when you first heard them." He said looking over at El

"I only wanted to be sure." El said again. How hard was that to believe?

Hinji wasn't going to continue arguing with El and instead just laid his head back and tried to enjoy this. "It feels like I am taking a bath after taking a shower."

"Well... we sort of are." El said deciding to relax also. He laid back and got comfortable. "There's a sauna if you prefer?"

"I don't think a hot moist room would be preferable to anything." Hinji said without moving.

"Do you not find this enjoyable?" El asked. It seemed there was nothing Hinji found enjoyable.

"It is currently the most enjoyable thing you and Kano have brought me out to do." Hinji said. He didn't want to say that he would much rather be studying a new summon that may allow for a better defense then his normal shadow enhancement jutsu.

"We haven't brought you to do anything..." El said slightly confused. They'd only really gone and had ramen together. Hinji was always studying.

That was more or less the point of what Hinji had said, since they had only brought him here he had nothing to compare it to, to determine enjoyment factors. He glanced down at his arm and noticed that he was still getting a little pink, causing him to frown deeply. "Perhaps we should check out the saunas after all."

El smiled, maybe Hinji was loosening up a little? "Alright." He said. "Though I don't know if they are co-ed or not. Will you be comfortable if they are?"

Hinji sighed inwardly. Anything to keep from burning to a cinder he wanted to say, but instead said, "I will manage."

"We'll grab some extra towels on the way." El said offering Hinji a hand.

---

Akane leaned back in her seat in the sauna. They didn't have one of these in the public bathhouse. This was so nice and relaxing. The humidity and heat reminded her a lot of home actually. All it was missing was the jungle and birds of paradise.

She glanced around as people left. After a few minutes, she was the only one in the sauna. That was just fine with her, if anything, she preferred it. Akane would be able to perhaps get some meditation in right now, though she couldn't help but wonder about Kano and Kami.

With no one around, Akane loosened her towel, though was still covered, and crossed her legs on the bench, Resting her palms, Akane breathed in and closed her eye, slowly exhaling as she began to meditate and reflect.

Opening her eye, Akane sat up and scooted over to the edge of the seat. Grabbing the job of eater, she poured a little bit onto the hot rocks in the corner. Steam billowed and filled the sauna.

Akane eased back and got comfortable once more, exhaling slowly as the temperature rose. Oh how she missed her home in the jungle. Endless trees and forest that stretched on for miles.

---

Hinji grabbed his hat and set it atop his head before getting up out of the hot spring. "Lead the way." He said to El.

El followed the signs and stopped at a shower stall to grab some extra towels before reaching the sauna. Both men and women it seamed were entering. He handed an extra towel to Hinji. "Kano would likely enjoy this." He said already feeling the heat from the outside. "But I'm sure he has more important matters on his hands at the moment."

"I'm sure" Hinji said plainly as he waited for El to enter the sauna.

---

Akane heard some people outside of the sauna, but with the steam, it was hard to make out. Adjusting her robe so that she was proper, she braced herself for the cold air that they were about to let in.

El opened the door and smiled as he felt the heat on his face. It was a moist heat, not something he was accustomed to, but it was nice knowing that this place remind him a little of home... Then he saw Akane and froze completely in the door way.

Hinji waited behind El in the doorway, waiting for him to go in
"El, you are blocking the entrance."

Akane wasn't giving the newcomers much attention until Hinji spoke and El's name was said. "Oh- hey guys. Are Kami and Kano making out that much that the whole pool is clearing out?" she asked, obviously joking. She knew Kami wouldn't do something like that.

"We... we, we, we, we..." El stammered, meaning to tell her that they;d given Kano and Kami their privacy, but there was Akane, in nothing bit a robe, which was three times more than what she usually wore. Still, he was dumb struck.

"Sillier than a kiss making us engaged?" Kano asked without thinking. He smiled at her though, "Can you show me?"

"Don't make fun Kano." Kami said seriousness. "My village customs have worked just fine for two dozen generations."

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." Kano said quickly, looking at her apologetically.

"Perhaps we should forget the Panfar." Kami said. "Besides, it is a custom for long lost comrades. That is not us."

"Panfar?" Kano asked her curiously. "Then, what do you suggest we do?"

Kami looked away, trying to think. Kano expected affection of some kind and she was bound by tradition and law not to kiss him. What else was there but Panfar? "Would you like to try it?" She asked. "Then you may decide if it is unsuitable."

"I'd like to try anything...with you." Kano told her with a sheepish grin on his face.

Kami felt her stomach flop over inside and she swallowed dryly. "It requires us to be close." She said leaning in slowly. "Nearly close enough to kiss..."

Kano felt as if his heart was in his throat. He leaned in towards her and wondered what it was she was going to do.

Kami's stomach was full of butterflies as she gently leaned forward and touched her nose to Kano's. It was gentle, careful and she slowly began to caress his with her's. It was odd doing something that was meant for old reuniting friends, but with a boy she admired it felt strangely sensual and she closed her eyes, hoping he would understand what to do.

Kano closed his eyes and reveled in the feeling of her skin against his own as she rubbed her nose to his. He wasn't entirely sure what to do, but he felt as if he should at the very least rub hers back. He gently rubbed the tip of his nose against the side of hers, following her lead in the process. It certainly was strange and a little silly, but it was also better than not doing anything.

When Kano began to reciprocate her movement, Kami smiled and pulled away. She rubbed her nose gently. "Sorry... it tickles."