Ishiaki was walking as naked as a jaybird across the way into the showers. He wasn't in need of another shower, given the purity of the onsen water, but he was in need of the coldness that a shower would offer.

Tsu giggled internally as she followed Ishiaki step for step, sneaking along, though she doubted that he hadn't noticed her. She was enjoying the little game they had going. She would wait for him to stop and take a shower... These authentic wooden walls were perfect for secret observation.

She had to know that he could see her, Ishiaki thought as he entered the showers. He grabbed a towel and complimentary robe and then headed to a shower near the back. He set the towel and robe aside where they wouldn't be able to get wet, and then started the water

Tsu grinned as she heard the water running. She knew that he could see her... and she knew that he knew that. that's what made it playing. she waited a few seconds, facing away from the sound of water running, then slowly extended some chakra from her finger. she cut the hole slowly, circular, eye height for her but around hip height for him. She turned around, scanning to see if anyone was in the current area, then plucked the piece of wood out of the hole and placed her eye to it. Since he could always see her, she wanted the same courtesy.

Ishiaki heard the wood moving out of itself and looked down at it curiously. He could see Tsu's form on the other side of the wall and could only wonder at what she was up to now. The hole was at the perfect height for his groin, but surely if she had a problem with them simply kissing in the bath, surely she would object to doing something like this...was she just trying to get a look at him? He smirked and decided, he might as well oblige her then.

Tsu grinned as she stood there, eying her prize. She had no idea that he was thinking of something else this hole could be used for, she was just admiring. It did feel good to do this... She liked to play, he seemed to be interested in her playful attitude... and he was such a large piece of eye candy.

Ishiaki simply started his shower and began washing himself, slowly, knowing full well he had an audience for such a normally private ordeal.

Tsu had no idea if he could tell that she had a huge smile on her lips, she knew he could 'see', but not how well. She reached up slowly, then made a scratching noise down the wood slowly. Just faint, but it was as if she was testing how far he was willing to ignore her.

Ishiaki heard the scratch and smirked again. "I know you are there, enjoying the show?" He asked as the soap worked its way downward.

Tsu was basically purring by now, grinning as she watched Ishiaki "Mmmm.. you don't play how you're meant to... and so far in your show nothing's really happened." She giggled slightly as she watched his hands "about to change that, are we?"

"The only thing better than watching a show, is participating." Ishiaki spoke to the wall, knowing she would hear him just fine. "Why don't you come in here and I'll show you what I can really do." She could no doubt see just what it was that he had in mind. A man's body had a specific way of betraying itself.

"Sometimes a person wants to watch the show a few times before they get up for the whole song and dance" Tsu retorted softly, a small giggled crossing her lips as she watched Ishiaki. That fine line of playing and torture was being tiptoed around, Tsu was just dancing on that fine line.

"Well, I'm afraid the show's not really much for entertainment. I shower for the purpose of being clean, not being seen." Ishiaki told her, he thought about turning around and denying her the show she wanted so bad, but where was the fun in that?

"Ohhhh trust me, this is plenty fun for me" Tsu sighed, leaning against the shower side and sighing happily, gazing into the shower with a smile on her face. "You sure are eager to get me in there though, aren't you?" it was amusing to see him like this... The big romancer being so easily toyed with.

"You started this, I see it as only fair that I am allowed to finish it." Ishiaki replied with a grin. He was giving her a show alright, he couldn't believe he was, and in an onsen shower of all places...

"Mmmmm... and why do you think that?" Tsu giggled softly "If I remember correctly, you kissed me on the lips. I pecked you on the nose, you grabbed me, then kissed me... And that still doesn't mean that anything's started. In fact the only thing that... has started...." Tsu giggled gently as she watched Ishiaki "You started yourself... and I am perfectly happy to let you finish."

"You played, I played back." Ishiaki told her as he continued the show, he was beginning to come to the end and he knew it. The absolute worst thing that could happen would be if he were to finish it right in her little peep hole.

"Well I do really love to play" Tsu said, watching Ishiaki with a wide grin "And I'm glad you're so willing to play back..." She giggled gently, winking at him through the hold. She was tempted to make this go further right now... but her playful mood had just taken over by now.

Ishiaki turned away to finish and then started spraying the soap away with the shower head. "There, you've gotten your show. Though I do believe that after that, you owe me some dinner." He offered with a grin

"ohhhhh my..." Tsu mumbled as she watched Ishiaki turn away, managing to catch a glimpse of what Ishiaki had been trying to hide. "Mmmmm... dinner... yes, that sounds like fun" she giggled, pulling her head back slowly so she wasn't gazing straight at Ishiaki "Where would you like to eat?"

"I heard about a barbeque place not too far from here. So far, I've not found any restaurant that I don't like yet." Ishiaki explained with a shrug as he sprayed down the shower stall after he was clean. He turned around and grabbed his towel, drying off quickly. "So how about now, you come inside? It's awkward speaking to a wall."

Ishiaki would barely be able to register the moment when Tsu was inside and when she was leaning on the wall of the shower, grinning up at Ishiaki as she remained in her towel "There... all better now?"

"One could say that." Ishiaki responded, he did feel much better, especially now that the tease had been sated. He grabbed the robe and slipped it around himself, tying it loosely around the center. "Are you going to rinse off before we head out?"

"Mmmmm... that would be a good idea" Tsu said slipping into a stall without a hole in it and tossing her towel over the edge, so it stayed out of the way. She took a deep breath, letting the water start up, just planning on rinsing herself off slightly.

Ishiaki would be lying if he said he hadn't thought of joining her in the shower stall. But he decided against it. Instead, he moved over to the shelves and retrieved a dry towel and a robe for her as well. "So...did you enjoy the show?"

"Yup..." Tsu replied happily, scrubbing at her smaller body quickly, a smile across her lips "You should really do it to an audience more often." She giggled gently as she worked quickly with the soap "Is this barbecue place nice? I don't go out too much."

"Perhaps the next time I do it to an audience, you'd join me in the show?" Ishiaki offered as he brought the towel and robe over to her stall, waiting outside it until she was finished. "From what I've heard it's quite good. I haven't been there yet though."

Tsu giggled and stuck out her tongue, coming out of the shower with her towel on "No promise about the show, but I would love some food. How about I meet you outside and we head up there? You'll have to lead the way anyway."

He handed her the fresh robe and nodded. "I would be delighted." Ishiaki told her with a smile before turning around to go and get himself dressed. He couldn't very well go to a restaurant dressed in an onsen robe.

Tsu giggled gently at Ishiaki, then nodded to him. She disappeared in another flash; she really liked to move at high speed, even when relaxing. she was dressed in a few moments, sighing and gazing down at herself; she just hoped that the waitress didn't think she was Ishiaki's child when they got there. With another quick movement she was outside the Onsen, waiting on Ishiaki.

It didn't take him long at all to get dressed. In a few moments, Ishiaki stepped out to meet Tsu in the INC Village

---

Kano rubbed his own nose after she pointed that out. It hadn't tickled until she mentioned it. He smiled, "That wasn't bad...but I'd rather just kiss you."

"But you respect the customs of my village too much to do that." Kami said smiling. "I'm sorry that we are restricted in such a way... but forced to wait will make it all the better later..." And by that statement there it sounded as if Kami were interested in a very long relationship.

"Does that mean..." Kano started and looked down at her. He chewed his lip for a minute, "Does that mean that you want to date?"

"I do not know what you call it..." Kami said. "We call it Chadash when a young man wishes to spend time with a girl... Do you wish to Chadash Kano?"

"Chadash...we would call it dating, or perhaps even courting." Kano replied, he was still looking at her, his hand thumping on his leg under the water. "So the engagement thing...that's off for now? Since I didn't know what the kiss would mean and all that?"

"... Yes..." Kami said prolonging the word. "I should have told you when you asked... I'm sorry..." But she was finding it very hard not to smile. Her and Kano would Chadash... It was almost enough to make her glomp him in joy.

"Don't be." Kano whispered to her and closed that miniscule gap between them effortlessly. "I think we're a bit young for it right now, but I wouldn't be surprised if I do kiss you in the future." He told her with a smile before rubbing his nose to hers, what had she called it? Panfar...

Kami smiled and blushed from head to toe as his nose touched her's. She was giddy all over and it took everything in her to stay still.

Kano smiled and stopped the Panfar with her and then looked into her eyes.

Kami looked back when he stopped moving his nose. They were still close, but she asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Kano told her with a smile on his face.

"What!?" Kami persisted, but she couldn't help but giggle.

"Really it's nothing." Kano told her with a smile. He looked down and decided to get a little bold. "So ummm...these towels are really kind of a breach of Onsen tradition."

Kami frowned at him. "If those sorts of things are all that is on your mind, I may have to rethink... dating you."

Kano looked at her seriously. "Come on, you were doing it just fine before El and I showed up, and let's face it these towels are sopping wet. 100% cotton might seem like a good idea, until they get wet." He grinned at that last part. "Honest, I'm not trying to take a peek or anything Kami. Just observing tradition."

"I'm not taking the towel off Kano." Kami said seriously. "And if you suggest it again you will have to see Akane to heal your broken nose."

Kano balked at her. "There's no need for threats Kami." He decided that a change of subject might be necessary. "Have you ever been to an onsen before?"

"No." Kami told him. "Akane said it was tradition to go naked... but I would only be willing to do that in the company of other women."

"That's understandable." Kano told her with a nod. "Honestly, I wasn't trying to get a look at you naked. Just thought it would be fun to observe the tradition, is all." He shrugged and added, "I was doing the same until we came upon you and Akane."

"Why are we discussing it?" Kami asked. "are you uncomfortable?'

"No, I'm certainly not uncomfortable...just kind of at a loss of words I suppose." Kano explained with a shrug. "It's a little hard to focus, sitting across from such a beauty."

Kami's face warmed as she blushed, her lips tightened and she looked away.

Kano smiled, happy to know that he was capable of charming her at the very least.

"It's hot in here..." Kami said absently, trying to fain away her blush with the heat from the water.

"That's natural, it is a hot spring after all." Kano replied with a smile, of course. "Do you want to stay here in the bath? I mean if it's too hot, we could always leave."

"Yes actually." Kami said. "I'm not used to being so warm and I've been in here a while."

"Where would you like to go, then?" Kano asked her curiously. It sounded as if she was wanting to remain in the bath, but leave at the same time. He was a little confused by this.

"There was a refreshment stand not far away." Kami said. "We could meet there and continue our discussion."

"That sounds wonderful." Kano told her with a smile. He gestured with his hand that she should get out first. "Ladies first."

"Ah ha ha..." Kami said dryly. "You first." She told him sternly and with the same look she'd used when she'd threatened to bop him in the nose.

Kano held up his hands in defeat, "Very well." He got up slowly, holding onto the towel that was now weighed down horribly by all the water it had absorbed. "So we change and then meet out front?" He asked as he turned around to offer her a hand up.

"Yes." Kami said taking his hand. Her towel was indeed heavy, but it covered almost as much as her dress did.

Kano smiled and when she was out of the water, planted a soft kiss on the back of her hand. He looked up at her and caught her eyes, thinking for a moment. "Am I allowed to kiss you like that?"

"That's ok I guess..." Kami said softly, taking her hand back. "I'll... I'll meet you at the refreshment stand..."

He couldn't help but smile again. "Alright." Kano told her and headed off to the locker room to get himself dressed. This had gone much better than he had thought it would.

---

Akane's brow tensed at the young mariachi, not sure what to make of him. Her gaze went over to Hinji, "Is he usually this articulate?" she asked sarcastically.

"No, usually is very hard to quiet." Hinji said as he removed his hat and set it gently outside the door, out of the way of passing feet. As he gently moved El out of the way and entered the sauna, Akane could see that he was exceptionally pale and had no hair atop his head. The only thing he had on, other then the towel and the trunks underneath, was the thin dark cloth that covered his eyes.

When Hinji moved him El finally came out of his stupor, during which he had continuously said "We." The entire time. "We left them alone." He finally said, the effect was akin to a skipping record being righted. "Thought they might want to talk after what happened today."

"Ah, so he told you guys then, huh?" Akane asked, pull up the towel around her chest. "Just make sure he doesn't get any bright ideas about forcing himself onto Kami. I'll break him in half." she warned seriously.

"You will have only the pieces to halve." El told her seriously. "I would not allow such behavior go on in my presence if I can help it. There is nothing more dishonorable than treating a woman in that manner."

That was probably the most she has heard El speak in a long time, at least to her. "Good." Akane replied, "Though I wonder how those two being together will effect the teams...especially if we are to spare one another again."

"As lomg as the four of you do not end up with each other as opponents then we should be fine." Hinji accidentally and unknowingly letting out a secret, "However, me and Oita will be the only ones unaffected." he added as he found a nice place to sit on the otherside of the sauna.

El made a sort of sound, but nothing else. So Hinji could see through him that easily... he wondered if Akane could... considering he was three shades darker than he normally was... probably. he hated blushing.

Akane adjusted in her seat and glanced over at Hinji. "What? What's the supposed to mean?" she asked, not quite understanding. She wondered if it had to do with the last time her and El spared. Her eye then went to El for an answer as well.

"It means that Oita and I seem to be the only ones who are actually concerned about our training." Hinji said.

"Hey, I care about my training." El said defensively. "Just because I don't sleep eat and breath it doesn't mean I don't care."

"Yea, where the hell did that come from all of a sudden?" Akane said, a bit irritated. "You barely know me." she said firmly. If Hinji wasn't careful, she would relapse to her usual bitchy self. She cared A LOT about her training.

Hinji sighed before responding. "You're right, I don't even know you. I do know that I offered to help you train and you rudely declined." He sat up straighter as he spoke, "I know that none of you train so thoroughly as Oita and I, and I believe that if you all did then we would be much better then we currently are."

"What?!" Akane shot up to her feet. That was taking it a step too far. What was this guy's deal!? She was trying to be nice and suddenly he just insults her like this. "You had better take that back, baldy!" Her face was tense, ready to kick his ass right here and now. 

"Wait... wait... wait." El said between them. "I know we are all rather prideful, but Hinji, You know that my attacks are based on my music. My training is the practicing of my guitar and the writing of songs. What might look like leisure is really training. And I know for a fact that Akane has been training very hard. She has been spending a great deal of time with her sensei learning the art of medical ninjutsu. She is doing very well with it also. It is unfair to say such."

"EXACTLY!" Akane shouted, though her fury faded in an instant. "Wait..." Her attention went to El, her expression blank and a bit confused. How the heck would he know that she was training in the medical ninjutsus? Not to mention that she was doing well in it. Those were one on one sessions...not even her team mates knew how well she was doing. "How do you know that?" she asked, "Were you spying on me or something?" Her golden eye stared El down with sharp conviction.

El was beat red. He'd said too much. "That's... no I... I wasn't spying... my... I..." He couldn't continue like this. He was stuttering like he did when he was a child. He snapped his fingers to trigger himself back to fluid speech. "I do not spy... but the more grounded in reality my songs are, the more effective the jutsu... I often watch those around me for inspiration and ideas... I... I watch a great many people..." But he chose not to reveal that he watched her most of all.

That did not settle with Akane. Not. At. All. He was beat red and stuttering, definitely not a good sign. "Oh yea!? What else have you seen, El?!" She took bathes all the time and for all she knew, he was spying on her then as well. Judging by his expression, it had been more then just spying on her training..that's for sure. "Especially after all that 'how to treat a lady' talk!" Akane was furious, gripping fiercely at her towel.

Hinji, despite his best attempt, could not help but smile. It was funny how quickly the conversation had turned away from him. "I do not believe his intentions were to be a peeping tom."

El suddenly seemed offended. "I have NEVER spied on you like that Akane!" he said angrily. "And I am offended that you might even say such a thing! I have never EVER done something as dishonorable as peep on a lady for my own satisfaction! I would rather die than disgrace myself in such a manner!"

Akane was a bit thrown off when El spoke like that. She hadn't heard him be so proud and forceful like that. There was truth in his voice, but it didn't mean Akane was any less pissed off right now. "That doesn't exactly justify that you spy on our team. What would your sensei say?"

"I've wondered that every day of my time here." Hinji said. Was that a hint of a joke attempt?

"My sensei knows that my songs require observation." El told her. His blush had gone but it had been replaced by something distinctly more spicy, anger. "And I do not care for the tone in which you denote my observations. I do not spy on your team to learn your secrets or how to beat you. I Observe in order to experience nuances of other cultures."

Akane shot a glare at Hinji. He was already on her shit list. Giving her attention to El again, she scowled and turned her head at him. "I still feel completely violated, El. Those were private sessions and anything I say or do there should only be between myself and my sensei." she explained with a serious tone. So much for him being the innocent, quiet one.

"I..." El frowned. She was right. She was completely right. He bowed deeply. "I beg your forgiveness Akane, it was not my intention to offend or make you feel uncomfortable."

Akane was still upset and held her towel on with her arms crossed. "What do you expect me to say? That's seriously creepy, El. Instead of lurking in the shadows, spying on me or my team mates, why don't you ASK about our cultures?" She never would have guessed that he was looking in on her medical ninjutsu sessions and it made her stomach churn at how oblivious she was. 

"True honesty can only be observed at a distance." El told her, his head still down. "As one studies creatures in the wild, I study those around me. I have shamed myself Akane, I beg your forgiveness."

Akane turned her face toward him. He seemed sorry enough. "Fine." she said, her lips pierced together to a point, "But don't do it again. It's downright creepy and rude...almost more then Hinji. There will be serious consequences if I find you are still lurking around our house, peeping in places you shouldn't." she warned.

"I have and would never do such a thing." El told her, still bowed. "I have only ever observed public interactions, nothing ever private or personal." Well... that was a slight lie. While he never peeped in on her bathing, he did enjoy watching her sleep.

"I'm not creepy." Hinji said in his defense. He didn't, however, say anything about not being rude.

Akane exhaled roughly, "Ugh... you guys got my muscles all tense again." she shrugged, rubbing a hand on her shoulder. Great, now she had to start all over again. "Are we done discussing this issue then?"

"I have a summons that could help you with that." Hinji said.

"May I..." El began. "Am I forgiven? May I stand?"

Akane was about to speak with Hinji, but El's request stole her attention, "Yes yes." she said quickly, gesturing with her hand. She wasn't used to someone with such chivalry. Her gaze went back to Hinji. "As El knows, I'm learning various medical ninjutsus. Sure, I could loosen my tension that way- but it feels so much more worth it to let the steam and hot water do it's job."

El righted himself and it was obvious he still felt bad about what Akane had learned. He sat down and let her speak with Hinji.

Hinji simply shrugged as Akane rejected his offer. "Fair enough. It was a new summons that I found in one of my new books and intrigued me as it is not only a combat type but also a recreation type."

Akane rolled her shoulder a bit. She had far too much pride to ask Hinji for the move, despite her curiosity. "How about lets not talk about training." she said, not wanting to stress about that sort of thing now.

El remained quiet on his bench. It looked like Akane needed the muscle above her shoulder blade attended to, but after what she'd learned he couldn't offer.

"If you wish." Hinji said and laid his head back. This was most definitely not his idea of enjoyable and really hoped that Kano and El wouldn't drag him to more boring places.

Akane eased back, trying to forget all of the recent drama that had unfolded. "so how did you guys hear about this place? I hadn't known it even existed til Kami showed me a coupon she got from work. This is so much better then the town bath house."

"Kano told us." El said, trying to at least sound as if he wasn't still lingering on his shame.

"Sort of weird that you guys, AND Ishiaki and Tsu sensei AND Kami and I would all come here on the same night. Too bad Oita is missing out on this. I think he could use some quality 'boy time' you know?" Akane explained.

"I was unaware that the senseis were here." Hinji said. "But that is weird."

"How is Oita did not come?" El asked. He didn't know Oita well but he liked him from their short encounters.

"He's an idiot..." Akane faded, "He hurt himself trying to open his chakra gates and burned himself. Although I fixed up most of them, he is still on bed rest for a while." Making sure the towel was firm around her chest, she leaned over and picked up the tin pitcher of water. Holding her arm out, Akane poured some of it onto the hot stones in the corner of the sauna. There was a hissing sound as steam billowed up into the air.

El promptly turned his head away and looked at the ceiling. He was forced to place his hands in his lap. "Chakra gates?" He asked, his voice sounding a little high pitched at first till he cleared it. "A'hEM... That's very dangerous..."

"I know, that's why he's an idiot. I think he was trying to prove himself to our team or something... I'm not really sure to tell you the truth." She failed to mention that she had also bit of more then she could chew when trying to heal her stomach at the festival a week or so ago. The temperature rose drastically as the steam filled the sauna. "I think he learned his lesson though." Akane added, wiping sweat from her forehead.

"Oita is a stubborn spirit." El said. "He immerses himself in his books and in his training. It is likely he seeks to fill the gap left behind by you and Kami being consistently at odds." He didn't only watch Akane after all.

Akane sighed, "Yea yea- don't waste your breath. I've heard it all before." It was true, she was really sick of hearing how poorly their team was with her and Kami's bickering. "We came here together, didn't we?" she reminded, crossing one leg over her other.

Hinji stayed quiet, it seemed that anytime he tried to add his two cents into a conversation the other people involved get angry with him and call him rude. So he decided to stay out of this as long as he could.

"Why did you come together?" El asked. "Last I observed you two were keeping your distance from one another. So much in fact that Kami had started using her bedroom window to leave for work in the morning. I thought it was because she may have been trying to avoid you."

There he went again, "You're such a creep." Akane said outright before going on. "I had no idea she was doing that...but anyway, earlier today she came home with a dumbstruck look on her face, planted of course by Kano. I think Ishiaki knew what was up and insisted that I talk to her about it. I didn't want to- but I did, and we sort of..." Akane didn't like what she was about to admit, "...bonded? It was weird. I thought Kano had done something terrible to her by the way she was acting and almost ran out of the window to kick his ass." she smiled at that last part. It was all too amusing after the fact.

El smiled despite her calling him a creep. "I am glad you are getting along well."

Akane's forehead and shoulders were starting to perspire more as the temperature didn't seem to let up. "I assume your guys' team is fairing without any trouble?"

"Other than stuff britches over there not wanting to have any fun." El said smiling at Hinji. "We do pretty well together."

"Well that's good." Akane said, wanting her own team to communicate better if not purely for competition's sake. Who knows, the two teams may face one another someday. They needed to be ready...and with El watching them, he would have a good understanding of their abilities. No doubt she would have to constantly secure Oita's house's perimeter constantly. 

"Just because my idea of fun is different from yours does not mean that I don't like to have fun." Hinji said plainly.

"What's something you enjoy then?" Akane asked, putting Hinji on the spot again. If he was so damn critical, she wanted to know just what it was Hinji thought was "fun."

"Reading." Hinji said looking over at her with his covered eyes. "I greatly enjoy learning new summons and then trying them out."

"See what I mean?" El said smiling, it was obvious that El meant no insult by his jibeing. "Hopless."

"Oita is a bit like that too. Very introverted in that regard. He seems to enjoy tinkering in his workshop more then much else, really." Akane explained, leaning back in the seat.

"Mine and Oita's art is very similar as we rely on something else to do the fighting for us." Hinji said, figuring this is the easiest way to try and explain Oita and himself. "He has to make his puppets with his own hands and I must perfect the caligraphy required for the summons or very bad things can happen. That is why we study so much."

"Well that may very well be, but that doesn't mean you can accuse the rest of being slackers." Akane commented.

"I do not make that accusation because I do more training." Hinji said to explain himself, "I make that accusation because I have not seen the rest of you doing more then socializing and trying to get the studiers to do more socializing."

"Meditation can be just as important as the physical stuff." Akane explained. "When done properly, meditation can help chakra flow, making it more accessible to the user." Akane's fighting technique relied mostly on chakra alone,so this was very important to her training.

"Just in the way practicing my guitar helps me to concentrate my chakra flow." El said adding his two cents worth. "As a matter of fact I feel rather naked without it now."

"Uhh....I think that's just because of your swimsuit, El." Akane teased.

"What is wrong with it?" El asked. "This is traditional swimwear where I am from."

"Nothing is wrong with it...young kids from my village wear similar clothing. But someone your age, I've just-" Akane wasn't sure how to word this while keeping her boundaries. She didn't know El THAT well afterall, "-well, I've just seen girl's panties that cover more then that little thing. But that's fine, it doesn't really matter. Otherwise you would just have to be in a towel like myself." Akane shrugged her shoulders. She really didn't have any issues with nudity. She came from the jungle afterall, where it was far too humid and hot to wear much of anything.

"So you are telling me that these do not apply to the normal boundaries of modesty?" El asked carefully.

"As far as swimsuits go, maybe not. At least on this island. I assume you haven't seen anyone else wearing a suit like that?" Akane asked, having not been on the 'men's side' of the onsen herself. "But this is a bath house, so you would be expected to be nude instead of having anything at all on." She explained herself rather scientifically, completely unaware of the indirect way she had just told El he should be nude.

"Well if these are not modest then..." El seemed suddenly self consious and covered himself with a towel. "I'm sorry if I have offended you... again."

"Offended me? What are you talking about? I was just teasing." Akane watched him grab a towel and hide himself...not that she was really looking. "Sheesh- both you and Kami need a lesson on sarcasm it seems."

El didn't say anything. He didn't know why he felt so abashed, after all men of all ages had been wandering around the area unclothed.

Hinji simply returned to his soaking up the steam. It was interesting to him how easily the two of them can be turned off the current subject and onto a completely different one.

Akane moved some hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. It sure was getting toasty. She glanced over at the two boys. It seems she had killed the conversation pretty badly.

NOt so much killed it as crushed it with a hammer and cremated it's remains. El didn't know what to say, which was odd considering he was so very talkative. His efforts to slowly build up his courage and talk to Akane about a possible date were now completely out of the question.

Akane was content being quiet like this, but Ishiaki always encouraged her to be more social, "So-" she began, not sure where to go from there. She really didn't know much about these two to begin with. "Any idea if Ishiaki or Tsu sensei have anything planned for the teams as a group again?"


"I don't think Tsu sensei has much planned past her next cat nap." Hinji said with distaste.

El snickered. "She has a wild spirit." He explained. "Unpredictable... which is an interesting way to train."

"I see." Akane tilted her head, not too fond of their teacher truthfully. "I imagine something should be planned within the next week or so. As of late, we've all been doing our own thing, training separately." she explained. "I mean- that's fine and everything, but it's nice to put those efforts to the test, you know?"

"As long as it is not a sparing session between the two teams, it should be interesting." Hinji said, "Otherwise it would be a waste of time."

"I can't tell if you are being cocky or insulting." Akane said, looking over at him for clarification.

"Neither, actually." Hinji said, "A sparing session between our two teams would be a waste of time for both of us. The best way to showcase our new found abilities and strengths is to have us in a counter-operative or co-operative mission."

"I would have to agree." El said. "But a co-operative mission would be a bit advanced for Genin of out level... then again we are the first ninjas to be trained by the Coalition so there aren't any others to take position in that capacity..."

"I guess we are just going to have to see." Akane said, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. "If I recall correctly, as far as the sparing match went- someone did a lot of running around and not much attacking at all." she said, glancing over at El. He had gotten her so damn frustrated that day. She had wanted to show her stuff and El had just hid in the tall grass and rocks.

"Hey I attacked..." El told her. "But you hardly gave me any chance to."

Akane glanced down at the floorboards and smirked. It was good to hear that. Someone often as grumpy as her rarely got compliments. Lifting her head, she gave him a coy grin and chimed, "Gotta be quicker."

Hinji sighed. They did it again. he thought to himself.

El frowned. He had never been fast and that was the thing that he probably needed to improve on.

Akane waited, but got no response. Was she really this terrible at holding a conversation. "Did I piss you off?" she didn't mean to entice with the prompt, just an honest question.

"NO!" El said suddenly, more defensively that he would have liked. "No... no you didn't... I just... I know I need to be faster alright? You don't have to tell me."

Akane blinked and pulled back a bit from El. She wasn't expecting such a powerful voice from such a small person. "Well that giant hat you were wearing isn't going to help. It pulls you back." she explained, trying to give a little advice. She wondered if Ishiaki would be proud of her and how she was socializing.

"My hat is the only thing to keep me from plummeting to my death" El said in defense. He wasn;t proud of being afraid of heights.

Akane looked over at Hinji for input, but the lad seemed a bit standoffish, especially after their little bicker. "Plummeting to your death? What are you talking about?"

El glanced at Hinji as he crossed his arms and looked away. Hinji knew El was deathly afraid of heights.

"El is terrified of heights. His hat acts as some sort of glider? Incase he falls." Hinji said, making a guess on the function of the hat.

"You're...scared of heights? Really?" That wasn't exactly a good quality to have as a ninja. Akane truthfully couldn't believe how anyone could be scared of heights, especially someone like her. Akane's entire village was suspended in enormous trees, high in the canopies of the jungle.

"Every culture is different Akane. Would you make fun of me because of my fear of the sun?" Hinji said.

"Culture? Why would a personal phobia be a cultural matter?" Akane asked, confused by that.

"Who says that it is a personal phobia?" Hinji countered.

"Let's just drop it alright?" El said recrossing his arms.

"But how exactly do you two plan on-..." Akane stopped herself and puckered her lips as she rethought her sentence. She swung her feet back under her seat, feeling a bit attacked from both sides. She smirked a bit, finding their fears a bit amusing. Heights and the sun? Really? How did El and Hinji expect to be good ninja with such fears? "Well sorry to say, but you both are going to have to get over them in one way or another."

El stood up all of a sudden and looked as if he had something very important to say. It seemed brimming on the edge of his tongue and contained behind lungs full of air. He was holding his breath, wanting to say exactly what he he thought she could work on and change... but he didn't. He couldn't, not to her. But it was very disheartening to hear this from the girl he absolutely believed he was destined to fall in love with. He snatched up his towel and left the sauna.

Hinji had no such reservations. "When you stop being a bitch I will stop being afraid of the sun giving me third degree burns due to my fair skin since my village is in a cave." He said all of this with the straightest of faces before he followed El out.

Akane was shocked. She hadn't at all intended to be mean to the two of them. In fact, she had reworded her original comment to something she thought more proper. Her heartbeat picked up speed when Hinji spoke and she stared with a wide eye at the door as he left. Instead of filling up with rage like she usually would, Akane felt an alarming wave of guilt flood over her. She had TRIED to be nice just now...was she really that terrible at it? Her shoulders sunk and her head bowed in regret.

Akane sat there quietly, alone once again. She didn't understand it. In her hometown, she had tons of friends, though that was all before Washitori. It all changed after him. Akane thought about going to apologize, El seemed very hurt... Hinji too, but she was no good at that. Damn her prideful personality. Still- she didn't feel very good all of a sudden. Regret wasn't a very fond emotion.




Kami watched him go before she headed to the girl's showers where she had left her clothing in a cubby near the showers. Thankfully she found her dress and things unmolested. She slipped into it and proceeded to put on her weights. It felt odd after being so weightless in the water, but she headed toward the refreshment stand to meet Kano.

Kano entered the locker room and found his things right where he left them. He dressed and fixed his hair back up, tying the forehead protector in place and then headed out to the refreshment stand to meet with Kami. He didn't recall seeing one on the way in, so didn't really have much of a clue as to how to get there....

As she crossed the courtyard toward the refreshment stand she ran her fingers through her hair. She couldn't tie it up until it was dry but she really wished she had something to do with it.

Kano was glad that she had made it there before him, he never would have found the place at all. He smiled when his eyes found her, she was pretty hard to miss with all that awesome hair. He tried to sneak up behind her, though he knew very well how difficult it was to do so to a ninja of any rank.

Kami only noticed him because she was looking for him. Had she not expected him, he may have successfully caught her off guard. She smiled when she saw him and immediately blushed for no apparent reason.

Kano couldn't help but grin when he saw that little tint come across her cheeks. "You left your hair down." He noted as he came up to her. "It looks nice."

"If I wrap it up now it'll smell..." Kami told him, then realized how gross that sounded. "Um..."

Kano smiled. "Understandable, you've got a heck of a lot of it." His eyes kept going back to the massive amounts of her hair. "And the women of your village never cut it?" He still couldn't quite believe that

"There are certain... I guess you could call the holidays, but we are allowed to remove a couple inches during these ceremonies." Kami told him. "They come around every few years. We cut the dead bits from the ends... Split ends I believe they are called."

"And that's the only time it's ever cut? That's crazy...." Kano replied, shaking his head a little. "So much hair....it's incredible." He smiled at her and then saw his teammates fleeing from the sauna, El looked distressed.

Kami had something to say about her village and their hair practices but she caught sight of El too. "What's wrong with him?"

"I..I don't know, but I think..I think I should go find out, you know?" Kano told her sadly. He looked at her and sighed, "I'm sorry. He's my friend, I've gotta make sure he's alright."

"I understand." Kami told him. "If I'm not here when you get back you know where to find me."

Kano nodded and hurried off to catch up with his friends, thankful that she was understanding in this matter.

Akane finally exited the sauna a while after the boys. She was alone and her skin was a bit pink from the heart. She glanced around, not seeing any sign of the two. Holding her towel to herself, she walked out and closed the door, heading to wash up.

Kami sat at the refreshment stand, sort of waiting for Kano, not really knowing what to do. He might or might not be back, but she'd give him a few moments to check on his team mate. She ordered a juice and sat sipping and waiting.

Akane saw that Kami was no longer in the pool with Kano. They were probably off smooching or something. She dropped her towel on a rack and rinsed off her sweat under the shower, thinking about what she should do now. Perhaps the best would be to head home? Though... she could hear Ishiaki telling her to apologize to those two boys. When she finished her shower, she started to dress herself.

Kami sat and waited...

Akane finished dressing and spun around, air drying her hair quickly. She was sure Kami had left since her things were no longer on the shelf and headed for the exit.

ON Akane's way to the exit she would likely see Kami sitting at the refreshment bar.

Akane was a bit lost in thought, but as she passed the bar, she turned around and took a double take. That was Kami! She hesitated, wondering if she wanted to be scene like this. She felt a bit defeated at the moment and it no doubt was apparent on her face. Exhaling, Akane wiped her face with her arm and stepped up behind her. "Boyfriend ditch out?"

Kami Spun around and saw that it was Akane. "He went to see what was wrong with El. He walked by looking quite sullen. I don't know if he'll be back or not but I thought I would wait a bit."

"Did he really look that upset that he would leave you here?" she asked, standing for a moment. She glanced around before deciding to sit for a while.

"He apologized." Kami told him. "I understood. His friend seemed to be really hurt."

"What about Hinji?" she asked. Akane had accidentally given away that she knew something, since she knew Hinji was with El.

"They were together." Kami told her. "He seemed... like Hinji."

"Ah." Akane said plainly. No way she would think about apologizing with the whole team together. She didn't think she could handle being called a 'bitch' again without kicking in some teeth.

"Are you ok Akane?" kami asked. It wasn't as if she had a basic knowledge of Akane's moods other than "bitchey" But she seemed a little off at the moment...

"I think I accidentally upset El just now." Akane confessed with a sigh.

"What happened?" Kami asked. If Akane was willing to admit that she'd upset someone, with the level of remorse in her voice, it was obviously a leap in her development of human emotions. "You didn't say anything mean did you?"

"Not on purpose!" she replied with a slightly raised tone, then retreated a bit, staring down at the counter top in front of her. "I think he took it the wrong way. Apparently El has a fear of heights and Hinji has a fear of the sun. I basically tried to tell them that they should work on those fears if they plan on becoming ninja. El got up and stormed out and Hinji called me a bitch and followed after him."

"People don't like having their weaknesses exposed." Kami told her. "Would you like it if they told you that you needed to strengthen your bones before you could be worth anything? You know you need to become stronger, I know I need to become stronger. Kano, while being the fastest in his village knows he is is still far slower than you or I. El fears heights and knows he must correct that and Hinji... well if I understand it correctly Hinji's village is deep under ground. Without his hat his skin burns dreadfully fast. But we all know about our weaknesses... it's not nice to be reminded of them, especially by someone he likes."

Akane seemed to be the last one to the party. She lifted her head and looked hard at Kami, wondering if she caught that right, "What?"

"You didn't know?" Kami asked. "The way he's always watching you from a distance? He's even the one who left those flowers on your windowsill last week. I recognize them because he bought them from me in the greenhouse."

Akane's brow tensed, was Kami serious just now? Her face was growing red and her hands, sweaty. That thought hadn't even crossed her mind and now what Hinji said in the sauna made more sense. About El being too distracted to spar with her. Now the thought of El spying on her was even CREEPIER...not to mention the flowers! "I swear to the gods if you are messing with me, Kami, I'll blow you into that pool faster then you can blink!" she threatened.

"I'm not." Kami told her. "Come with me to work tomorrow and I'll show you where he signed the receipt. He's been in love with you since we all arrived... You seriously hadn't noticed? I thought ninja were supposed to be observant..."

Akane was too in shock to comment on Kami's last remark. She had never had anyone LIKE her, like her before. It was unnerving and made her stomach hurt. Her face grew even more red as she thought about El taking peeks at her medical training lessons... or anywhere else for that matter. Those flowers were placed on her window...had he watched her sleep!? "I think I'm going to be sick." she said with a distaste in her tone. Akane legitimately sounded like she was going to vomit. Not because it was El, but because he was showing signs that Washitori had for her mother.

"Calm down Akane." Kami told her. "It's rather sweet I think. And as I understand it disrespectful behavior is severely punishable in his village. I wouldn't think he'd watch you in the bath or anything like that. He probably just didn't have the nerve to tell you he liked you."

"El doesn't even know me. How could he like me?" Akane vaguely recalled the first day, arriving at the INC village. El had just randomly come up to her, sang a sloppy tune and ran off. It was the oddest thing.

"I didn't know Kano before I liked him." Kami told her. "We even went on that mission together and never discussed our feelings till earlier tonight. And there is such a thing as love at first sight."

"He can't love me." Akane said, not believing that anyone could off the bat like that. How the hell was she supposed to apologize NOW? "There is nothing he can base his love off of. I don't even know who he is either. If he feels like that toward me, he is a fool." 

"Your being narrow minded again Akane." Kami told her. "He's from a different place. He might not love love you but he likes you enough to watch you from afar and secretly leave you flowers. It sounds to be as if he doesn't not know how to express his feelings. If you said something mean to him you should apologize. Don't act as if you know he likes you, but talk to him."

"Great- now I know why he gets such a stupid face every so often." she rubbed her head. "I don't know where they went... not to mention Hinji and Kano are probably with him." By saying this, Akane meant that she already was planning on apologizing in some way.

"Let it sink in a bit..." Kami told her. "Let his wound heal a little and speak with him tomorrow. I would not let on that you know though... about his... I think they call it a crush? I think it would be best if he told you in his own time."

"Well of course I won't say anything. It would probably hurt him more that people are gossiping about it then the fact that I don't like him like that." Akane shrugged, the blush in her cheeks finally faded. 

Kami smiled. "You are thinking of the feelings of others." She told Akane. "And that is a very important thing Akane... I'm happy for you."

"Jeez...come off it already." she batted her away. Talking about this stuff so openly was embarrassing. Akane preferred talking about other people. "So... Kano's really coming back? Maybe I should leave you two and head home?"

"No... I think I will see him tomorrow." Kami said paying for her drink and finishing off the juice. "I should get to sleep any way. I have bulbs to plant in the morning."

Akane ordered a small smoothie from the bar and the two were off again, toward Oita's House

---

As El stormed away from the sauna he tried very hard not to cry. His face was hot, boiling even with the want to. His mother had said he was a sensitive child, she had even apologized for mothering him too much... but a little fear of heights... Was that really so bad?

Hinji followed out shortly after El and quickly snatched up his own hat before hurrying to catch up with his teammate. "Now you see why I don't socialize." he said. It was obvious that Hinji was trying to make light of the situation.

El said nothing, simply marched past the refreshment stand and towards the men's showers then he remembered he had walked her like this, in this so called stupid bathing suit. He felt so foolish, ashamed for wearing the thing and ashamed for placing his love in a girl who obviously thought he would completely fail as a ninja. He may be over reacting, but he couldn't help it.

Hinji knew that El was greatly upset, but couldn't think of anything that could help, except for the one thing that helps him. "Would you like to go train? It usually gets my mind off things."

"No." El told him. "I... I need to write." In the mood he was in he could write a destructive masterpiece.

Hinji smiled a very rare smile. "Even better. I do too." he said. "Follow me, I have a great place."

El preferred to write alone. Somewhere quiet, like the forest, but he followed Hinji any way.

Kano hurried over to his friends, leaving the girl he had just wooed behind. He outstretched an arm in greeting and resisted the urge to yell for their attention, he had a feeling they wanted silence

Hinji spotted Kano approaching, but didn't make eye contact. "Kano is heading this way. Do you wish for him to join us or shall we ignore him?"

Kano was their friend. Even though El really wanted to be alone, he didn't want to ignore him. He lifted his hand to Kano halfheartedly and waved.

Kano smiled when his friend waved, glad that he wouldn't have to yell across the onsen to them. He reached them in only a few short moments and looked at them both. "Everything alright?"

"Our friend here has been ridiculed by the one he loves." Hinji said in explanation, "I was about to take him to my training grounds."

"Would you mind an extra body?" Kano asked, it was more directed toward Hinji. He knew the guy went off somewhere to do his training and figured it was going to be like his personal sanctum, wherever it may be. He was curious about what it was like for starters

Hinji took it a bit more literal and took a step back before giving Kano a once over. "You shouldn't weigh it down too much." Before giving either of them a chance to ask any questions he continued on, "Do you two need anything from the apartment?"

"My guitar." El told him. "No offense, but I really would rather be alone."

"Well, you're not." Kano told him bluntly. "You've got teammates, friends, now." He smiled and tried his best not to look too corny for saying something lame like that

"Anything for you Kano?" Hinji asked.

Kano simply held up his hand and shook his head. "I've everything I need with me. Unless we're going to be going off hunting or something like that."

Hinji nodded before plucking a card from his hat and, through his usual raven bite, used the summon card. There was a dark mist with faint humanoid features floating before Hinji. "Get El's guitar and equipment and take them to the usual spot." There was a hiss in response before the mist whirled into nothing. "We should go now."

El sighed. Why couldn't they just leave him alone?

"Follow me." Hinji said leading them through the showers to get their clothing before leading them off into the woods and to the Sairento no dōkutsu.