blue moon. [jun]

[KEITH]

The darkness of the night had covered the skies, accompanied by clouds which would try to obscure the sight of the shinning and stars and moon, which would hover up high above all. Not even the great mountains of Kaminari no Kuni could reach such great heights, heights that would bring one as close as it could to heaven. Though, as moments would pass, the clouds would open up for the moon to shine through, along with a few stars, and the dark sky would be filled with some color - like deep blue. The moon's light illuminated the area around it, turning it that deep blue color, it also had appeared that the clouds were the same, as these very colors would reflect upon the moon, giving it a blueish appearance.

The moon's light would shine down upon the duo, the shinobi and kunoichi, lighting up their path to see where they walked, for if it wasn't for the moon, the two visions might have been impaired due to the darkness. They would walk upon a road which had led to a mountain they could be seen not too far from them; this mountain would be their destination. Before to two could get there, they would have to travel up a spiral road, which had led to one of the many mountain caves along the mountain's side. These were used for hikers who would need a place to sleep for the night, when they would get tired from their journey and needed a place to rest, which had brought back some memories to the young shinobi.

He had visited Kaminari before when he was a boy, and had traveled among many journeys’s with his father and climbed many mountains, sometimes he would wonder if he could relive such days, even if it was just one more time. His blueish-grey eyes would travel up along the mountain's side, before they would travel off even higher, and yet upon the opening of the clouds, which had hosted the blue moon in between the parting. He would appear to be enticed by the beauty and grace of the moon above, a smile would slowly appear upon his face as he had remembered climbing amount with his father as they look off at the moon, pretending that if they climbed to the top, they could reach it. As they two would move along the upward, spiraling road toward the caves, the young shinobi would speak in a warmer tone than he did back in Tsuchi no Kuni before they left.

["The moon and the mountains bring back such memories, memories that I thought had been forever erased from my mind...So full, so pale, so heavy..I can feel the moon smiling upon me, as if it was happy for my return."]

The way he had talked might have seemed weird; he was talking about such things to the kunoichi, as if he had expected her to say anything, or her even talk at all. And, it might have been fine for a while if she didn't, but after sometime, it would grow very annoying if she would remain silently, so hopefully she didn't hate him or dislike him too much not to speak. As they would reach half way up the road to the caves, the young shinobi would stop within his steps, silently without saying anymore, and he would become alert, hearing a sound come from within the caves. He couldn't make out what it was, but the sounds he would hear would be too much growling for it to be a human, and as time would continue to move forward, he'd hear a large growl erupt from within the caves from the mountain caves.

He'd hold up his hand to her, as a gesture of telling her not to advance forward, or if she would prepare by jutsu or drawing a weapon, he'd want her to hold her ground, at least until he would give her a signal or tell her she could attack. The roar becoming louder and louder, until a brown furry beast had emerged from the cave, filled with fury.

["This could be fun. Have you ever wrestled with a bear before, masked-girl?"]

[Jun]

Enter.

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Blue. . .

[/right]

That color had always been associated with freedom in my mind. It occurred naturally in the skies, in the disguise I wore, and most notably in my eyes. Those same sapphire orbs were fixed on the heavens tonight ~ blankets of clouds drifted aimlessly about. However, they could never overshadow a sight as grand as the shining moon, with influence enough on our world to shift the very tides. As we progressed up the spiral mountain path it seemed as if the spotlight was on us. All my life I had always been one to avoid attention, yet here I was with a man so fascinated in me and my detached ways. I hoped he wouldn't take this little walk as anything romantic ~ we were merely two souls forced by fate to walk the same path; nothing more, nothing less.

My steps were made alongside him, as I'd never go so low as to become a follower. The world already had a surplus of those. From the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of my acquaintance and the smile he wore while staring up at the sky. It was an amusing thing, and to no surprise he had words to accompany his feelings. Memories were the subject of his speech, told in a way that made me feel he was speaking from the heart. For him I raised my mask to align with the short, raven hair on my head ~ this was the second time he'd be graced with true beauty. Seconds passed before I made my response, as if I was always forced to make a conscious decision before my voice reached the air. Conveying emotion was difficult for me. "Of all the countries I've ever visited. . .this one I've always been fondest of." I'd try my best to open up to the shinobi that appeared to have my best interests in mind. But just as suddenly he ceased his footfall for the same reason I did ~ some presence was felt lurking nearby. I myself was a sharp sensor, therefore my hand was already upon the hilt of the tanto behind be before the lad even raised his hand as caution. I hadn't yet drawn it, but my body language gave away the anticipation.

"This could be fun. Have you ever wrestled with a bear before, masked-girl?"

[/right]

I too heard the roar of a wild beast ~ a mother bear defending her cubs at best. The breeze around us was chilling, but my inner heat was burning bright as ever. I watched the cave with the vision of a hawk, not at all frightened by the animal; after all, I was one myself.

"Hmph. I've slain worse."










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[KEITH]

The shinobi had starred out at the brown beast as it would begin to fully emerge from the inside of the cave, and as it would, the two would be able to notice blood among the claws of the bear, and leave bloody paw prints as it would slowly approach them. It held an angry expression upon its face, and it had seemed that it had hungered for the two, whether as food or if it was just for their lives. The bear as only ten meters away from them, upon all fours, though it would soon raise to its two back legs, emitting a loud roar, as if it was a warning that it was about to attack the duo, before he would come back to its back legs. The shinobi had looked onward with sharp eyes, looking the bear into the eyes, waiting for it to begin its attack.

And, before they would know it, the bear would come charging toward them, moving four meters per second, as it would have started, the shinobi's arm would have dropped back to his side. It would be the signal for the kunoichi to advance to attack the bear, to either the defeat it or just kill it, it was up to her. As his arm would have reached back to his side, in a burst of speed, he would flicker away, and out of her sight, changing his location to upon the side of the road, five meters to the left of the girl and away for them, sitting down with his arms folded. He wondered how she would go about handling the bear and how long would it take for her to do it.

However she handles it would tell the shinobi more about her and what kind of kunochi he was, and that was all he cared about. Would she take its life? The young shinobi's eyes would advert to the cave the bear had came out of, wondering what had went on inside of there, but they wouldn't be able to find out until the bear was dealt with.

["What do you think happened in there?"]

He'd ask the female after she would have dealt with the bear; his curiosity had grown as the moments had passed.

[Jun]

Unexpectedly, my accomplice moved in a blur to the left and created a small gap which was nothing more than a sideline. At a safe distance away brown mane observed my energy; he even went so far as to enjoy a seat. What was this, some sort of test to prove my worth? I'd look upon him with eyes of malice before I proceeded on with my plan as if he weren't there. The bear made its savage advance forward, toting claws and fangs more honed than any blade I carried on me. A dominant hand retreated from my tanto's handle and instead went to whisk through seals that endured no longer than a second.

Surely a simple-minded bear would fall for the most elementary of Genjutsu. An instant later my fingers ducked lower to fetch a paper laced kunai from the pouch behind. This weapon was sent at the beast with killing-intent behind it. And though my partner would never witness the trick I induced, our sole threat soon found itself faced with an imaginary barrage of 20 tagged projectiles. In actuality there was but one genuine edge, however with the animal charging at me with the haste it had, chance of avoidance became slim. If the dagger did indeed fly true and find itself embedded within the flesh of an ace predator, I'd activate the tag and send the blood soaked creature to an early grave. The explosion would rattle my ears, and my eyes stared out in awe of the aftermath. The smell of charred flesh filled my senses ~ while inhaling it I looked upon my jury with the openness to take in his question. After his moment of wonder my sight too darted towards the cave and whatever mystery that was creeping within.

"Shall we find out?"

---

SPOILER: Click to show

-Genjutsu Potency "A"
-Genjutsu Duration "A"
-Genjutsu Effectiveness "A"
-Chakra Reduction II
-Efficient Sealing I
-1 kunai used
-1 explosive note used


Kakezan no Jutsu (Multiplication Technique)[x4]
Rank: D
Type: Supplementary / Genjutsu / Sight
Handseals: Yes
Chakra: Low
Special: Objects are multiplied by five (for each object in question), with an additional five created when retrained, for a maximum of thirty multiplications each. Can be used once per turn, with an additional turn every time retrained.
Description: An illusion that makes the opponent believe that inanimate objects seem to be multiplying at an incredible rate. The user will produce the necessary handseals allowing them to multiply a range of objects from their creation. For example, making an increased amount of fake projectiles while masking the real projectiles within the mix, in order to increase the chances of a successful hit, or used in an important object to prevent someone from stealing it.
Domain: Universal Genjutsu

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[KEITH]

The shinobi, who had just witnessed the performance of the kunoichi killing the bear, was quite impressed. Though, he wasn't simply impressed by the killing of the bear, no, any good shinobi could kill such a simple minded animal with ease, he was simply impressed about the way she did it. She had chosen to use some sort of technique against the bear, though fast, his hands were able to catch signs that she had formed. He wasn't able to see what had happened, but based upon the bear’s slight hestitation it had before the kunai would hit, he had known she would have used a jutsu on him.

Since he couldn't see it, he was left to assume that it was merely a Genjutsu, it was what she said she was skilled at, anyway, so why wouldn't she use it? Immediately after the kunai would strike, the chest of the bear would open up, and like a piñata being busted open for candy, the bears blood had erupted from it in a violent and wild manner, covering the land two meters before the bear and its surrounding fur with blood. The bear would then fall forward upon his face before the kunoichi, she was quite the bad-ass for such a beautiful, elegant looking woman, at least within his eyes. She had proven to him that she could be cold-hearted, killing the bear the way she had done so, there were many roads that the kunoichi could have taken to preserve the bear’s life, like using a Genjutsu to send it off somewhere else.

This trait that she would have shown, he felt it deep inside of her since their meeting in Tsuchi no Kuni, and he had wondered how much more of it he would get to see. The kunoichi had lifted her mask, gracing the shinobi once against with her beauty, as she would ask if he wanted to go see what was inside of the cave, and surely he wanted to. He would rise up to his very own feet, though his arms were still crossed against his chest, the jacket he had worn revealed his muscular build, due to it being open, showing an opening to his torso, his arms at rested just beneath his chest. He would then move toward the cave, continuing his walk up the spiraled pathway, until he would come upon the entrance of the cave, seeing blood along the base of the entrance, and on the outer walls.

He would then enter inside of the cave; the moonlight had shone so dimly upon it, though deep within the cave, a fight had burned bright, as a means of light. He would approach it, noticing that the blood had become more prominent, and larger pools of it were permanently stained into the earth, and then, his eyes would set upon a family, who had all been slain by the bear. It was three members in all, the father was the furthest from them, with the most damage done to him, the shinobi had assumed he had tried to fight off the bear to cease the attack upon his family, but he had failed to protect them, and they all lost their lives. The young boy of the pair had died in his mother’s arms, their blood was a bit fresher than the fathers, and it seemed they died from blood lost, where as the father was murdered, it was a tragic site to see.

The eyes of the shinobi resting upon the boy and his mother, and the burning flame upon the wall, left its shadow to dance upon the face of his.

["Usually people who would camp out and had no real means of defense would lose their lives to the surrounding wild animals. Either it is bears, lions, boars, or whatever. I had seen such scenes like this since I was a child, though I don't---"]

He had stopped himself mid-sentence, he was about to say something that he would have probably would have regretted saying, so he bit his tongue. Now wasn't the time to get emotional or feel sorry about the people who had died here today, he couldn't show that he had felt something for these people who were of no meaning to his life or goals. He would simply remain to watch for a few moments, before he would turn around, and his eyes would advert to the kunoichi, laying his eyes upon her sapphire orbs, with an expression that couldn't be seen as a lack of emotion, nor happy or sad. It was more so that the expression was disappointment, but only a hint of it, though he wished he had made it to the people sooner, to spare their lives from the bear.

As he had known too well what it was like to have had a lost a family or family member. The glance they would share was only a fleeting moment, before he would continue his exit from the cave and back into the moonlit night, looking up to the moon once more, and then he would turn to face the mountain, and looked up along the side.

["This place hasn't changed one bit. I see the cave me and my father use to stay in when we went climbing. That's where we should go, as the night goes on, it'll only get colder if we stay out."]

[Jun]

I'd tread into the cavern with clever sight, though my skin embraced the subtle warmth that came with standing under shelter. However, the place reeked of death; towards the tail of the cave I distinguished 3 fresh bodies from the shadows. It was a family ~ a married couple and their boy, unquestionably a tragic scene to behold. What a shame that they were doomed to fall prey to the beast I had destroyed just seconds prior. Their life's essence painted the stone floor and walls, just as it had stained their killer's fur. Even with my darling face exposed I wore no type of sympathy on my face. I merely stared at their gory remains through cold, world-weary eyes.

The tree shinobi had spoken something on their behalf, though he cut himself off shortly after. Without me thinking my head turned towards him and for a rare second our gazes met. I didn't know what this meant, but I could tell that my companion was overcome with emotion right now. He left me in the dark then ~ before I knew it his silhouette was cast out once more in the midnight glow. It was a pale light, one that allowed me to view the surrounding countryside as my own lithe frame returned to the outer world. It seemed the mahogany topped youth was still thinking about the past; he desired to make a further trip up the mountainside in order for him to relive his spring-tide. Apparently the air was getting cold enough ~ my arms found themselves hugging a slender torso in a shabby attempt to conserve heat. I wrapped my jacket tighter around me this time; of course I'd accompany him but if we were to make this journey we needed to get going now. Silently but with reassurance in my royal blue eyes I nodded at the lad to continue.

"I am with you."

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[KEITH]

Once the kunoichi had reached the shinobi who had awaited her outside of the cave, she would tell him that she was with him, and with that, it was time for them to head out. This time, instead of continuing up the spiraled pathway their original way, he had decided that he would take a quicker approach to reaching his destination, and surely the kunoichi would follow suit. He would form a seal, which had allowed his to gather chakra into the soles of his feet, and with that, he'd leap onto the side of the mountain side, and began running toward the cave which he had decided that it was where they would stay tonight. He had wondered how the kunoichi was holding out, she wasn't wearing anything that would protect her from the cold of night, and he thought about making a fire for them, though neither was he.

But before they would sleep for the night, he had to let the kunoichi know what they would be doing the next day. He had planned on infiltrating Kumogakure, nothing big, like attacking it or spying, he just wanted to learn the location of the village, and have a bit of fun on the inside of it, if they could get in, after all. They would soon get to the cave; it was like all of the others, though being made by different people. They were all quite spacious, at least for the duo would be staying there, and as he would make his way into the cave, he would notice markings and drawings upon the walls. Originally, the art in the cave was done by him, but it seems as time had went on, others have added their own drawings and markings to the walls, taking something that was incomplete and making it whole.

To the kunoichi who would have been looking on after him, she would have seen him disappear into the darkness, and she would too if she had chosen to follow him.

["So, what is your name, masked-girl? We have come this far with each other, and yet I do not know your name. Mine is Senju Kotarama, but if you do not wish to share, that's fine."]

And, with his words said, a fire would burst within the darkness, illuminating the room with light. Upon the wall at the very end of the cave, there had been a holster for torches, and the shinobi would takes his self-made torch to the holster and place it within it. It wasn't much, but a little heat would be emitted from the fire, though it'd be hotter if they were to get closer to it, but the entrance of the cave would let out the heat, it would have to be covered or sealed off to contain the heat inside of the cave. Within the cave, there had already been supplies inside of them for travelers to use, in case of emergencies. Two chairs had been by the torch holster, and sleeping bags were not too far from them, already placed upon the ground, cabinets for medical supplies, and dried foods.

Here is where they would rest for the night, and were they would mark the first day of their adventure together. The shinobi had moved over to one of the two chairs, and had taken a seat into one of them, relaxing himself into the chair, but not letting his guard down, he didn't really trust someone who he didn't know too much.

["Tomorrow, I plan on us infiltrating Kumogakure. Think you would be up for it?"]

The shinobi be would say, with a smirk upon his face, as his orbs would lay upon the kunoichi's and her own.

[Jun]

The second hallow proved comfy enough once I stepped in ~ cave paintings layered the wall, telling fables that I neglected to witness. Rather, a graceful figure took in the available light that came from a solo torch. It would hardly contain the heat needed to warm us both, but in conjunction with the twin sleeping bags and preserved rations we'd make it through the night. Unlike the one who had positioned himself at the center of the room I took to the left wall; a gloved hand traced over the time-worn images. . .how long ago had he been here? From over my shoulder I noticed my lone mate, it seemed he had other concerns, or more so desired a simple exchange of names.

Kotarama. . .

The name was instantly committed to memory. All this time we had gone knowing nothing of one another, and like the fox I was, the thought of giving him a false alias seeped into my mind. Keeping my identity a secret had always been habitual, yet in this man I sensed honesty ~ did he not deserve the same measure of kindness? "It's Jun." I answered, filling in the blank for a curious ally. I could have accepted 'masked-girl' for months to come but it was obvious we weren't of the same code. My body turned to face where he was casually taking a seat; meanwhile the flame caused lively shadows to bounce about our starless sanctuary.

"Tomorrow, I plan on us infiltrating Kumogakure. Think you would be up for it?"

[/right]

With those words registering as a pleasure in my brain I'd allow for a minuscule smirk to form on thin lips ~ certainly the first of few times he'd see me happy. "I would like nothing more," The response came swiftly, as breaching a hidden village was always high on my list of personal interests. Still, how did this play into furthering his goals? For a second I wondered why but soon that care ceased to exist. "Will we be allowed to kill?" It was unlike me to ask a question like this, however going about things reckless was something too critical for even me at this point. Kumogakure was one of the strongest cities; I'd be a fool to think we could take their entire force alone. Eyes as turbulent as the sea surveyed his own ~ his too reflected the confidence to go through with a daring decision. From the way things sounded, we had a full day ahead of us. The second available chair was seized, and after turning away from him with colors that blended in with the backdrop, I made my way back toward the entrance of our camp. "I'll take first watch." That said, I propped the seat next to what would have been a door and stared out into the night. He'd be given an hour or so of sleep before we rotated.









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[KEITH]

The kunoichi had decided to share her name with the shinobi, revealing her name to have been "Jun." It was a nice name for her, and probably fitting for her, though he would have to learn out more about her to decide such a thing. He hadn't know it was actually her real name, though, and he could probably easily find out what it was, due to his ninja information cards, he could just have her take one, focus her chakra into it - then bam, he would know all that he needed to know about her. But, he decided not to, if it was her real name or not, he had preferred calling her by her real name, it made it feel like he had somewhat known her on a personal level, even though they had been far from something like that.

He had noticed the small smile that would appear upon her lips, and in return, he would smile back, seeing as she was pleased about infiltrating Kumogakure in the oncoming morning. When she would ask her next question, about being able to kill, his smile would remain upon himself as he would begin to answer her question, and he had an answer that would also please her as well.

["Hm, why not? I'm sure that we will meet a few Kumogakure shinobi upon the way - you can kill any and all of them, if you wish. But, once we get into the village, we have to stay low."]

The shinobi didn't care if she had killed a few Kumogakure shinobi, besides, he had to make it up to her for not being able to attack Iwagakure, and so she had to have some fun. If it would have turned out to be too much for the kunoichi, he would step in and assist her in her killings, he didn't mind causing a bit of destruction; he was fond of the scent of death. He then watched her making her way over toward him, and then to the entrance of the cave, stating that she would keep watch, but it really wasn't any need for her to do such a thing. He could simply close off of the entrance with his Mokuton, and at the same time, converse the heat for the two, he wouldn't want her to do anything pointless, like guarding.

They both would need their energy for the morning; they had a lot that they would need to get done with the following day.

["You don't need to guard, Jun. I can simply close off the entrance with my Mokuton techniques. We should be getting some rest now."]

[Jun]

"But, once we get into the village, we have to stay low."

[/right]

He reflected my happy vibes with a grin of his own. I had been robbed of my chance at Iwagakure but needless to say, this opportunity Kotarama had given me would suffice. "Fair enough." I'd say ~ it was more of a whisper than anything. Under obscurity of the shadows a lithe figure advanced toward my accomplice, and with a slender arm out-reached I went to claim the second chair. My footfall echoed slightly throughout our stone corridor; shortly after long hair spoke up again explaining how his tree Ninjutsu made my watch job unnecessary.

"We should be getting some rest now."

[/right]

I relinquished my grip on the stool, feeling that he had so easily handled a burden I'd dealt with for so long. It was strange, at times I found myself musing over the most trivial things ~ like how lofty his mane was in comparison to mine. My ocean sight peeked over at the male before I sat down beside him. The flicker of fire made our time spent together all the more solemn ~ it was an uninspiring atmosphere, really. To that end my arm arced behind me and exposed a small flask; its contents were swashed around a bit for greater meaning. My face wore an expression of taunting ~ I removed the cap and took a deep swig of sake. Nigh instantly its aroma crowded the room, all the while I used my left sleeve to wipe the sinful liquid from thin lips. If we were to get acquainted with each other, now was a better time than any to do so. "Surely you have a good reason for being in Kaminari. So tell me. . .why do you travel so much, Senju-san? Where is your home?" I didn't know if my attempt at conversation came as forced but I tried my best. And as if to challenge him, I extended the bottle towards the shinobi and offered a sip.

This was way beyond my comfort zone.





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[KEITH]

The shinobi had wondered what the kunoichi would do, now that he had told her that her job was pointless, and with that, it would only leave them to perhaps, converse? There hadn't been anything else to do for the night, and he wasn't exactly ready to go to bed, but it didn't seem like she was either. He watched her move back toward his direction, bringing along the chair she had once moved toward the entrance of the cave, his grey hues watched her carefully as she sat her chair back into its original place. Her next movements would lead to something that the shinobi didn't expect to happen, or at least expect her to do.

But, one could never tell a book by its cover, and he was surely dumbfounded at what would have taken place before him. The scent of her beverage would see fill the air after she opened it, an aroma of sake, a very scent that the shinobi was used to, due to the fact that sometimes, he can be a heavy drinker, though he chosen not to show that side of himself in front of the kunoichi. Her lips softly touched the top of her bottle before she would begin to drink, the atmosphere must've been uneasy, especially for two that hardly new each other sharing a room together. It was awkward and serious - the beverage of the kunoichi was probably to help her become a bit looser with herself, so that maybe she wouldn't be like her usual self, perhaps.

When she would extend the bottle over to him, his hues moved from her face and down to her arm to view the bottle, and he would smile subtly as he took it from her, in a friendly way. Before he could even get a task of the sake, she speak, asking him questions about why does he travel and where is he from, though before he would answer, he decided to self-indulge first. He placed his own lips to the bottle, before allowing the sake to rush down his throat like a violent stream; it had started to help him relax instantly. Once he had finished, he decided to pass the bottle back over to her, instead of drinking it all and hogging it to him only.

He let out a soft sigh before speaking, and then he would begin, his eyes had moved down to the ground, as if he had been lost in thought, thinking about everything he has done or been through.

["Well, it's a long story, but basically...twelve years ago, Kusagakure was destroyed in war..against Iwagakure. With no home for myself, I had decided to live on and continue to be a shinobi, but I never wanted to succumb to being a shinobi of a higher power village. So, I decided to live the life of a Nuke-Nin. I support my remaining family by working for hire. So, I have no home."]

As he had begun talking, his eyes would emerge from his visual point upon the ground, moving up along her covered figure and back to her eyes. Though, it might have been a somewhat sad story, perhaps, but his facial expression wouldn't show that he was sad or even bothered by it at all, he had carried the smile subtle smile as when she had offered him the sake. The burning flame had set the mood of his description of how things were for him, as a flame is unable to move from its standard positions, but it is able to go on by continuing to burn, and it is able to fulfill a purpose, by continuing to bare heat. With that, it was time to reverse the situation on the kunoichi, and he hadn't need to say much to do so, besides, how could she not expect him to want to know the same about her.

["How about yourself, Jun-misu?"]

[Jun]

The bottle was passed back to me and as I took a second prolonged sip, my ears held on to Kota-san's ill-fated story. Bizarre it was how at times his chronicle sometimes clashed with my own. I peered at the ashen eyed ninja from behind a reflective canister before lowering it enough for me to find that he was returning the same somber look. It seemed I was warming up to him after all.

"How about yourself, Jun-misu?"

[/right]

Upon hearing my name in the air a dainty figure naturally shifted itself in its seat ~ I knew the time would come for me to reveal facts about myself sooner or later. "I pray you won't hold it against me," A black hand moved the sake back toward my mate while the left traced back behind me and betrayed the slashed stone headband glinting in the dark. It was a memento of the past resting right before him, and in the time I looked from it to his fiery silhouette I began to speak once more. "But the funny thing is I myself hail from Iwagakure ~ though I haven't been affiliated with them for quite some time." I wore an expression akin to a mocking smile, though he'd barely notice it within the shadows. Hopefully he wasn't the type to hold grudges forged long ago, not that I cared. "My former village too suffered a great loss during the war. . .against Kirigakure." For a moment I wondered if he carried with him any thoughts of traveling to Mizu no Kuni in the coming days. From my spot in the cavern I managed to gain view of lacy clouds gliding against a mesmerizing, deep blue backdrop. The moon was still as silver as when we first met and it reminded me that it was getting late. Perhaps I'd get some rest soon ~ this man and I had a red dawn waiting for us in the morrow.








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[KEITH]

After the kunoichi had recovered the bottle of sake, she would take a prolonged sip, his eyes staring softly at her, waiting at attention for her to begin speaking. And, before he had knew it, should would hand him back the bottle, it seemed as if they would be sharing this drink tonight, and as each of them sipped, it would be like indirection kisses. With the passages of the bottle, a message had come along with it, with the female asking for the shinobi not to hold something against her. He couldn't have known what it had possibly meant, he hadn't known her for long, or knew much about her, so what was the reasons she would say such a thing?

And, surely as he would continue to listen to her speak, he would find out the answer, and why she had said what she said. The shinobi had received the bottle, and before he would take a drink, he had listened to what she had said, about her being of Iwagakure, the village which he hated with a passion for killing his father in the last war between the two villages. Though, he wasn't surprised that she was from the village at all, in the back of his mind, he had always known that she might have been, and he has yet to think ill of her at all. He didn't blame Iwagakure as a whole, when a war is waged, it is because two sides think they are right, and even though he had been on the losing side of the war, he wouldn't hold any real grudges against the village itself.

Though, if he had the chance, he would attack and try to kill them, but the main person in Tsuchi no Kuni he wished he could kill was the Daimyo of the country. He would think proceed to drink some of the fine beverage he had just tasted not too long ago, and he would continue to listen to the rest of the story that the kunoichi would tell him, making sure he followed every word. It seemed as if she had some sort of dispute with Kirigakure, but then why did she want to attack Iwagakure? He didn't understand the kunoichi, but he was sure that she would eventually fill him in on the entire story.

His eyes would follow hers off into the night sky which would seem not so far away from them, and then he would turn back toward hers, and figured that he would test the kunoichi's sense of humor.

["Well, I guess we should be getting to bed, then. We should sleep close together, so we can keep each other’s body warm~"]

The shinobi had said in a playful tone, wanting to see how the kunoichi had reacted to it. But what would he do if she had agreed to such a thing? Surely he'd be at a loss for words, seeing as he would simply believe that she would just ignore him or tell him he had no chance at all. His eyes lowered, giving her a somewhat intimate look, though behind it, he was ready to burst with a good laugh.

[Jun]

We should sleep close together, so we can keep each other’s body warm~"

[/right]

Aha, yeah right. I couldn't help but feel a bit warm inwardly ~ it was a valiant effort after all. Unfortunate for him, his attempts at wooing this lass would go about as far as our trust in each other. Brandishing the flask, I'd take one last drink from its mouthpiece before capping it and standing up with a jolt. With sight cast over a flirty youth I noted the passion in his eyes ~ somehow it brought about a grin on my face I hadn't experienced in ages. "Ha, I'm not that drunk." I answered casually, delicate bottle dangling in a left hand. With that my figure turned and made loose steps toward where our new belongings sat idly. I claimed one of the sleeping bags and as it was unfurled I'd look beyond my shoulder and make a final request for the night. "I guess this means you can block off the entrance with your tree Ninjutsu now." Once snug inside the confines of my pouch my body rolled on its side to face the back wall ~ Kota-san was way too friendly it seemed, he'd never double-cross me while I dreamed. But it was through a small sigh that I shut my eyes off to the world for tonight; it was also true that I had already begun to open my heart to this man.

Would there ever come a time when I began to need him?

Finis.

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[KEITH]

It would seem as if the shinobi's attempt at sharing a bed with the female was all for not, though he did manage to get a smile and a funny comment out of her. It seemed that for now, he would have to settle for just the friend zone, they hardly knew each other anyway, or trusted each other, but soon a day would come when they could. Hopefully sooner than later. The shinobi, upon request of the kunoichi, after she went to snuggle up into her own little sleeping bag, he would string a set of seals. The mountain that they were on had trees all over it, and with the shinobi being able to control them, he would use them to create a strong wall that would block of the entrance of the cave. Small cracks still present for the passage of air. Once that was finished, he would make his way to his own sleeping bed, and snuggle up into it, thinking about what was just upon the arisen for the duo.

[EXIT.]