Becoming Raikage! [RP.]

[Estilo]

A knock on the door. Once, twice... a third time. Morning rays of sunlight shine through the partially closed blinds of Atlas Burabiya's apartment, peering down at the cheap but conventional furniture organized neatly within. The eyelids covering Atlas' viridian green eyes slowly receded as he awoke. When he had the conscious to do so, he would gaze over at Wunderbar, a dark brown Dachshund; lying belly up on top of a pile of bed sheets on the floor, arms splayed open, stomach moving rhythmically up and down as he breathed. "Stupid dog," He would mutter, half-asleep. Less of an insult now that he had used it so much, more of a nickname. He was sure Wunderbar didn't mind. "Quit taking my sheets, hm?" Burying his nose into the depths of his pillow, the newly crowned Chuunin would start his daily morning routine, working up the willpower to get out of bed and work. Naturally, every morning was a challenge.

A knock on the door, the fourth, then promptly the two after it. They were sharp knocks, the knocks of a man with bony fingers and a cluttered schedule. They managed to rouse the Akegarasu to wakefulness, though he couldn't say he was pleased or thankful. It had actually kind of pissed him off. Grumbling with his disapproval of this, he would flop his head over to one side on the pillow and glance over at the cabinet by his bed. According to the alarm clock, it was 7:45AM. As he put on his favorite pair of old, deep blue jeans and buttoned the white long-sleeved shirt he had worn all day yesterday, Atlas strained to hear the sounds of any further knocking from his visitor at the other end of the long corridor. He had no idea who could be trying to contact him at this point in time, but he knew at least that it was nobody he truly knew. Atlas' activity typically ran from 11AM to 3AM. Early visitors were not welcomed, it ruined his groove.

Stumbling on his own feet as he walked down the long corridor- past two guest rooms and a bathroom- gave him the appearance of one who was inebriated and lost. He was barely entering the living room when his unexpected guest continued to knock the door. Such an impatient act, couldn't he have waited just a while longer? "I'm going, I'm going." Atlas would grumble, approaching the door but scoping on who was out there through use of his peephole first. He couldn't see nothing but a somewhat large shadow-like figure. Surely, the light outside was playing tricks with him, but it had taken the luxury of seeing with his own eye who was rapping at his door with such an annoying anxiety. His hand wrapped around the cold knob while the other unlocked the door. When he opened it, it would only allow for partial few of his face and torso. He wasn't one for flinging the door open when he didn't know who was outside.

The portly robed man outside would bow once Atlas made eye contact, holding in both his hands a wooden box."Burabiya-sama. Good morning!" He would immediately, and enthusiastically, say. When he looked up, recovering from his bow, he would reveal an old but delighted face. The bristle and prominence of a thick gray beard hiding his any facial feature beneath his nostrils from view. Strange... the word didn't even begin to describe what the Akegarasu was seeing right now. He chalked the appearance of this strangely dressed man at his front door to a simple mistake, but then how would he have known his surname? And sama? That was uncalled for, it wasn't like the guy worked for him or anything. He tried to process any reasonable excuse for this unexpected situation- even considering the fact that he might have applied for some sort of raffle before leaving for the Chuunin Exams, this guy being the messenger that would bring his prize. But before he could any further with his thinking, the old coot would spill the beans.

"You've been chosen as our next Raikage!"

[Estilo]

He was still reeling from the news as he walked towards the bookstore where he was meant to meet Yukiko. Raikage?! Him? There were so many unanswered questions, things he would probably never understand. And the last Raikage, exactly where had he gone? Atlas had never met the rumored youth, but from what he saw, he'd been doing a splendid job of keeping the village hidden in cloud on the line. Now the title of Raikage was being passed on to him, for reasons yet unknown. The unexpected visitor at his front door this morning gave him a wooden box and a letter, a letter that informed the Chuunin on a recently scheduled appointment he was to attend at a disclosed location near the Raikage Tower. He didn't want to go to something he didn't schedule himself, but what was he going to say? This was his career on the line, after all.

He was approaching the bookstore where he'd meet his genin companion, it was only a few blocks away now. And as he passed the Kumogakuran markets- the apartments, the locales, the parks- he tried to let the recent news of his kageship sink in. If he was truly going to accept this, he knew he wouldn't just be accepting a mere title. With it came a burden, an honor, a responsibility so great that it often went down in the annals of history. This was his home, his shelter, and he loved it for all that it was. But was he prepared to lead it? To protect it, when the time came to do so? Like any other person, he had his doubts. He had his fears. This was something to muse about with what little time he had to do so before leaving for his appointed meeting. This was a career decision that would most definitely change his life, more so than the Chuunin Exams.

Opening the glass doors that permitted entry and exit into the book-selling establishment, the Akegarasu gazed about for Yukiko Fuyumori. He'd promised her missions, and he kept his word. Yesterday, before they had separated at the gates, he'd chosen this location to meet-up before heading to the mission compound. But to do missions today, when the time for his appointment was nearing... he wasn't sure he could make it. In the very least, however, he could spend a majority of today with his imoto, and tell her the news. The bookstore today was only mildly filled with people, as it had always been. He strode past the magazine section in search for the Yukina, then past various others before an idea came to mind. Perhaps she was reading manga? As he recalled, that was what she had bought the day they'd met. Retracing his steps, he would head towards the section the bookstore restricted to manga only.

[Yuki-chan]

[Enter]

A small 'ping' was heard as the female entered the bookstore. Last night had been a lot of fun; her parents had made ramen with root vegetables plus some ice cream for dessert. Both Hisao and Koji wanted to hear about how Tetsu no Kuni was like since they had never been there.
Yukiko had taken some pictures with a very simple digital camera and showed them how it was there. After that, all three siblings had watched some anime while they ate candy.

Today, the girl was going to return a book she had since it was not that interesting to read. "I would like to return this book please" said the Genin as she handed the book to the clerk.
"All right...do you want to pick a book that has the same price?" asked the amethyst-haired woman. "Yes please. How much does the book cost?" asked the female as she looked up at the adult.

She tapped some of the buttons on the cash register. "It costs 250 ryo" said the female before she looked at the brunette. "I'll go and find a book" said the girl as she went towards one of the shelves with books that contained old Japanese folklore myths.
Her small hand removed the book from the shelf; she turned it to see if there was a price tag on it. It was one at the left side of the bottom that read '200 ryo'.

'Hm...that means I have 50 ryo left. I'll check if they have that volume I missed' thought Yukiko as she went towards the manga section. Her crystal blue eyes scanned the 'S' section for the volume of 'Sailor Luna' that she did not have in her collection.
'THERE IT IS!' thought the female and smiled when she saw the volume. She then headed straight for the cash register with both items in her hands, eager to read both of them.

"Here you go!" said the Genin as she laid both of the books onto the counter. The clerk scanned them before she laid both books in the bag with a smile on her face. "Have a nice day" said the female.
"You too" said the girl before she saw a familiar person walk towards the manga section. She smiled as she walked towards him with a smile on her face.

"Hey senpai!" said the brunette once she had caught up with him at the manga section. "I returned a book I did not like. Are we going to the compound now?" asked the female as she looked at him with a smile on her face.
Atlas had been smart when he went for the manga section; Yukiko was a bookworm but she also loved comics. She wondered if he liked to read any since she knew more guys that read manga than girls.

[Estilo]

After searching through the area designated as the manga section, the Akegarasu was somewhat surprised not to have found Yukiko. Either he'd missed her at some point during his previous search, or she had yet to arrive. Confident in the fact that she would come by here, however, Atlas remained in his current position. His emerald optics gazed over at the books arranged on the shelves- various artists, styles and story lines, all listed in alphabetical order. He reflected on his days as a teenager, when he had the time to indulge himself with this sort of literature. A time before he had become a village ninja, when the responsibilities he had then dwarfed in comparison to the ones he had now. He could hardly remember the ease.

It would not take long for the brunette male to find himself temporarily distracted from the mental encumbrance that came with the news of his Raikage title. For a moment, he'd been lost in that past, almost forgetting the onus that was put on him to prove he had what it took to lead this country. As much as this short-lived distraction had relieved him, however, it had proven to be nothing but an illusion. He had to face facts, he had to put his reality in mind and really think all of this through. But just as he would begin his musings, a familiar and pleasant voice hit his ear. He would turn to the sound of his imoto, no longer stressing over the metaphorical weight on his shoulders. "Hey, kiddo. What's up?" She told him, and was quite clearly optimistic about heading off to the mission compound- which in turn, brought a wide smile to her senpai's face as well.

"Yeah," He answered, rethinking his availability for that day. He wasn't obliged to attend a meeting he didn't even schedule, a meeting he had just been told about this morning and was expected to accept. And despite the disciplined opinion of his soldier self, demanding he comply from within, the Akegarasu's promise and Yukiko's eagerness managed to trump any idea that suggested postponing a mission with her until later. Sure, he was quite aware that a rebellious side of him was emerging and ultimately fueling this decision, but he couldn't fail his imoto. Whether he decided to take the task and title of the Raikage or not, he needed to get used to the idea of making time for her. "We'll head off to the compound in a bit." Atlas smiled warmly, patting Yukiko on the shoulder when he leaned forward.

"So, did ya buy any good books?" He'd ask curiously, enthusiasm clearly tinging his tone. "I was actually just thinking about buying a manga, then heading off for a cup of coffee at the cafe." Yes. He was sure he had enough time for a coffee before leaving to do a mission, then time to spare after said mission was done to decide whether or not he wanted to go to his appointed meeting. Now that he had settled with taking his own fate into his own hands, his mind was much clearer and his muddleheaded thoughts less rampant.

[Yuki-chan]

"So, did ya buy any good books? I was actually just thinking about buying a manga, then heading off for a cup of coffee at the cafe." said the male.
"I bought this book and this manga volume" said the female as she pulled both items out of the plastic bag. One of the books had various Japanese folklore creatures on it, all drawn in a manga/fantasy style of some sort. The manga was a special volume of 'Sailor Luna' that had been re-published by the company.

"Yuck! I HATE coffee!" said Yukiko and stuck out her tongue as she heard what Atlas had planned to do on the cafe. She knew that a lot of adults drunk coffee; her parents did that from a time to another during breakfast.
"Maybe I can come with you in a couple of minutes. I have to get my books back home and get my weapons" said the girl as they went for the exit.

"Just wait here. My house is only three blocks away" said the Genin as she started to jump from roof to roof in order to get home. It only took her a couple of minutes before she reached the house that she lived in.
The door was open; the girl heard her mother vacuum-clean the kitchen upstairs. She laid the bag on her bed before she grabbed her butterfly knife plus her weapon pouch.

The brunette then dashed out of the house as she headed for the bookshop. Only three minutes had passed when she could see the young man that was her senior. "So, what are we gonna do next?" asked the female as she looked up at him.
She tightened her headband a little, which was now tied around her forehead like most shinobis. "I wanna take a "C"-ranked mission that's a little hard" said Yukiko as they started walking again.

"I am allowed to take "B"-ranks too if there are four people or more on our team, including me. But you're the boss" said the girl as she folded her arms behind her head. Perhaps they could meet up with that Uchiha they had met in that teahouse.
She had not seen him or that other brunette since she came home yesterday. Maybe the older Genin knew where they was.

[Estilo]

They started their walk away from the bookstore now, a good pace bringing them closer and closer to the cafe Atlas was headed towards. He'd laughed joyfully when he'd seen her reaction to the word coffee before, and could at least hope that she could bear the smell of it. While they were indeed going to go on a mission very soon, the Akegarasu needed his regular cup of late morning caffeine. Without it, he found himself a bit sluggish and lazy during missions he performed in Kumogakure. And should he decide to meet up with the Hidden Cloud Village's officials later on in the day, sluggish and lazy was something he sought to avoid at all costs. It did bad for his reputation.

"We're going to head off to the mission compound in a bit," Atlas replied to Yukiko's previous inquiry. "But first the cafe, kiddo. I'll buy you a hot chocolate, hm? No coffee for you." His bright smile widened. He'd meant what he'd said. But this wasn't just a polite gesture that had come out of the blue. He wanted to break the news of his kageship to Yukiko properly- to avoid the chance that somebody else might tell her. And in the midst of that, he wanted to know how she was coping with the part in the Chuunin Exams she had not been able to complete. In a way, it would take his mind off the burden that was slowly increasing in weight on his already tired shoulders.

Turning down to her as they strode past the marketplaces, the half-masked male took notice of the headband she'd recently wrapped around her forehead, and the weaponry she had strapped and put away on her person. The meager sunlight that managed to get past the thick blanket of clouds up in the sky gleamed on the surface of the hitai-ate. The insignia of Kumogakure etched across it as neatly as it was on his headband- the one he kept tucked away in his pocket at nearly all times. It was the symbol of his village, his country, his ninja, his people- all those he was sworn to protect at all costs. And seeing it on his imoto only reinforced that realization.

They were almost there- to the cafe. It was only a few blocks away now. In the meantime, the Akegarasu recalled back to that book about folklore Yukiko had bought just now. While he wasn't exactly caught up on most of the latest manga, Atlas was quite the folklore and legend aficionado. His knowledge of such literature spanned over many cultures and lands, his interest in the subject paramount among others. "Hey Yuki, have you ever heard the legend of Momotaro? That's one of my favorites. I only ask because of that book you bought earlier. Folklore and myths are a pastime of mine."

[Yuki-chan]

"But first the cafe, kiddo. I'll buy you a hot chocolate, hm? No coffee for you." said the male while the smile on his face widened. "Cocoa sounds nice" said the female with a smile as they walked towards the cafe. There were not a lot of people in the street at this hour since the working day had just started for most of them.

"Hey Yuki, have you ever heard the legend of Momotaro? That's one of my favorites. I only ask because of that book you bought earlier. Folklore and myths are a pastime of mine." informed Atlas as they arrived at the 'entertainment' block. It was actually a street that housed a cinema, some large karaoke bars, the local radio station plus Kumogakure's theater.

"Momotaro? Oooh, you mean Peach Taro! I think I read something about him when I was eight or something" said Yukiko with a smile on her face. "I liked that he got help from those animals so he could bring treasures home. My parents have told me I can have a shinobi pet, but I can't have a dog since Hi-kun is allergic" said the girl.

They walked a bit further up the street. "Have you heard about the tale of Yuki-onna? They actually have a museum about the local folklores in Yuki no Kuni's capital" said the small Genin. It looked like the two had something in common despite the large age gap. Perhaps they could be a team until they both became Chuunins?

[Estilo]

"Yuki-onna..." The half-masked male repeated as the two walked past flashy establishments and entertainment areas. "Ah, yes. The Snow yokai! I've known that tale since I was about your age, you know. You two aren't related, are you?" He'd chuckle, softly tussling the top of Yukiko's hair with one hand. He figured she was most likely named after the mythological entity, and found that it fit quite well with her abilities with ice. But the same, he realized, could be said for him. "On a side note," He would continue, walking a little in front to shield Yukiko from the incoming civilian traffic walking towards them. "I just happen to be named after a Greek Titan from mythology." And in a voice that poorly imitated that of Greek poets he'd seen in movies, the Akegarasu would dictate: "Atlas, the one who was burdened with the weight of heaven on his shoulders- keeping it from crushing the earth." He laughed. "Neat, right? The title itself is a burden. I sometimes wonder why I was given such a name."

Their walk took them through a somewhat busy entertainment district, crowded but lively with colors and activity. The Chuunin remembered a lot of nights spent in this district- drinking, playing pool, enjoying himself with others. During the daytime, it was a fun place to be. During the nighttime, that fun escalated into something ridiculous but ten times as enjoyable. He wondered now, that if he truly took this job as Raikage, if he would be able to divide his time evenly amongst his personal life and duties as the leader of this village. He was well aware that sometimes the job took over people's lives, to the point where they were oblivious about their social contacts in the end, and realized it far too late to do anything about it.

Now that they had walked for a good five minutes or so, the cafe the half-masked male preferred was coming next. Gradually, they'd make their way out of the buzzing entertainment sector. They were now entering a more subdued locale of Kumogakure, a neighborhood of artisans and down to earth establishments. The items sold here ranged from wooden statues to paintings. The smell of timber and water-based paint wafted through the chilly air. This was a district neighbored by the entertainment sector to its south, and by the mission compound to its north. It also happened to be the place where Atlas' apartment resided- which, he reasoned, would probably not be his apartment any longer, depending on the salary he would receive later on. But then again, was he obliged to move out if he didn't want to?

"Here we are!" Atlas smiled when they finally reached the cafe- a one-story, Italian-style building that sold coffee and tea. The sign simply read, Il Ago. The Akegarasu held open the wooden door for Yukiko as she entered, to which the door replied with a chime. A silver bell hanging off of its top side. The establishment wasn't crowded at all, only a few artists here and there- sitting alone at their tables with manuscripts laid out and their heated beverages at hand. "You can go ahead and order." Atlas continued. "I'm right behind you, then we can find a table by the window, hm?" With a smile, he'd follow her to the cashier and order his long needed cup of joe.

[Yuki-chan]

"Ah, yes. The Snow yokai! I've known that tale since I was about your age, you know. You two aren't related, are you?" chuckled the male as he ruffled her hair slightly with his hand. "Maybe..." said the female before she looked at him with what she hoped was a wide-eyed, dead-looking stare.

"On a side note, I just happen to be named after a Greek Titan from mythology." said Atlas before he imitated something that sounded like a narrator's voice. "Atlas, the one who was burdened with the weight of heaven on his shoulders- keeping it from crushing the earth. Neat, right? The title itself is a burden. I sometimes wonder why I was given such a name." said the young man.

"Perhaps your parents thought you were a strong child or could handle a lot of stuff. I got my name because I was borne on a beautiful day with a lot of snow" said Yukiko with a small smile. "My name means 'child of snow' after all, so it's not that bad" continued the girl as they approached their cafe. "Here we are!" said the older Genin as they entered a cafe named 'Il Ago'.

Ice blue optics studied the surroundings; this had a bit of the same style that the pizza restaurant her parents took her to on special occasions. "You can go ahead and order. I'm right behind you, then we can find a table by the window, hm?" said the male.
It did not take long before it was the younger Genins turn to order what she wanted. A young woman with shiny black hair, chocolate brown eyes and lightly tanned skin stood behind the counter.

"Hello there miss. What do you want to order?" asked the inky haired female with a friendly smile. "I want to order a cup of cocoa and that box with fruit and raisins please" said the female before she pointedon the said box.
It was a plastic box that contained sliced up white peach, grapes, kiwi, pineapple and some raisins. "Do you want your cocoa sugar free or normal?" asked the woman.

"If the taste is the same, I'll take sugar free. Never tried that before" said Yukiko with a small smile. "Right...do you want to order anything?" asked the waitress as she looked at the auburn brunette behind her.
Once they had ordered everything, the female started making their drinks. The smell of coffee was fine, but the girl could not stand the taste.

[Estilo]

Following his little companion into the comfy little establishment, the Akegarasu reveled in the smell of coffee. It entered his nostrils and filled his lungs, a satisfying sigh escaping his mouth as a result. As Yukiko advanced in line to place her order, Atlas' eyes seemed to sparkle with the delight his olfactory were experiencing. He was looking forward to chugging down his warm café au lait, as perhaps that was exactly what he needed to clear this befuddled mind of his and get his priorities straight. It was his turn to order next, his imoto having obtained a cup of cocoa and a box of raisins and fruit. "Good morning." Atlas would smile at the dark-haired cashier. "I'll take a café au lait- with eight packets of sugar, s'il vous plaît. And a, uh..." He scanned the menu hanging above them, a simply written overview scrawled upon a green board with chalk.

"A blueberry bagel with cream cheese." The half-masked male finally decided, smiling at the woman once more. When his order was confirmed, and after he paid for their treats, the young man would find a table near the window as he'd promised, sliding into the chair across from Yukiko's. In a minute or two, their orders would be brought up to them on a tray. But for now, he was perfectly fine with settling in and waiting for his beverage and snack. That, and breaking the news of his kageship to whom he considered close to a little sister. But then something came to mind, a question that had longed formed itself in his mind, since their departure from Tetsu no Kuni. "Hey, kiddo." He'd start, leaned back in his wooden chair and glancing out of the window with his emerald green optics. "How have you been doing since the Chuunin Exams? I know you didn't pass the test... but I'm sure you're bound to get it next year." He smiled, hoping Yukiko hadn't lost that spark.

He was quite aware of the potentially damaging effects losing the Chuunin Exams might have on a child's confidence, he'd experienced them before- during his youth. And while Yukiko was clearly the same as she had been before, her enthusiasm for the next Chuunin Exams might have been different. He really couldn't know until he heard about her experience there and shared her thoughts on the matter. While he had his own problems to settle and think about, to Atlas, the problems that his imoto might be having mattered more. He could deal with his situation, he was old enough to do so and had the discipline to wait it out. But with Yukiko, a ten-year old child in the business of the ninja world, he felt he would need to be there as a companion.

While the young girl replied to his question, another young woman who worked at the establishment came up to their table with their orders on a tray. She placed the box of fruit and raisins and a mug of cocoa in front of Yukiko, then moved on to serving Atlas his blueberry bagel and cup of coffee. Briefly thanking the waitress with a polite smile, the Akegarasu would turn his attention back to his imoto and continue to listen in to anything she might have to say. The fingers on his right hand wrapped around the handle of his cup of coffee before he raised the brim to his lips and took a sip. The taste was exceptional, the feeling of supreme satisfaction almost instant.

[Yuki-chan]

Both of their meals arrived just moments later. "Thank you" said the female and smiled as the waitress placed her orders on the table. "Hey, kiddo. How have you been doing since the Chuunin Exams? I know you didn't pass the test... but I'm sure you're bound to get it next year." said the male.

"Well, I was kinda upset that I could not even pass the first test. But my parents told me that very few people becomes Chuunin at 10. My mum told me that very few get their Chuunin title right after graduating from the Academy unless they're really smart or were 15-16 when they graduated.
I'm going to train more hyouton jutsus and some more genjutsu eventually" said Yukiko before she started on her fruit salad.

"Maybe I'll do some taijutsu and sensor stuff too. It is a little hard to kick or punch very hard when you weigh half of less than most adults" continued the girl. She then stuffed some pieces of fruit into her mouth and chewed on it.
All of the fruit pieces were cool; they had a very fresh taste to them as well. "Did you get very far in your exams senpai?" inquired the Genin as she looked at him with somewhat wide eyes.

She knew that he had passed the first round but had no clue of how the exams had been for him after that. The female hoped that he had done enough to be promoted; he was a very good shinobi in her opinion.
But the brunette was still a child, so her opinion probably did not counted as much as others. "Maybe we can see the Raikage after our mission. Perhaps he will promote you" said the girl with a small smile, not knowing what had happened in that department recently.

[Estilo]

Sorry for the post lag, just finished revamping my bio, and it took longer than expected! - Espada

He was delighted to hear that Yukiko planned on getting stronger to give the next Chuunin Exams a better shot- his carefree grin growing slightly wider as a result. She was right, becoming a Chuunin at the age of ten was far more difficult than it seemed. The factors that came with participating in such a violent tournament at that age were debilitating as well, considering children had far less muscle- and in most cases, experience- than the teens and adults playing against them. In a way, Atlas was just a tad happier that she'd failed to advance into the second round than he was sad. He couldn't imagine seeing her get hurt by some punk- he couldn't imagine her having to kill somebody to survive. What the Akegarasu wanted- as a friend, as a mentor, as a brother- was for Yukiko to enjoy her childhood just a bit longer. Seeing her stuff a handful of fruits and gobble them down made him chuckle. She'd seemed to get the point.

It was then that the Yukina inquired after Atlas' own exploits within the Chuunin Exams, a curious gleam in her eye as she continued to pick out her fruits and eat them. "I got pretty far." The Chuunin began, taking a quick sip of his coffee before continuing- testing the sweetness of it on the surface of his tongue. "After the first exam, we were lead to a stadium, with a huge orb of water hovering in the middle. Then we were told to jump inside it, and when we did, we were all rendered unconscious and sent to a dreamscape. It was there where I fought alongside an Akegarasu like me, who also happened to be from Kumogakure. We fought against an entire army- an elephant, even! And when it was all over, I was told to report the proctor who had overseen our battle." He took a brief bite of his blueberry bagel with cream cheese, chewing it thoroughly and smiling at Yukiko as he did so. When he swallowed the mash that used to be the portion of blueberry bagel he'd chewed off, the half-masked male continued, remembering the situation like it had just happened.

"So theeen, I was informed that I didn't need to go to the third round of the exams. Apparently, I'd won the favor of the Chuunin Exam judges or something. Therefore, I was granted permission to leave with the promise that I'd garnered victory. Cool, huh? I thought they'd ask me to leave because I was older than the others, and a bit higher in the chakra scale, sort of speak. But apparently I aced the first two rounds! You couldn't have imagined my surprise." His joy seemed to have doubled, a gleeful chug of his coffee cut short by the sudden burning sensation he felt in his throat. "AH, AH, TOO HOT. HOT." He panted and hissed, quickly reaching for his bagel and biting into it once more. What he'd told Yukiko about the Chuunin Exams was pretty much what he'd experienced in a nutshell. Nothing else of notice had really occurred, and the crooked Daimyo Asa had informed him about at Ran's Teashop hadn't been there either.

All those thoughts about the Chuunin Exams, Kumogakure's recent criminal activity, and the mission Asa had assigned him, all disappeared when the Yukina suggested they go to the Raikage Tower next- to request for his title of Chuunin. Almost instantly, he was reminded of why he'd come- to inform his imoto about his most recent promotion as Raikage. But it was big news, and big news needed a proper introduction. Finishing the last pieces of chewed on bagel in his mouth, he pondered how he would break such news as he glanced out of the window once more. When he'd swallowed his food, ready to speak once more, and failed to come up with a line, the Akegarasu decided he would start with his Chuunin title first. Emerald optics turned to Yukiko with a smile. "Well, you see... I was already promoted to Chuunin. Got the title before I even arrived here, actually. Pretty crazy, huh?" He permitted a short laugh in between. "I think the Raikage must have known I'd be coming early, that I'd passed. Never got to thank him, either."

[Yuki-chan]

"I got pretty far. After the first exam, we were lead to a stadium, with a huge orb of water hovering in the middle. Then we were told to jump inside it, and when we did, we were all rendered unconscious and sent to a dreamscape. It was there where I fought alongside an Akegarasu like me, who also happened to be from Kumogakure. We fought against an entire army- an elephant, even! And when it was all over, I was told to report the proctor who had overseen our battle." told the male.

"Whoaaaa. That sounds really hard; I doubt I would be able to defeat an elephant even if I had someone else at my team" replied the female before she sipped some of her cocoa. "So theeen, I was informed that I didn't need to go to the third round of the exams. Apparently, I'd won the favor of the Chuunin Exam judges or something. Therefore, I was granted permission to leave with the promise that I'd garnered victory. Cool, huh? I thought they'd ask me to leave because I was older than the others, and a bit higher in the chakra scale, sort of speak. But apparently I aced the first two rounds! You couldn't have imagined my surprise." said Atlas.

Yukiko frowned a little; it seemed a little weird to her. She was happy that he had passed the two first rounds nevertheless. "AH, AH, TOO HOT. HOT." whimpered the young man as he drunk some of that coffee he had ordered.
"He he. This is what happens when you don't know how to do hyouton" chuckled the girl as she sipped a little more of her cocoa.

She had used a miniscule amount of her chakra to cool down the cocoa just enough to be drunk. "Well, you see... I was already promoted to Chuunin. Got the title before I even arrived here, actually. Pretty crazy, huh? I think the Raikage must have known I'd be coming early, that I'd passed. Never got to thank him, either." said the Chuunin.

"CONGRATS SENPAI!" exclaimed the Genin, which made the artists look up at her. "He he, sorry" said the female with a sheepish smile as she gave them a small bow. "Nice to hear you're a Chuunin now. We can go on higher ranked missions and my parents will probably trust you more since you're a higher ranked shinobi. I suppose I just have to train some more" said the girl as she ate some more fruit pieces.

[Estilo]

"Ha ha, thanks, kiddo." Atlas would reply, rubbing the back of his neck with bashful laughter- aware that almost all of the patrons in Il Ago were looking at them with dead stares. After she'd politely excused herself to the paying customers, she would continue on about taking higher-ranked missions with the Akegarasu, and the heightened trust that would come from her parents due to this prestigious promotion. "Yeah, I guess so." He'd reply, softly blowing on the surface of his coffee to ensure it was only mildly hot this time. Okay. He'd gotten the news of his Chuunin rank out already. But now came the news of his new status as the next, possibly, Niidaime Raikage. That had to be much bigger news to her. But how would he voice it?

His musings were interrupted when she muttered something about having to train a bit more often. He had recently applied for a part-time job at the Ninja Academy- his career, now officially, all over the place- and he knew he could help her in her endeavor from past training sessions. That, and he wouldn't mind trying to perfect his teaching skills as much as he could. He would never actually perfect it, of course, but he could definitely improve. "Maybe I can help you with your sensory techniques tomorrow, hm? I think I've garnered a knack for this teaching thing, and I have a feeling your training would go by a lot smoother because of it."

He took another drink of his caffeinated beverage, this time sighing with a satisfied ahh when he noticed it wasn't scalding hot like it had been before. Now he could truly enjoy his late morning snack session- the coffee, the blueberry bagel, the company. It was peaceful moments just like this one that he had yearned for since he'd arrived in Tetsu no Kuni, and since he'd been informed about his election to kageship this very morning. The life of a ninja seldom saw these moments of peace, one always being pressured by their village to complete missions and do their duty 24/7. But everyone needed their time of recompense, a time to talk and rest easy, knowing that the danger of death wasn't currently looming over their head.

[Yuki-chan]

The male had agreed to her when it came to how much her parents trusted him. "Maybe I can help you with your sensory techniques tomorrow, hm? I think I've garnered a knack for this teaching thing, and I have a feeling your training would go by a lot smoother because of it." said Atlas with his usual smile. "You can? That would be great!" said the female, now with a starry-eyed expression on her face.

Her small hand picked up the white cup before she sipped some more of her cocoa. The liquid was neither too hot or cold, but Yukiko felt a bit more thirsty than usual. She wondered what sort of mission they would take in the future since the young man had been promoted to Chuunin.
'Hmm...maybe we can take some missions where we have to travel around in Kaminari. Or perhaps a mission where we have to go to countries a bit further away like Hi no Kuni' thought the girl with a slightly dreamy look on her face.

'Mom told me that she did a diplomacy mission in Mizu no Kuni with dad the first time they met each other. I wonder if there are any missions where we can meet people from other villages' thought the Genin as she ate the last pieces of fruit in her bowl.
Once she was done, she laid the fork in the bowl and pushed it away slightly to signalize that she had aten up everything. "Senpai...do you think there are missions where we can go to other villages? Or perhaps other countries?" inquired the female as she looked at him.

"We've both done lots of missions in Kumogakure, but I want to do a mission in Kaminari or somewhere else if I can. If I have to take some other missions first or go with some other shinobis, I'm fine with it. I just want to see other places since what I've seen so far is constant winter.
Both Yuki and Tetsu no Kuni had lots of snow; I really want to see places with spring. Or nice summers" said the brunette with an excited voice.