tarou.

[Jun]

1. Jun

“I haven’t seen a rain less night in Amegakure since…” Gray hair mumbled while staring hard up at the sky.

“It is especially pretty tonight,” Kou replied. “And since I’m the only one with nothing to celebrate, I guess all drinks are on me here.”

Later on, he’d whisper that same promise in our ears as we passed him into a thin wall of hanging colored paper on some door off the beaten path. On the other side we emerged into a well hidden cave- like establishment. The boys waltzed straight for the bar, front- and-center of the room; I insisted on checking up on our surroundings rather, for it’d be me being the designated caretaker when the drinking games were all said and done. Besides, I wasn't as much of an alcoholic as they took pride in. Anyhow, my neck craned around and I got a good look at the blend of maroon, teal, and purple that was dyed into the strips of paper in the door frame. At the same time I caught on to the feeling that no one had been following us - I was a talented sensor after all. Well, that and a newly graduated Chuunin, as it was my pass for celebrating. Tarou was enjoying his 23rd birthday with his best friend. I’d just turned 20 not too long ago at all. 

Even while both younger and a female I’d always strive to be as skilled as them, whether they’d been ranked Jounin for years now or not. It was supposed to be a night set aside for laughs and good times only after all, but I was for some reason on edge. Kou and Tarou were already getting acquainted with the bartender straight ahead. On the other hand, keeping to the walls were sets of tables all around us with long, rectangular lanterns hanging from the ceiling above the center of the surface. They all looked comfy, having cushioned black seats and such, and there was a good turnout tonight in terms of guests. I figured I’d do both those slackers a favor and be the one to choose a table. Yet, when I went to turn from them I noticed Kou hand wave me over from the stools he and his old war mate were seated at. I joined them promptly and was greeted by a bartender who had hair as gray as Tarou but not quite as slicked back. He nodded at me then I glanced down at the counter. Both birthday boy and friend had two shots each in front of them. 

“Already?” I asked.

They just looked at me and smiled.

I fathomed it wouldn't be long until I was baby sitting.

[Jun]

2. Tarou

“Don’t you worry about picking a seat lil’ sis’, I’ll take care of that.”

Kou had downed his first shot of the night and let himself get used to the foreign sake by turning away to face Tarou. They had something of an ‘insider’ thing going on between them. Smirking, the 26 year old Jounin kept a low head and nodded over to a vacant table that just so happened to be neighboring another table seating 3 pretty young ladies. Jun must not have been tuned into their small musings, Tarou guessed from observing her. She seemed tense about something, but what? There was alcohol, the music was good, and there were plenty of people to get to know. Tarou was sort of starting to crave a cigarette but he was definitely liking the vibe this particular bar gave off. It held calmness and composure - it was blue…much like Jun’s ocean eyes! Beautiful, no doubt, but Tarou never thought of her in that way - he would never cross his ‘brother’ in that way. Then again, there were plenty of other fish in the sea for the ashen topped youth to pursue. He hadn't been far behind his friend at all; he threw back his first shot, then second before Kou called for each of them to have another round of ‘twins’. 

Now that he’d thought about it, Kou hadn't really eaten much all day. He seemed just fine now, of course, with his eyes continuously darting over to the table where a raven haired girl sat talking to her two lady friends. The younger of the two sighed, Kou was completely unaware of his surroundings - Smooth talking Tarou had already thought of himself as the one that would have to watch over the alcoholic Kou. The former ANBU wasn't as much of a weak bellied drinker as Jun liked to think. Speaking of ANBU, he’d been considering reenlisting as of recent, but then Kou’s arm knocked the night dreamer’s off of its propped position. His head nearly smacked the table, but he saved himself in time to hear his charcoal headed superior warn, 

“Hey, I think I’m gonna step outside for a cigarette. I’ll be back in like 5 minutes, alright?” His thumb was in the direction of the exit.

“I sort of want to smoke to, think I-”

“Look, I’ll save you a short! But I uh, I really need you to watch our drinks.” Kou lied, both cutting off his friend and thundering toward the paper doors within the same second.

Tarou was left with a blank look on his face. Of course, smoking the cigarette hadn't been Kou’s first priority, following that girl he’d been eyeing so far had been. She did appear eerily similar to the mistress he’d kept before revealing himself to his sister over a year ago. Either way, the weasel had been observed the entire time.  At any rate, Jun frowned her brother off then replaced him on gray hair’s left. She’d take one of his shots anyways. 

“So, do you like it here in Amegakure?”

[/size] She questioned.[/div][/font][/span][/div]

“It’s cool, I guess. The rain can get depressing but it makes you so much more aware when you travel to different countries.”

“I bet.”

[/size] Jun downed the second shot and waved over more.[/div][/font][/span][/div]

“But seriously, forget my birthday. Congrats on becoming a Chuunin. You've been serving Kumogakure for what, a year now? That’s great.” 

“Umm, thanks. But things back home haven’t been the same since Goldie died.”

“Well have you met your new kage yet?” Tarou threw back shot number 3. He’d probably start taking it easy after about 8 or 9. “If there’s one thing I envy about Kumogakure it’s their likelihood to seat another first-class leader.”

"I met him once when he was first elected but it wasn't personal or anything.”

[/size][/div][/font][/span][/div]

“Eh, keep your chin up, at least for me!” insisted the youth, patting the kunoichi on her back. Her voice did give away the impression that she was down, but Tarou couldn’t imagine why seeing as she now wore a signature green, buttoned down flak jacket on her torso. “You’re a Chuunin now, you serve a prosperous nation, and you’ve gotten a lot stronger than when I first met you. See? Life’s good.”

Jun didn’t seem to think so.

“Maybe you just need to make some new friends. Hanging out with your brother and his friend all the time won’t do you much good in the long run.”

And maybe…no surely he was right.

[Jun]

3.Kou

5 minutes had turned into 30. Kou hadn't been there to see his best friend take down 9 shots and his sister 7 in total. He’d been wrapped up outside trying to woo the wrong girl into following him home for the night. She was the looker though, being blessed with jet black hair that ran down to the middle of her back. Her eyes were like the stars and her lip-stick was dark - Kou wanted it on his own skin so badly. On his neck, his lips, hell he’d even take a kiss on the cheek at this point. But she had already joined her friends back inside the warm bar without him. Denied and embarrassed, the Jounin sat hunched up against the wall outside, arms holding his knees against his chest. Oh, and it was drizzling now. Fortunately, Kou had a small portion of the roof covering his head from the wet, if he didn't have anything else. Well, he did have the small flask of something she’d given to him before leaving him alone. She’d said he was a charming guy but he’d called her the wrong name and mistaken her for some other girl - that, he guessed, had been what did him in. The sad thing was he hadn't even been drunk. Though he was now, whatever was in that little flask had him somewhere on cloud 10. With warped vision and all, his slumped figure slid up clumsily from the wall before stumbling toward the door with the lovely paper strips and kanji hanging from it.

“Oh sorry miss, I’m not looking to take anyone home tonight, but I’m sure my friend…”

Kou wouldn't notice what was going on in the center of the room where his best friend was ironically searching high and low for him. Kou fell against the shadows, tucked away in the corner he almost drifted off to sleep.

“Well, actually I can’t even find him…that son ‘a bitch.” Tarou smirked. He was feeling good, loose, intoxicated, drunk, whatever you wanted to call it at this point. He could barely sit still on his stool now. 

“That’s too bad.” says the girl Jun and Tarou are accompanied by. She’s cute but not tall at all. She has a head of long, wavy auburn hair covered by a royal blue beanie. Apparently she’s a Chuunin from Kusagakure, as she’s been talking to the pair at the bar for something like 20 minutes now. “How about you…Jun?”

“What do you mean?”

[/color][/div][/span][/div][/font]

The girl grabs Jun’s hand and moves in closer. So close in fact that Jun can smell that alcohol on her breath. It’s a lot more potent than her own. Then for some reason, the newly graduated Chuunin doesn’t move her hand either.

“Well, you know…” Fire hair begins “I just wanted to know if you…”

She leans in even more and strange enough, Jun meets her half-way. Their lips touch and after that it becomes a sight Tarou can’t help but stare at, no matter how taboo. The two women make out in front of him in a sensual, not slutty kind of way.

“Jun!” Tarou shouts, sweating.

The short haired maiden turns away from her new friend for a moment. “Sorry, don’t tell Kou. I’m just a bit curious, that’s all.”

[/color][/div][/span][/div][/font]

Tarou swallows a lump in his throat and at the same time Kou stumbles into the scene, leaning on the counter and waving an empty bottle. “Don’t tell me what? That y’all ain’t feelin as good as me? I already figured.” Is his smooth entry. 

Jun shoos fire hair away. Tarou merely raises an eyebrow.

“Whatever, can I have that cigarette now?” 

Exit