Eyes of One!;

[Celes]

If Celes could have stopped, she might have when Chae shouted: Zap! However, gravity has a way of taking its own control of things, being one of the few constants that reality has to offer.

The shiver which crept down her spine anticipated the electricity; not just that, but, the burning sensation that came along with his previous attempts at dispelling her efforts, as well. Bracing she prepared for feelings which never would come, closing her eyes in a brief moment only to open them again as she neared her sinking opponent. Still, 'twas too late to change course, and even as shocked as she was, she found herself smiling at the mere act alone. Humorous indeed, but, slightly frustrating at the same time, as, she had not even considered down a direction in which he could maneuver. While she may not strike him, she could find solace in the fact that now, he would be just as wet as she. Granted, the sun had begun to work wonders on that dampness.

::SWIPE::

::THUD::

A heel struck unto water, splitting it, being engulfed in one second, thereafter, dry in the next as chakra swirled and repelled in its flowing motions. Springing up and landing properly onto the surface, the tension dispersed unevenly, until, the liquid that sloshed about became still (as still as its current would allow anyways). Her gaze fell downwards, searching for the man whom had sunken, partially – and a bit foolishly – expecting him to be lingering just beneath. Of course, he was not, instead, his voice came in a momentary, but, nevertheless cheery lecture from just behind her. She shuddered with her back to him, turning about, staring down at his head meters farther off (just peeking above the waterline), then, giggled.

He seemed to bring out that side of her with his antics, usually more calm than anything, laughter was not one of her quirks. Today though, it had been. Within it, lagged her breaths, and, her hands darted to clutch and hold just around her navel as she tried, with some great effort I might add, to slow her beating heart and in turn, catch her breath again. When she finally did, a relieving sigh swept throughout her entire body, although, the wear and tear of the day was beginning to show just beneath her young pupils. She was breathing out her mouth, in slow pants, her lips slightly parted with deep inhales and exhales matched in pair with a thin coating of sweat. Whether or not she could continue though, did not need to be asked. Since chakra still bled through her soles, it was clear that she had not spent the entirety of what stamina she possessed.

Despite being tired, she was enjoying herself quite a bit, more so than she would have been if she had stayed home. Regardless, the day ebbed on while they had their training session, with the sun high, but, shifting into a later phase of its daily cycle. She gazed up, having to slip a hand just beneath her forehead protector to shield her eyes from the annoying pierce of bright rays. This she did until he finished speaking, giving her time enough to respond to him, whilst, he swam, his head bobbing above and about. “Uh, right, sorry.” she adjusted her headband conveying her understanding. Her words a bit stalled because of the short breaths. “I suppose there's no question; your element is Raiton . . .

Did you wish to continue?" She asked through the occasional pant. "The day is growing dim, and, my parents will be expecting me in the evening.”

[Chae]

If one thing existed that the shinobi world could've used more of, Chae would've immediately chosen laughter. Throughout the entirety of his life, laughter had been the one single thing that kept his mind intact, despite having his morals gone astray. Through all of the madness and chaos that clouded the world, a cold drink and laughter allowed Chae to press onward towards whatever it was -at that time- that he wished to achieve. Chae himself enjoyed laughing and enjoyed watching others experience the gesture even more. Facilitating chakra through out his body, both arms uplifted himself from being submerged, just as wet and slippery as Celes had been moments prior.

By the time Chae returned to a full stand, Celes' natural series of laughter diminished, enough so that she obtained just enough air within her lungs to muster up a simpleg, yet also direct sentence. Undoubtedly, Raiton Ninjutsu had been what Chae had been notorious for in a great many countries. Thereafter, she inquired if he wanted to continue and motioned towards the day wearing thin from their meeting. Nodding to show his acknowledgement of her words, he answered while squeezing the water from the loose ends of his clothing.

"Yep, Raiton Ninjutsu is my specialty, probably one of the best to ever live, but even I still have room for growth in that field. "

Once spoken, he approached Celes with a simple pace, placed his only hand upon her shoulder, and finished speaking to Celes as a teach would his student.

"You have a point, the day is wearing pretty thin. Most shinobi, especially uchiha would find our meetings, how you say, taboo. Mostly because you're learning from someone who isn't even a native of this village. Regardless, this is more than enough for today. We've got plenty of time, no rush y'know haha. Next time we'll see how your ninjutsu is."

Moving his hand from her shoulder to the top of her head, he smiled before stepping back, physically letting her know that he'd been pleased with her display thus far.

[Celes]

Someone's cocky, Celes thought, although with a smirk, staring at Chae as he wrung out water from his clothes (drip drop and into a torrential sloshing pour); she had little doubt that he could not back up his claims. He had a dark past which highlighted his power, but, how he acted now spoke much farther for his subsequent influence. After all, he had been not only going easy, but, also going out of his way to teach her, instead, of simply disgracing and humiliating in thwarting her attempts outright. While yes, he did so rather effortlessly, thinking back she could still smile about everything; getting drenched, her sandals snapping, and, for a moment, almost believing that that last ZAP of his was about to run throughout the breadth of her young body.

She looked up at him, tilting her head slightly to the side as he placed and in turn rested a hand upon her shoulder. Casually, her arms folded across her chest, and, she gave him a teasing glare. As she shifted light refracted in new ways, dancing into forming shadows and reflecting in glimmering gleams off of her forehead protector. “Why not become native; Konohagakure is your home, uh – right?” Sure even if he did so, under a proper defection and thereafter reestablishing loyalties, she had to admit, he would still be right. The Uchiha – especially her family – were not known for trusting outsiders.

As Chae had described so vividly over a month ago, there was an entirely different world out there, driven by the lust for power, and, by those people that would steal the birthright of others to make up for what they considered to be their weak points. That mentality did nothing to improve relationships with strangers, the unknown and foreigners. He would always be considered a threat, regardless of what pledged trust he enveloped into his cause. Of course what tension those thoughts would have spurned, was eliminated by his motions. From their first meeting his nature had all-but stipulated into that of a kind teacher, and, being a recent graduate of a Shinobi Academy, it was hard not to relate to someone that so obviously had the ability to teach, and do so well.

Shrugging up into him, she smiled briefly as he ran his hand up along the span of her shoulders and placed it unto her head. Wet, but, drying her hair ruffled with ease, curling at the tips from the mere, brief hovering touch alone; fiery locks falling into tussles and fluttering about in the breeze which blew every now and then across the surface of the lake. Behind them, the waterfall, well, fell and shuffled into large mists that sprayed and cooled them lightly in its spitting fog. By the time he stepped back, she quickly went to work in fixing the misplaced bangs and strands that had fallen into disarray over the course of their session.

“You know,” she began, then, gestured down to her bare feet, “you broke my sandals.” Despite how amusing the notion might be, at least to him, she by all means appeared deadly serious about losing them, and, she did not so much as blink when she reminded him of what had happened. Her expression gave away far more in regards to her intent though: hardly annoyed nor angered, it appeared that she was containing her own enjoyment just to take a jesting shot at his integrity – oh and destroying a young girl's shoes was definitely a matter he needed to be concerned with. Chakra swirled and flared around them, and, she took a few steps forwards, walking up along side of him now. “Will you be departing for the village now, as well?”

[Chae]

Not even a moment after Chae stepped back had Celes responded, motioning back towards her broken sandal, something that actually slipped his mind throughout the duration of their training session. Embarrassed he rubbed the back of his head whilst laughing nervously before he reached into the inner fold of his robe and retrieved a small pouch of Ryo, more than enough to have replaced both sandals.

"Heh, I that ones on me, s'what happens when you get into what you like to do the most haha!"

Catching his breath, his body pivoted to turn around, yet, stopped halfway after Celes inquired whether or not that Chae too would've made his way back towards the village.

"I am, you can join me if you want, I won't mind."

His offer came quick yet lingered long enough for Celes to contemplate her decision. Regardless of her answer, Chae continued his turn and made his way back to shore, namely the general direction that lead back into the village. Once on land, his feet slipped out of his sandals where his hand then gestured towards them, indicating that Celes could not only buy another pair, but use Chae's own for the time being.

"Don't worry about me, i've walked in much worse things than just dirt and grass barefooted."

Momentarily, he looked up to the sun and soon noticed just how powerful its rays of light had been, especially considering that his clothes had already began to dry up, although he didn't mind the refreshing drop in temperature from the dampness. Continuing towards the village, he figured Celes would've had more questions, and presuming she had the courage to ask them, that time couldn't have been better.

[Celes]

Sighing, a weighted pressure lifted from Celes' entire body whence her feet freely touched upon a solid surface again. Chakra dispelled immediately, leaving the ground bare and expelling the remnants in excess energy until it all-but flickered away – becoming a fickle memory that made its home in relative fatigue. Breaths came slowly, and, she inhaled deeply, in through the nose and out, as, she was no longer pressed by a sapping draining strain unto herself. The water trickled and ran on behind streaming and jetting occasionally, but no longer repelled, instead free to take shape again with the Shinobi in an unequal pairing, safely on the stony shore-line. Turning towards the sound of shuffling in pockets, she stared at the pouch offered, and, nodded, albeit shaking her head thereafter as . . . she had been kidding; he did not have to pay for a pair of sandals. Not if he did not wish too.

Although for a moment, the young girl was puzzled by the comment that came along with it. Confused in the sense in that she was not quite sure why being excited and into something, led to destruction of property, specially not your own. I will admit, Celes, while observant, could be dense when it came to certain matters she was unfamiliar with (whether they be expressions or attitudes she has just never experienced before). Regardless, she trekked alongside Chae, up until the point wherein he removed his own sandals. Again, she was rather intrigued by the gesture, but, did not voice her concern, gladly sliding his, obviously, too large sandals to cover up the exposed skin on her soles. The first few steps were not only awkward, rather, comical as she tried to adjust her strides several times, whilst, failing miserably.

After those attempts however, she appeared just fine, stepping in her typical short strides and keeping up with him as best as she could manage. “Right then,” she titled her head towards him, “best that you lead, otherwise, you'll be overtaking me with every footfall.” An offhand comment, that would prove to be true. They both (presumably) knew the way back to the village, but, the process would work better if the smaller of them did not proceed to get in the way, and instead, followed by example. She would do so, shifting in behind him, clunking along in his sandals, and, every now and then, shuffling them along into brief scuffles that just did not rise up high enough as to not scrape along the dirt, rock, and whatever else happened to be in the way of the path.

While the terrain shifted, the sun lowered, disappearing behind the breadth of twin statues and the scape that led up into the waterfall. This provided ample shade, and only flickering of rays in light, here, there, and over there, splitting between branched and leaved trees and the blossoming thickets that would become ever the more prevalent the further they ventured from the Valley of End. After all, it was a man-made scar, whether those alive remembered it or not, the rest of the wildlife relished and in turn flourished, growing and blooming more each passing year. In time they would pass along all-of-it, on their way back to the Village Hidden amongst the falling Leaves.

“Is . . . or, uh does your wife know about us?” Well, that came out a bit wrong, but, the intent was there. She had to convince her parents to even let her leave the sanctuary of the Uchiha District today, and, the girl wondered if he had to go through the same, but, different explanatory means to travel out so far away from home. Her face flushed with a streak as she realized her question could have meant several things at once, and she looked down quickly. “Rather, did you tell her where you were going today?” The words came out less forced now that the momentary mental lapse faded into obscurity; she pushed the conversation along, hoping that the blunder in her speech had not been, that, noticeable. It had though.

[Chae]

Taking the lead upon Celes' request, Chae's steps adjusted accordingly, moving just fast enough to stay ahead while allowing her to trail behind him a few meters. He smiled with a light laugh, amused at Celes' successful attempt at adjusting the overly large sandals for her smaller feet.

Peering up and through the forest's canopy, Chae managed to gauge and estimate just how far the sun would have sunk into the northern mountains by the time they reached the village gates. Shortly after, his mind instinctively turned itself towards Celes after acknowledging her question despite its odd wording. No more than a few seconds later, Chae answered.

"Yeah she knows and she understands considering shes a - or was a shinobi as well. So no worries you aye-okay on my end."

During his speech he turned and grinned, more than happy to offer reassurance and certainty. Thereafter, he simply continue onward, temporarily free from his responsibilities.

[Celes]

Right, then why did it feel weird.

Regardless, Celes nodded back to him, hoping to show that she was a little less nervous abut the situation as a whole. She took more care with her steps now as the terrain became increasingly uneven, riddled with foliage and other like branches, sticks, bark and roots, that were hazards, especially, to a person whom was not wearing proper footwear. In the sense that they (the sandals) would slip off, or come close to doing so, every now and then, the girl had to constantly shift and shuffle forward in order to provide remedy for that mishap. Granted she did not mind – the welcome sight of the familiar canopy and its winding paths were more than enough to keep her mind at ease, that, and knowing full well that right now she was completely safe was reassurance in its primal form.

Shadows were vanishing and instead being replaced by utter darkness. The sun crept low along the mountainside, nearly disappearing beneath mighty stone and rock, leaving at least one vantage without light. However, its orange hues still tinted the clouds and as they walked, Celes, would occasionally glance up at them. Their color in tangent with the flowing of puffy white clouds, almost seemed like a show, as white became one tint, then another, thereafter, more still. A dancing show of the orb in the sky, setting for the day so that the moon could rise and herald a new night into a starry sky. By then though, the youth would be home, sitting at a table and eating dinner with her family. Well, she could hope anyways, for, she did promise them.

Another thought stirred among their footfalls. There were certain things about him that she just could not help, but, to wonder about. While he was kind, and, mostly amusing, the dark under tones of his past highlighted his need, or, want to move on in order to distance himself from what he had done. What concerned her was whether or not he was actually changing, or, just running away. A major difference lay therein, and, what she found so odd that was after many years, that he had not taken up his new life officially. He had a wife now, and, had lived her for so long that he called Konohagakure his home, yet, why (when he clearly still possessed the will to do so), had he not decided to formerly protect it? Frankly, it bothered her, and, since her first question had been glossed over, she attempted to form the words for another through parted lips.

“If Konohagakure is your home now, don't you want to protect it too?” Again, her wording did not match her intent entirely, but, perhaps he would pick it up from the way she looked at him. Staring, motivated, and, nearly coming to a stop in her paces just behind him. Little strides met with even less resistance, became just simple slides along the dirt in his sandals. They no doubt – after this venture – would be a bit dirty. Inhaling deep, she took a breath then elaborated on her question. “You say people will misunderstand us because you aren't native, but, why not become a Shinobi . . .here?”

(OOC: Sorry first my internet crapped out, then, I started to get sick so I haven't been at the top of my game.)