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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.

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.”

Water swished about; swirling beneath feet in excess and pushing upwards as pressure was removed, replaced and again removed. Jerking forward, Celes was in fact tugged by her wrist before she could react. Pressed up into him, her legs flailed, and, a knee went up – doing little if not anything at all to hinder him, nor his efforts thereafter. Her collar gripped and tore up, cut off her air momentarily and in turn led into a gasp as her young body was maneuvered about in ease. Surely her weight and subsequent shortness played some part in this, however, with more than just the innate advantage of his height and body, Chae had no trouble in applying the greater strength that he possessed. With some manner of vain struggle against him – the squirming of legs in front; the blade she still clutched in one hand – the motions were to no avail.

Flung back by the mere tossing gesture, she soared through the air, meters passing by in a near instant, whilst, momentum picked up and gravity held its part in lowering her ever towards the surface, shadows dancing just above the glimmer before ramming down and all-but vanishing. A jetting spurned up in a crash, sending a spray of mist and liquid to match that of the waterfall, as, her body struck and temporarily went under, drenching everything in its widespread touch. Yet, with a panted breath, she was above, up again, shifting off of her hands to propel herself back upright. For a moment, she hovered just above, chakra streaming off of her soles, but, then they flattened out, straightening down and repelling once more.

Droplets eclipsed everything about her person now, even taken precedent over the rapid breaths, and, the nonstop pounding of her heart. They clung to cloth, glistened on her headband, wetting its tied and looped fashion; her hair in turn matted by them, considerably darker now but no less red – a shimmering maroon as she shook her head out and coughed, once, twice and thrice again. With a hand that came up she wiped the moisture from her mouth and cheeks dragging it across slowly, while she stared mostly in dumfound praise at the man whom had rather easily dispatched her. Its opposite applied a light tap to where he had grabbed her. She winced, feeling the starting formation of a bruise already.

Now a factor again – distance – the meters between them only slightly more than her first charge, she again took that hesitant step forward, slipping across the slippery surface which such care to the change in her stance. Observing him, she watched to see if he wished her to act again, to strike against him, leaving him time to make his own aggressive act if he wanted. Moments passed before she decided, that yes she would attempt to do so, with her right hand still clinging to that six inch blade of hers, the left ventured into the pouch at her side.

From it, she drew a lone black kunai which she held off to the side. In the next instant she darted forward, cutting the distance as rapidly as she could manage. Granted, compared to Chae, her speed was negligible at best. Donning weapons in each head, she was prepared to meet him should he mirror her, coming forward as she did. Regardless, as meters faded into nothingness she readied them all-the-same. Almost figuring that she could not hurt him – even if she wished too – there was less resistance, or, fear within her eyes this time, just, a sour determination not to be, well, for lack of a better term: humiliated. Lingering in that expression was that flush of red from how easily he had stopped her previously, and, she had not quite recovered from that embarrassment.

As she had not loosened contact with her longer knife, chakra still channeled and bored through it, increasing its temperature significantly as a little more of her energy was sapped. That in mind, when he would become near, she struck out. First with the longer of the pair of armaments, slashing for him diagonally down as the opposite went beneath that strike, criss-crossing, and going across horizontally for his midsection. A simultaneous act, intended to take advantage of the fact that he possessed only one arm that could defend himself. Still even as steel shimmered about, whizzing in its rapidness (in one case practically enveloped in heat), she held doubts to whether or not such a tactic would be effective on a man whom had lived with, and, killed with a disability for a great amount of time.

Lips parted into a few deep breaths, droplets of sweat forming whence there had been none, as, words danced about the water. Albeit, much harsher than before, Celes, did not reject them, in fact, she tried to still the beat that built up within her heart as time passed, and, in turn more chakra vanished into the streaming mists around. She exhaled; she inhaled, not willing to bring up her mild discomfort, since, it would be not only rude to interrupt, but, severely disrespectful to events that were painful, riddled with emotions ranging from anger, hatred, sadness and fear. So, she listened on, as he told on, no longer inching closer, instead, remaining still; propped above the currents that swirled ever downwards, being repelled by the expelled and channeled energy surrounding her feet.

Eventually, while he spoke, the streaks of red faded from her face, and, that awkwardness which was so present and prevalent before, all-but disappeared. Expressions contorted, but, never settled as though she could not decide exactly, what to feel, or, how to properly feel everything at once. Tried as she could, there was no empathy to reflect upon those whom had been punished. Punishments dolled out with such brutality, that, just hearing about them was enough to stun her into a complacent silence. Yet, some broke through nevertheless, in a few tears that were subconsciously held back – kept from trailing down the sides of her cheeks. Hardly aware of them, she momentarily shifted her gaze down when he stopped, briefly. Then he continued, and, her head rose again, her eyes only breaking their fixation when she needed to blink.

In those blinks, she found that build up of tears, and wiped her eyes once, and, twice. Thereafter, she adjusted the position of her arms several times, until, she found that they were most comfortable held across and interlocked just below her chest. Matched together, they rose and fell with her heavier breaths, just as noticeable as the sheen of salt and water upon her neck in the flickering light. Still though, she observed now solemnly as he admitted things he would scarcely tell close friends, perhaps, only in converse with the people closest to him. In a way, she should have been terrified by what he revealed, however, some part of her knew, that a few missteps and she could become just like he was. That thought alone, sent a shiver down her spine, and, she shuddered, deciding to stare upwards at the waterfall as he talked.

The final words which seemed to be quietly screamed, if that were possible, did not strike as hard as he might have thought, because, she knew from what had already been said that some sort of learned revelation was coming, and, her mind readily prepared barriers around itself to deal with that harsh truth. A reality in which he knew that for himself had once been true, and, the cold hard fact that in the life of a Shinobi, loyalty to order, to a village was considered to be the highest authority. A person that dared to break it risked everything, but, also risked losing his or herself in a madness that could not be contained. The desire for power was a slippery slope – one that could lead into the darkest depths of the world – yet at the same time, it could be a salvation.

His chuckle though, brought her back from all those disturbed, young thoughts, and, she met it with a soft, clearly hesitant smile. The minutes that had ticked on were highlighted on such sinister notions that it almost felt unnatural to do so, but, the point had been trust. His tears and emotions were more than enough to reveal that all that he had spoken of, at one point, or, another, had touched so deeply as to scrape against the very fabric of what made him unique from another person: his soul. He believed that he had changed, had to believe it for his wife, and loved ones. For Celes that was enough, she would ask no more of him.

She stared blankly; blinked, breathed and took another step forward, shuffling across water, thereafter another and another, until she was so close that meters could no longer be measure. For a second she only looked up at him, however, soon after she took one final step and wrapped her arms around him into a hug (should he not retreat that is). To any onlookers it might look a tad ridiculous, but, it was not meant to be so in the least. Remaining like that, she would press up against him almost so he could feel how fast her heart was racing, then, she would release him and back up to give him room. “I believe you needed that,” she said casually, and, afterward just waited. Although he had spoken so much, she believed that this was a bit more than about trust. Yes that was part of it, but, he needed someone else, other than whom he was already close to, to come to terms with what he had done, and, well, not hate him for it.

“If that is the way the world is, I am going to change it,” she said softly, speaking a tad through a breath, so it came out just above a hushed tonality.

Liquid rippled beneath sandals, spurning up, thereafter, settling as Celes looked on, observing while Chae turned towards her general direction. He soon spoke. Words floating atop and carried along the streaming water beyond, crashing down into dullard trickles that ran into the lake. A thin haze gathered – of blanketing moisture – in turn dampening hair, gleaming dots unto protective and etched steel, and, wetting layers of clothes in their stillness. At her feet chakra consistently gathered, then, expelled, repelling water as it tried to engulf and collapse around the pressure applied. She breathed steadily, but, most importantly she listened to what parted from his lips. A smile which had lingered in soft expression, now, took a more serious, and, stern demeanor.

They were brief; his words, yet, potent direct, and, riddled with the powerful intent of an individual set upon a particular course. Although not entirely understood, the openness in which his display took place, was. He wanted her trust, and, in a way she desired his in return, but, at the moment, that had not entirely occurred to her. In their first meeting she had perhaps asked much, however, told far more about herself than he in respect revealed. Troubles with alcohol, the irritation, rage, and the pain booze washed away, hardly were as significant as the roots behind the issue at hand. The more personal she thought on the less she realized, that she knew. They may have held common ground, but, in truth they were still relative strangers.

She folded her arms across her chest, loosely raveling them together and having them clutch and cling onto each other. After a few seconds, she could not help but to wonder, if trust lay within the answers he would provide, or, if it would come from the way he responded. Tone. His expression. His honesty. Needless to say though, she was curious, and, her gaze had more than once wandered to the void within his body: a missing appendage on its own told little, but, backed by story of loss, it became an undying symbol of a memory that would never be forgotten. If all was how it appeared to be, he could retell, with at least some clarity, the events which led to such deformation, and, deformity.

A calm breeze blew, ruffling through her hair, still doing naught to alter her expression though. Her eyes met his, and, she took a breath as a hand went up casually to adjust her forehead protector. With one tilt, two tilt and then a third, her bangs were pushed up, and, in turn fell over-top of it; all but covering the tumbling leaf it depicted from his view in their locks. When she finished she brushed a few stray bangs off to the side, and sighed, feeling some more of her chakra ebb away. Finally, the quiet rumble of the waterfall behind had calmed things. Thus, she parted her lips to ask of him, her question.

“Will you tell me how you lost your arm?” She stood unmoving, only blinking once and holding that serious look upon her face. She did not ask because she wished to hurt him, rather, through curiosity, and, as he might have put it, a need to know, perhaps, in order to understand who he was, but, more so if he did warrant the trust that he sought of her in return. As it was, he was an acquaintance, an influential one nevertheless, but, still someone she had only happened upon by chance. Her family had objected to this meeting - those she told - her siblings worried what would come of it, if anything at all. However, what she did not have the heart to say to them, was that in their eyes she would always just be their younger sister. A title even in the first year of her teen-hood, she desired to shed entirely. They saw her as an object to protect, when, in reality she wished nothing more than to be able to defend them.

A shiver of a shudder tumbled down Celes' back; from a simple touch her footfalls ceased, and, for a moment, her shoulders stiffened, trembling, mostly, in the unexpectedness of Chae's gesture. Of course she knew it was him, none else were so close, and, there was his height to consider. The angle which she felt his eyes peer down upon her, with some intent, unknown, but, nevertheless placed there and passed unto her person. Yet, touch alone made her wary, and, from it stemmed her hesitation. Eventually though, she did turn to face him, at first looking up to match his gaze, however, then following the motions of his body as he lowered into a crouch. Their eyes in turn would meet at equal standing, and, the young girl was no longer dwarfed by a shadow which ran along through cracks within walls.

Words fumbled into her ear in brief, but, stern whispers. They spun about, lingering in her mind, none so prevalent as what he suggested. Far off near the edge of the Land of Fire, the Valley of the End, he wished to meet her there. She knew what it was, since, she had learned history in her classes at the Academy. Legends taken on by one generation, then swept on to the next and so on; the site of the start of a war, the end of another, and, where two opposites clashed on the last borders of land that they both called home. It represented the conflicts between ideals, and within two solitary statues, immortalized the dangers of those that sought power above their own ambitions, their beliefs, and their comrades.

In those thoughts, Celes, could not help but to see the parallels between what was said, and, what had already occurred. His words hinted at a muttered promise – a promise of something she could easily piece together: an awakening of some manner or another. As it stood, the bitter and his confused intent, could not be placed. Frankly, she could not understand why. A simple question that oft contained far more complex answers than any other poised issue. In this case: why would he make such an offer? There were any number of possibilities, but, by the time the whispers ceased, she was no closer to deciphering his reasoning, just that he wished to see her again. Perhaps, that was enough.

She just stared as he uplifted himself; stared as he waved and said farewell, and, stared into the smoke as it rose about his feet. Then, he was gone, and, she came back to her senses. “Peaceful days and pleasant nights, until, we meet again, Chae,” came her reply, if not too late. Still, a bit stunned, she mulled over the exchange as she walked towards the Academy. His words repeated, she listened to them again and again, still getting no closer to the absence of truth which plagued her worry.

He made it sound so simple. Graduation. After Graduation. Make trail from the Village Hidden in the Leaves, venture into Hi no Kuni, 'till the edge of it all where the Land of Rice stood beyond water. Did he think on how hard it would be for her to leave like that? Family not withstanding, by the time she was a Genin there would be far more responsibilities upon her shoulders. Could it be as simple as a departure? If she could make it back unnoticed, allowing for only a brief passage of time, maybe, it was possible. All of these things she only began to consider, for, the Academy beckoned, and, there was a long month ahead.

There were students out in the courtyard, and, the gates were open. She stepped across the thresholds several minutes later.

[End Thread]