Sententious Conversation [Private]

[Michelle]

[Raidon and Raven only please! Bonkotsu can join too, but that's up to you.]

It was just after noon.

Kakani strode along the bridge’s length, her hand resting on the cool stone as she moved. Keiyou was drifting behind her, using the wind to coast and save energy. Her pace was slower than usual, the efforts of the morning having exacted their own toll, in its own respective right. Nevertheless, she reached her destination without taking too much time, and swept her gaze around the area, automatically scanning for possible threats without even noticing. She didn’t scrutinize too closely because she knew Keiyou would, but since the gesture was happened without her conscious effort it didn’t really matter anyway. She had crossed a bridge into a small, outer city public garden. She often came here to think, or even to train when she was younger. In the rat race of the city most working people didn’t have time to come here, and even if they did, they tended to leave quickly if they spotted Kakani. She walked deeper in, passing by some weeping willows and lifting herself nimbly into an old, big oak.

She had given her hawk a note to pass on to Raidon, knowing the red-tail had probably noted the boy’s path home from his high position above the trees. The bird had scanned the general area he had seen Raidon disappear into and eventually spotted Raidon sleeping in his room, through his window. All Keiyou had to do was swoop by and drop the note on the Genin’s head, waking him up unless he slept like a hibernating bear. The hawk shrieked his greeting to his mistress as he landed a few branches above her, his ruffled feathers smoothing as his talons firmly gripped the wood and he settled down. Kakani lay on her back, her balance allowing her to both remain and the limb and at the same time relax. It was actually a pleasant day, though she didn’t usually stop to notice these things. Every now and then she did, and now was one of them. She had just proved herself ready to be a Genin, and while the title didn’t matter it certainly marked progress… and so, for the first time in months she permitted herself a break.

Keiyou himself was relaxing, glad to be able to rest his wings. His sharp eyes flitted to and fro among the things of the garden, tempted to catch the occasional rabbit that fed on the vegetation, but decided against it. He was content to keep an eye out for the boy instead, used to playing the role of the something-is-coming indicator. An old woman hobbled through, but she only stopped once to throw some rice to the pigeons before going on her way and eventually leaving. Pigeons- inferior to him! If birds could snort, he would. Nonetheless, with only bird features at his command he managed to look somewhat arrogant anyway. Kakani was not one to overlook her constant companions moods, and a small grin twisted its way onto the corner of her mouth. Save for the few and far between eagles and the occasional falcon, Keiyou treated all birds like he was better. Probably because he could, generally speaking, eat anything else with wings he came across. This look disappeared as the bird’s circumspective eyes caught movement at one of the small garden’s entrances. The entire low-walled off area was only about the size of a three or four backyards scattered with several species of trees, so it only had one entryway- thus making it ridiculously easy for Keiyou to spot another person entering the garden.

[Tomoko Kaida]

Raidon awoke as soon as the note was dropped upon his head, but he lay in bed for a good twenty minutes after that, nearly falling back asleep. He rolled onto his side and the note fell off his forehead, bumping him in the nose and instantly opening his eyes. Rai nosed the note away from his face and sat up, yawning a yawn so grand that it brought water to his eyes. He flipped out of bed as he did customarily, finding that if he sat in bed too long he'd lay down and go to sleep in five minutes or less. Rai didn't even change when he had gotten home, just trotted into his room, hopped to the bed and slept, so he didn't have to go rummage around for clothes. He grabbed the note off the bed and head to the kitchen. He found that after sleeping until... what time was it? Rai checked the clock: A little after noon. Sleeping until a little after noon made one awfully hungry. As he plodded to the fridge and opened the door, he held the note in one hand and read it as his hand searched around inside the fridge for milk.

Well. Kakani had said soon, but he didn't know she meant today-soon. Oh well. Better to get this done before the mission than completely forget about it after or during the mission - as though you could really forget something doing a mindless task like ripping weeds from a garden or whatever. Though, true enough, mindless task or not it was training. Kakani had specified were to meet in the note, so he decided not to keep her waiting. Unlike plenty lazy males, Rai had the decency to get a glass and pour himself some milk instead of drinking from the carton itself. After depositing the glace and milk where they belonged, Raidon swung himself out the door and headed in the direction of the little garden, taking the clearest route through the busy-body city. Nearly everyone was coming back from their early lunch or dashing to get to a place to eat before everyone came crowding in, or trying to find a peaceful spot in the city to enjoy whatever they brought from home. The latter seemed nearly imossible in Konoha, except for the younger portion of the population. Kids seemed to be able to get anywhere. If the adults tried it, they would know that eating up in a tree can, infact, be peaceful!

Raidon finally approached the entrance of the garden. He had given up on trying to make his way through the city and got her by using the rooftops of buildings and other such. He sighed relief at this sudden wave of fresh air and calm quiet. Rai had to admit, the girl had quite some taste in peaceful places. It didn't take Rai too long to find Kakani, resting on her back in a tree. No doubt she already knew he had come, aftrerall her hawk was an amazing advantage to have. Not to mention, a good companion. Did Kakani think of Keiyou as a companion? Raidon wasn't a mind reader, he wouldn't have the slightest idea. There were those who absolutely adored their combat animals and thought of them as family members and pets, and those who simply called them tools. Of course, that wasn't what they were discussing here, so Raidon pushed the thought out of his mind and continued walking. However, he aimed himself away from Kakani's tree and leaned against the closest one nearby, not having to say anything. Keiyou would alert Kakani soon enough, if he hadn't already.

[Michelle]

Kakani heard Raidon arrive, listened to him find a comfortable spot by the quiet rustlings and the skritch of his clothes on the wood. Her gaze flickered to the hawk silhouette overhead, the outline of his shape sharply defined by the sun on his back and casting all of her companions features into shadow. Even so, the black spot of a bird’s head was angled towards the sound below, so Raidon’s arrival was confirmed.

She shifted, moving onto her stomach and then pushing herself to her knees. Then she slipped her legs under her, sitting cross-legged on the broad limb and looking down. Raidon was leaning against the tree next to her’s, about fifteen feet down and five feet to her left, at a nine or ten ‘o clock angle to her, she noted. She glanced up at Keiyou, a slight nod allowing Keiyou to take flight and hunt. He wouldn’t leave the garden and would probably be back soon, but she didn’t want him to starve where he sat.

She hesitated, though this was surely unnoticeable to Raidon from his position. A fight she would jump into without hesitation, but a conversation… well, maybe her priorities had been different, to say the least. They had to be. She pushed this from her mind and managed to formulate speech.

“So, Raidon… you got the note after all. Good to see you made it.”

She paused again, unsure if protocol went that she should continue or not, and decided to wait for his reply. A soft thump came from one side of the garden, Keiyou’s catch no doubt. He always struck silently and his prey died instantly, though that was probably a mercy. Everyone had to eat, Keiyou not excluded. She brushed her ruddy hair behind one ear, enabling her to see Raidon better.

[Tomoko Kaida]

Raidon watched idly as Kakani sat up in the tree, him peering upwards while she peered down. He felt slightly awkward with the person he was talking to being up in a tree while he remained on ground level. If he wanted to, he could've hopped up the trees himself, but Raidon didn't really care to do so at the moment. His mind was on other things as Kakani remained silent for that brief moment, though it all quickly cleared out when she spoke. A short two sentances that Raidon found it fairly hard to reply to. Afterall, what was there really to say? Yes. He made it. He wouldn't say 'it's not like it was hard', that was possibly the most arrogant thing Raidon had ever thought of. Then again, just replying 'yup' made his IQ lower about twenty points with that one word alone. To stall the slightest bit, Raidon pushed himself off the tree and stood straight, lifting his head to see his teammate in the tree better, just as she had tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, I got the note." Raidon replied in a pleasent tone, folding his arms across his chest in an idle manner. His eyes strayed from Kakani as wind blew by, causing a nearby patch of flowers to waver. Raidon pondered, if they had no roots, would the flowers be lifted off and fly through the air until landing in an unsuspecting tree, or would they, without any purpose or way of life anymore, just droop to the ground and wait for their death to arrive? He wondered why so many girls loved these little organisms. Perhaps it was their flashy colors or their bold display of colors that made them so attractable to most. Or perhaps it was that they smelled good... well, most of them anyway. Raidon had encountered, infact, a horrid smelling flower one time. It was attracting flies, however. He supposed the flower was just doing whatever was necessary to be pollinated. Raidon dismissed the flowers from his mind, as they really held no signifigance amongst his thoughts, and looked back to the red-haired girl. "Anyway. To the matters at hand, then?" He offered. Raidon, though skillfull at pathetic small talk and very wise in the ways of using nods and "mm-hmms" and breaking the ice, wasn't too fond of wasting time just standing quietly. Best get right down to business at this point.

[Michelle]

She watched him unobtrusively, curious as to how he would react to such a lack of stimulating conversation. Despite herself, she couldn’t help but fool around and experiment once in a while. Mentally smacking herself, she refused to go any further in that field of… well, she guessed it could even be called entertainment, which disgusted her. Instead, she nodded and jumped down from the tree, leaning back against the trunk and folding her arms. She was still wearing her old blue shirt, but she didn’t plan on using it again. Tomorrow, she would be wearing her clan insignia, being a Genin now. Which was what she wanted to speak to him about. Confident of her surroundings, she would be able to converse with him without sounding cold- often in situations she wasn’t a hundred percent sure of she tended to get snappy with people. Here, she was able to let loose a little as she knew every inch of this small haunt of hers.

Her gaze lifted to level with his, as was respectful if you were talking with someone. Finally, after another delayed moment, she broke the silence. “As you probably guessed, we’re not here to talk about what we had for breakfast.” Here she paused again, then continued, “I’m curious to know- why are you interested in becoming a ninja?” As she finished speaking, Keiyou returned with what looked like a clump of fur between his talons. He landed high in the oak, so as not to disturb them while eating the rabbit, and out of sight. He knew it wouldn’t bother Kakani but figured that it would almost definitely bother the dark-haired boy. For a moment, he glanced down at the girl that was his mistress, then returned to his lunch. Whatever she was doing was her business, and not his. He finished quickly and preened his feathers, priming them for flight should he need or want it. With Kakani, you never knew when she’d call on you with a task.

[Tomoko Kaida]

Raidon raised his eyebrows, pondering the question that was given to him. He actually had a good answer, but he wasn't sure it was entirely the reason he was becoming a ninja. Rai had a tendancy to pace when he thought, and though he resisted it, he normally ended up pacing a little bit anyway. He stepped forward about three steps, then turned to the side and walked another three steps, turning back and going to where he had ended up originally. He paused, there, lifting his gaze - which, without him noticing it, had fallen to the ground as he thought - and looking to Kakani again.

"Interesting question." Commented the genin, pacing three steps and back once more. "Part of it has to do with my ascestors. Everyone in my family has been a ninja, except for my mother and her father. My family name had always been Purotekuto, which means protector. All of us, in general, have a desire to protect what we love - the village, our family, our friends. That is why we become ninjas. Except my grandfather, who renamed the new line Yasashiku. I guess being gentle was his thing. I suppose all I want to do is protect, but I am not doing this just because my anscestors did it. I chose to protect what is special to me." Raidon turned and faced Kakani, raising an eyebrow and lowering another. "I don't like other people, especially parents and grandparents, deciding for me what I am to do. That's all my reason." That I care to share. Raidon remarked mentally.

He backed up and returned to leaning on the tree, feeling this conversation was going to be a long one and he might as well get comfortable. Raidon's expression, however, remained unchanged with the same curious, questioning, and confused look all mixed in. Though, his tone didn't quite display what was on his face. Forever happy, forever cheery. "Why?"

[Michelle]

“Just curious…” She said softly, watching him resettle himself. She leaned back further and crossed one leg over the other, allowing herself to relax as much as she could while talking to what was, undoubtedly still a stranger in essence. Her head tilted to the side somewhat, a faraway look coming into her eyes for a moment before it vanished with her next words. “Well, that isn’t entirely true. As a team-mate… my team-mate… I was almost obliged to find out how driven you were. How far you’re willing to go with this ninja status, and how much you are willing to fight.” She paused once more, and the silence seemed to stretch the distance between them.

“To be honest, I don’t even know myself. I haven’t been out there yet, in a true battle, not really. I can’t say exactly how determined I am… but I am certainly going to try to hone it, at any rate. My question is, will you?” Falling silent again, her gaze was pulled away from him for a moment to watch Keiyou fly out over the garden. He would only be stretching his wings, but she already missed his presence. She quickly isolated the feeling and quenched it, knowing feelings like that are never good for a ninja, even for a low-rank Genin. After all, she wasn’t going to a Genin forever, was she? Of course not, she thought calmly, and returned her attentions to Raidon.

[Gah, short. x.x]

[Inuzuka Bonkotsu]

(Hmm I suppose I'll post here later lol >3)

[Tomoko Kaida]

{argh >< I am so sorry for not replying sooner. I promise I have to get to it in the next two days. Today was a complete restock day (and I stay afterschool because my parents have later hours) so I got back at 5 and then I went shopping until 9. Which is now :x I'm only on the computer to make a list of things to do online and to work on my brother's birthday card (which is tomorrow >.o). Again. Very sorry D:}

[Michelle]

[That's okay Kaida, reality always comes back to kick us sometimes. I'm kinda in a writer's block right now, soooo... take your time. x3

Edit: Edited the title out of boredom.]

[Tomoko Kaida]

Rai shrugged lightly. "I'm willing to go as far as I have to in order to be a Konoha ninja. I would, of course, try my best to be as determined as possible. What use is it to become a ninja and not bother with it at all? Years at the acedemy gone to waste, years training gone to waste... "

Raidon trailed off. He need not go on, anyway. They both knew well that to want to become a ninja 'just because' was a load of new puppy presents on the living room floor. AKA, a bunch of nasty crap. Raidon peered up at the sky, pondering other thoughts on his mind while listening for Kakani's response. Their conversation was full of a lot of periods of silence, he had noticed. It made him feel... odd. Certainly not uncomfortable or irritated, just odd, that they could pause the conversation, and then continue it without skipping a beat. Perhaps Rai just wasn't as alert when he was having just a boring old convo with any old person. Kakani, however, wasn't any old person. She was his team-mates, certainly the most driven genin on his team, and full of serious confidence. There was no telling what she was really going to do. All one would know from the start is that she would do whatever to reach any goal. So, maybe that was why Raidon was sure to pay an awful lot of attention.

He tilted his head back to Kakani and blinked plainly. He had nothing to add on.

{sorry it's a load of crap >< I just didn't want you to wait any longer.}

[Michelle]

Kakani watched him mutely, interruption out of the question. So, he was here to protect Konoha… this stirred something in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t often let feelings bother her because doing so was a waste of time in her book, but this was different. She didn’t use many Konoha techniques, that of shadow and fire- this was backed up by the light weight of her flute in it’s pouch.

Being on the odd few that weren’t in this to protect those they cared about here, it felt strange listening to others speak of it, almost like she was on the outside looking in. ‘No,’ she argued with herself, ‘I am in this for someone I care about… the only person that cares about me.’ She quickly shoved the feeling down again, titian eyes sliding up to study Raidon’s. Above her, Keiyou shrieked his farewell and spread wing, flapping heavily out of the tree before gaining his bearings on the wind.

He was off to find Raven, the final team member. Distractedly, Kakani watched him go. When he returned, hopefully the older girl would be with him. She wanted to talk to her too, see where Raven was going with her ‘career’. And Bonkotsu? Who knew where he was. The Jounin seemed to have a set of rules all his own, and ran on his own time. She had spoken to Toukon more than she had exchanged words with him. This being irrelevant, she pulled her attention back down to earth, listening quietly to the silence when Raidon had finished. She nodded slowly, crossing her arms.

There was another period of silence, before Kakani spoke up. “Keiyou’s off to get Raven… I want to talk to her, but I don’t mind whether you stick around to talk to her too or not.” She shrugged. “It’s not like I can tell you to leave anyway.” Aware that she was blunt, she blandly continued to watch. Far above and away, the red-tailed hawk winged over the city, carrying the last note. He quickly spotted the house he had noted as Raven’s, and landed on the kitchen windowsill, cawing for the attention of a member of the household to receive to note so he could return.

OOC: That's okay, I'm getting really lazy with my replies on the BBA. -hauls ass off there to post now that she thinks of it-

[Tsukiyo Raven]

There was only one person living in the small, rundown house that the noble bird had entered, and that was Raven. The young girl was actually out at the moment. Luck seemed to be with the Hawk, however, for when he landed in the kitchen, Raven entered the house through the back window. Even before she heard the cawing of the hawk, she could feel his presence. Striding softly towards the hawk, Raven stopped before him. A small smile lit her face. Not often did this happen, but it was called for: Raven loved animals, especially dogs and birds. The smile was gone almost as soon as it had appeared. She recognised this bird....wasn't this hawk Kakani's companion?

Gently, Raven took the note the hawk was offering. No doubt he wanted to return to Kakani's side. Quickly, Raven read the note, looked up, read it again, and set it down. A small sigh escaped her mouth. Interaction. She was never good at this....but she had to do this. Taking a deep breath, she stepped outside her dwelling, if you could even call it that. Her house was like a small wooden hut, with two rooms, 4 windows, two in each room, a table, food storage, and a bedroll. Still, it was home.

Raven headed down the path that lead to Kakani's location. Raven knew the city and the surrounding area like the back od her hand. She had often run through teh streets when other kids had been making fun of her, or teasing her. So naturally, she had memorized the routes. She had a photograpic memory, so that helped alot as well.

It wasn't long before she came to the entrance of the park. She looked sideways, and saw both Raidon and Kakani. Kakani had told them that she wanted to speak to each of them privately. Why Raidon was here, she didn't know. But...he was kind, and she didn't mind his company. Raven came to a stand still infront of the two. She bowed her head respectively. "Hi.." her voice was soft.

[Michelle]

As soon as the girl had the scrap of paper, he took wing again with a loud flurry of sound. When he slipped back into the air currents, he flew silently, and it wasn’t long until he reached the garden walls. With a flourish, he landed back on one of the high branches, claws digging into the tough bark. His gaze dropped down to the assembled humans, cocking his head and fidgeting to get comfortable and achieve a better view.

His mistress was directly below him, the boy Raidon across from her, and now this black and blonde girl standing somewhat nervously in front of the two. Kakani nodded in greeting, words failing her in this matter. She had never been adept with conversing with most, let alone being practiced at warm greetings. At least it had been a somewhat friendly nod, as opposed to the cold, abrupt one she dealt out to strangers. This time it was Kakani who spoke up first, knowing there could very well be a period of awkward silence if someone didn’t.

“You knew the way here well, I see. I trust you’re not too tired from this morning’s trial… ? You needn’t bother lingering if you still need to rest. Our first mission is tomorrow, after all.”

She kept her bother timber and tone light, doing her very best to be welcoming since that was her weakest point. Still leaning against the oak with arms crossed, she glanced around the garden and for a moment, back up at Keiyou. The hawk was almost laughing at her attempt, if birds could laugh. Somehow, his limited bird features managed to pass off mirth, anyway. She narrowed her eyes and glared at him, but she couldn’t resist a small smile turning up one corner of her mouth.

Of all the people she had met, so far only him and Takaui had been able to make her grin. Even her parents had a hard time getting her to smile, hence why there were little or no portraits of her to be found. Not that it mattered; both of her parents had died of old age already, two years ago infact. Kakani had barely missed their presence, neglectful child that she was. Her house was almost as small as Raven’s, but she didn’t call it home either. Home, of course, was where the heart is and her’s was currently away, following her older brother wherever he was right now. Her eyes slid back down to her team-mates, the quick expression already history. But, Keiyou had indirectly accomplished putting her in a good mood and there was still some expression in her eyes, as hard as that may be believed.

OOC: Sorry for holding us up, I completely forgot to check on this. -facesmack-

[Tsukiyo Raven]

Raven shook her head gently, her blonde bangs falling softly into her face. With one hand she swiped the bangs from her gaze. "No, it's alright. I'm feeling fine since the trial, thanks." She was a bit taken aback by the other girl's comment of how she had no problem finding her way. Without smiling, she tilted her head slightly. "I always used to come here, less often these days, to think when I had much to think about." She said simply.

There was another awkward pause. Raven HATED silences like this. It made her hot in the face. Before a blush could come to pass, her voice rose up. "It's nice to see you both again. There was something you wished to speak of, Kogaku-san?" She asked. Kakani struck her as the kind of person who wanted to get things done quickly, and to the best of her abilities. She wouldn't impede that personality by beating around the bush, so, she had just come out and said it. Also, Raven used her last name instead of her first name...this conveyed that she respectively didn't know her well enough to deserve to call her by her first name.

((Worst...post...EVAR. XD))