Next To You Too

Name: Scout the Border
Rank: C-Rank
Participants: Moon Village, Sun Village
Type: Group Mission
Reward: 25 EXP, 10 Ryo
Location: Within a village's region
Details: Just like patrolling the village is important, it is also important to make sure the nations borders are secure. Your task is to spend time roaming the regions borders and making sure nothing looks out of place. This includes roaming the main road, outing bandit camps or arresting thieves. While it can be boring at times, you never know what is going to pop up out in the wild.
Requirements: Each person must make at least two posts, totally to 800 WC.

---

A small backpack stuffed with the essentials: clothing, food, and not to mention a first-aid kit as compliments of the village. Their hospitality knew no bounds for someone who was a stranger to the village just as he had been. However, after a number of missions, help with preparation, and finally a sound walk through the streets for patrol; they were nonetheless grateful. It was fortunate, or perhaps a blessing, that Hikari had garnered a particular interest in a certain assignment that was posted in the village of them checking the borders for security as something “feral” had been seen snooping about as of late. With the vigor and spirit of someone who was desperate, he would snatch the mission at the first chance...or at least try to with as much effort as a blind child could, and would insist that he would be on his way at once.

He had to dress carefully and move twice as carefully. Beneath his silken bright white Ofurisode Kimono, were bandages that squeezed his body tightly to secure him. It was a reminder of his carelessness as mere a few days ago while being on a mission with the other shinobi that had been with him from the Sun Village. The young rabbit would pat his chest,resentfully, as he would one moment be securing the straps to his shoulders and the next would be trekking from the office accepting the mission and would be heading out in a rush. The shinobi would insist that he wait for whomever his partner was to aid him in his patrol as the village was slightly baffled by the beast spotted in the wilds, but yet, Hikari would take matters into his hands.

“Please tell them to meet me there!” He would insist, “Whomever they shall be!”

It took quite a while to get to the Sun Spire Mountains, a place where the sightings of the creature had been most frequent. Hikari would walk about the area, eyes useless as ever, and would listen with each sound of his footsteps. The ridges were far and he would only end up in an opening riddled with stalagmites and some shrubbery growing in the shade of some of the rocky formations. The massive area was rounded and there were few columns of twisted rock that were eternally indecisive to whether they would fall or not. His lips would press tightly as he seemed uncertain.

“It is strange,” Hikari would say with a low tone as he began to weave hand signs. Carefully, he went through the motions preparing to listen to see if anyone had been near this area of the border. “Certainly...I thought I heard someone.” he would weave the signs slowly and surely as he was careful. He had survived the previous encounter with whatever had attacked, but yet, he did not want to take a chance the second time and lose his life.

OOC Notes: Sorry! Will make good posts after this! Gotta get a rhythm going! D=
Now Playing: ---

Kannagi Irezumi had been informed of the mission late, missing meeting up with Hikari to start. The name reminded her of the bunny she had met once and she could only hope this shinobi was as helpful and kind as that bunny was. The name was popular enough to assume that this person was much different than the Usagi. She hoped at the very least her partner would be careful sighted and able bodied. Kannagi hated getting paired up with the genin who were satisfied with staying genin, growing lazy and plump around the middle when they could have been doing missions to help the village. Kannagi had been in the horse stable near the outskirts of the main village. She cleared out the stall, replenished the sweet smelling grasses and feed, drained, washed, and refilled the trough of clean water. It had taken a few hours but she had been up since dawn to ensure Cirilla was well cared for. In the middle of brushing down Cirilla's gray mottled coat, another genin had raced toward her and told her of the assignment.

To her character, the blue haired shinobi took the message with grace. She was a little annoyed at such a late timing but being so close to Cirilla and the outer stretch of the Nikkousato anyway did make leaving presently easier. Kannagi dusted off her clothes, not much for caring that she smelled like a barn. Stray pieces of hay littered in blue hair and smudges of dirt were on her flowing mauve colored skirt. For once it had not been tied up in the front in an effort to keep some of the hay and grass from sliding along her legs while she worked. Her sleeveless black top went neck high, as most of her shirts did, and she made an effort to secure the forehead protector around her waist in a way that was noticeable to others. She was proud to be a shinobi but also careful not to lose it while doing barn work. That would take the needle in the haystack analogy a little too literally.

Kannagi boarded the gray mare and galloped almost all of the way to the mountains. She was only about an hour or two behind her partner but traveling to the area meant locating him. Going through a thin path between rocky pillars that seemed to defy gravity. Kannagi assumed the path would wrap around the whole of the mountain and doing a lap or two about the area would be the best way to both locate her partner and scout the region for trouble.Between mountains, great cliff faces loomed above. Stray circling vultures dotted the sky and the hot area allowed an occasional breeze through the short lived shade provided by the mountains' sizes. Cirilla slowed to a trot and they headed down the path, staying close to the shade when able.

Part of her wanted to call out Hikari's name, but the kunoichi part of her brain thought better of it. Kannagi was getting a little tense from riding and she decided to climb down and reins in hand, guide Cirilla along the path while getting a nice stretch in her long legs. Her shadow cast far ahead of her, making the tall woman look double her height. She was amused by it until another shadow caught her eye. Kannagi stopped in her tracks and observed as shadow became real form and a scorpion the size of a large dog revealed itself from the shade, clicking its claws and heading in her direction. Kannagi frowned and readied her senbon launcher upon her wrist. She shot an array of senbon at the creature, but the needles seemed to just stick upon the outside shell of its carapace useless. And then the arachnid skittered towards her and Cirilla, claws raised and ready for a fight.

The hungry creature had thought she and her horse were prey, and looking over his dense exoskeleton and pointed tail, Kannagi admitted to herself in a normal situation they would have been. Kannagi released the reins and patted Cirilla's behind. "Go on girl, get out of here!" The blue eyed woman ordered. The horse dashed past the scorpion and through the scrubby area whinnying loudly in surprise. Kannagi herself prepared herself, readying her feet for dainty and quick movement. This scorpion was clearly fast as well as strong, but had it met a kunoichi like her before? She doubted it.

WC: 747/800

---

Hand signs would weave in quick succession as he knew something was here in this seemingly barren place. It was lurking in the shadows that were unseen to the infinite blackness that was his own vision. Specifically, the shadows did not matter to him, but yet he was quickly aware that being so arrogant would lead to more bandages and a bigger gash upon his chest than last time. With the last of the hand signs woven, he would create the seal for the hair. Chakra would explode through his body and would make a lively flow that brought his ears to life as they moved as if actual blood flew through the faux organs upon his head.

“Pulse!” A cry would roar along with the sound, “There you are!” The secret revealed to him.

The simplest heartbeat had told him of a feminine-like form but it was nothing human. Weak and labored, the thumps seemed to be of something that was definitely alive, moving, and even more so was making simple little stances that indicated it was aware it had been spotted. Fifteen meters from his position, hiding behind a rock that pointed to the sky with its cone shape was the figure that he had been looking for that was said to be running rampant on the border. Just as he readied to move, there was something...else...that had been present upon the field.

A horse? Out here?

Galloping was unmistakable as well as the chiming of reigns. Hikari had been fascinated with the creature enough to know what it was since he was a young bunny that was clinging to his mother’s leg. He would breathe as he would become alarmed to the distant noises behind his range of sight. It was then Hikari had a split decision to make as the sounds that were in the distance had left him torn from the decision he would have to make. “I-I…” The figure behind the rock had demanded his attention. Yet, a horse without its rider? A bad omen! “I-I mean no harm! N-not to family...and I was meaning to speak to you, but...” The young boy would chime hesitantly, “But I will return shortly! Please...wait here.”

The boy would turn his cottontail hind away from the sight as he would quickly run quickly the other way. The horse came from the east. Unmistakable to the Usagi who remembered everything in their head like a map as the very terrain was like a grid in their mind. He would dash as swiftly as he could. A Chunnin would raise a brow to him and wonder about his rank with the way he would move. With his heels making one leap, he would close the range quickly between himself and the scene that had been within the area. Something human as well as something beastly was confronting an ally. Hikari, hastefully, would begin to weave another set of hand signs as he knew he would be not fast enough to close the distance. The swift movement would allow for him to make no hesitation before clipping his thumb with his teeth to bite away a bit of flesh before slapping his palm upon the terrain.

“Kuchiyose No Jutsu!”

An explosion of smoke like a bomb would surely catch the creature’s attention. Something that did not bother the rabbit the least bit as the form that was wrapped in the cloud would know immediately and turn its head urgently as it already seemed to know that it was no longer within its usual plain.

“Conceal yourself quickly,  Meron!”

The silhouette would nod quickly. No more than a leg tall to the young lilac haired youth, it would bob its little head before pressing two unseeable paws to the terrain before finally slinking into the dirt like a snake would to the dirt. The ground would swell with a lump before it would relieve the pressure. The figure was gone leaving only vapors to make it seem as if a grand entrance was occurring behind the spear-tailed arachnid that confronted the young woman. Hikari’s ears were twitching as they had made out the familiar features of the form before him. Weight, height, mass, and rhythm were something a Usagi of his caliber would have to know like colors of the hair and a face were to him. Though, with his heart swelling like the way it did, he would ask himself were his senses deceived him on who he believed he perceived to be a friend, but it made it all the more urgent that he would twist his sweet expression into a mischievous and sassy smile that was under his furrowed brow.

His right hand would reach to his chest. His scar was still a fresh reminder of how he intended to make up for his mistake here by defending a friend instead of the other way around.

“Not another step!” He would shout to the creature with enough legs to disobey him many times over, “You attack a friend of a Usagi? Then you attack family! Your opponent will be me as well.” He spoke with the utmost confidence with his tone of voice and the body language as his right hand would go to his hip in an arrogant manner. The terrain was solid with so much dirt and terrain. The beast was pincered between the two of them, and already the trap had been set by the mischievous rabbit clansman.

Although his enemy and ally had not known it yet, the advantage was theirs. A smile from the bunny promised that.

OOC Notes: ---
Now Playing: Stray by Hiroyuki Sawano
Word Count: 965/800

There was a poof of smoke but Kannagi saw nothing summoned or hidden. Maybe it was just a distracting smoke bomb or something that this stranger was trying to use to help her out. The scorpion had rushed her but feeling sensations in the ground, it had paused to take in the sight of smoke and a second enemy. For Kannagi, she was surprised to see the bunny man she had met not long ago here. She stared at Hikari and a wave of concern washed over her. For a man who had seemed like a sweet server with big dreams, striking out on his own out here in the hot climate hadn't seemed wise. She wondered if he was in trouble or if his clan had abandoned him. Maybe he got lost or maybe he thought this was the tourist-y thing to do while in Nikkousato land. He had never shown her or told her about his proclivity for shinobi arts; even though Hikari was clearly brave now and hoped to put his life on the line for her, Kannagi would never forgive herself if she couldn't protect him.

She shouted loudly, garnering the scorpions attention again, "Come and fight, beastie! I'm not afraid!" Kannagi performed her seals and waited as the scorpion rushed her. It was exciting but if she timed it just right, then all of her training would be worth it. She waited until it was dangerously close and then leapt into the air, performing her Step of the Wind jutsu. Her feet paused in mid air, as if upon an invisible stepping stone, before the kunoichi dove downwards with extreme force helping her out. Kannagi landed squarely on its back, riding it like she was riding Cirilla. It was awkward, the arachnid much wider than her horse and much angrier about her being upon it. It lifted up its tail and stabbed it towards her. The blue haired woman dodged the poisoned tail. As the tail raised back again, Kannagi slapped two explosve seal tags upon the creature. One stuck to it's back, and the other at the join between the thorax and it's head. Kannagi just barely dodged the tail for a second time, the sharpness of the tail making a slight whistling sound in the wind by her head as she slid to the side. Her unwieldy dodge caused her to slide off the scorpion's back and hit the ground just next to it's jointed skittering legs. Kannagi made a face, unnerved and even a little frightened as she could see the creature turning it's face and claws toward her.


WC: 747+437= 1184 /800

---

The creature was attentive. That much was obvious the moment Hikari would see it turn its tail to Kannagi to give attention to him. It was perfect! It was the utmost set-up that he could hope for considering that the beast had been already at a disadvantage. With the young woman, a shinobi no less, standing on the other side of the creature, it was the perfect chance for them to go on the attack! Hikari would prepare himself to dash forth as he would square his body readily as the Regaria on his feet were fixed with a slight lift of the heel and-

"Come and fight, beastie! I'm not afraid!"

“What?!” The Kunoichi’s cry caused a moment of delirium. The beast would turn its snapping pincers and tapping tendrils scuttled across the ground as it would once again face Kannagi. “Is she trying to fight it on her own?” The beast nonetheless had complied with Kannagi, swiftly thrusting itself forth as Hikari’s heart would fill with dread with a loud pound. As it would draw close, Hikari could hear the Kunoichi jump skyward, defying gravity, just before she would land upon the beast’s back. A dangerous maneuver, and one he could only help but to throw himself forward, reeling as he would ignore the sting of his injury. His iron footwear chiming with each step while he would close in with the speed of a chunin shinobi’s speed with the help of his potent bloodline.

He was fast enough...and just in time!

Just as the Scorpion had finally wrinkled itself free, tossing the Kunoichi from its back, it would snap its claws once more. Its tail reeling as it seemed ready to make another attack. Hikari knew the sensation and change of density of a creature putting a bend in its legs and squaring its body for the assault. With him knowing that his save would be inches, curving as he would not try to charge directly to the beast, but to make it to his friend as his priority, Hikari would gather his breath as his chest would rise. His stitches loosen with his desperate cry and exertion of his body as he charged forth.

“Meron! Defend!”

With a cry of his voice, the Scorpion would find the land had betrayed it so suddenly as Hikari came running! Just as it was about to strike, a slab of stone would rise from the terrain with the sturdiness of a brick wall. Hikari would dive forth as the impact upon the stone would be like a knock on a door. Threatening to crumble, the wall cracked from the first impact, but it had done its job. Within a moment of the first assault on the brick structure, Hikari was there to slide by the side of the young woman as he would quickly reach and weave his arms around Kannagi in desperation. Some of it an embrace as if hugging someone precious and the other securely as if to throw his own body upon her while he would try to force her to take a stand.

“Kannagi-san! A-are you okay?!” His voice was sweet as it could be. “T-that...that was reckless!” Salty the next as he would cry aloud looking at her with a face of pure dread and concern. After his ordeal, he had, then he was more than qualified to say such a thing as Hikari would reach his right hand over his chest area. He felt moisture? It was thin and shallow with no sticky residue. Sweat...and a mixture of blood seeping from beneath his bandages. Still, even moving through the soreness, pain, and seeping scar; he dared to be the hypocrite at this moment.

“We should get our distance,” Hikari would tug at her to move the opposite direction from the creature, “And try to think of something.” He urged her.

OOC Notes: ---
Now Playing: ---

"H-hikari! Did you just..?" Kannagi's blue eyes were wide. Hikari could perform jutsu!? She blinked and shook her head suddenly getting to her feet. "Thanks for that, it was reckless. Let's go!" She had doubted the rabbit before, seen him as an innocent to protect, but after seeing such a wall at such a perfect moment, Kannagi knew she would do well to not underestimate her friend. The woman raced away from the scorpion, heading towards the shadows of the cliffs were the creature had initially come from. Assuming that Hikari was with her she would start a conversation, "It was reckless," She said again, "But it was effective. I placed two explosive tags upon it. It's fast but stupid. And its exoskeleton is strong enough that senbon seem to just bounce off of it."

Kannagi watched as the creature rotated in a slow circle, trying to place its prey. She could set off the explosions now, but the loud sound always ran the risk of attracting other beasts. If Hikari had another idea with less risk, then it would at the least be worth hearing out. "Just say the word and I'll set the tags off, unless you know a better way." She let out a gentle chuckle and added, "Sorry Hikari, I didn't know you were a fighter." At that point she finally noticed the bandages over her friend's chest. She set her jaw as red stain became more and more evident. With a shake of her head, she stayed silent. It could be susceptible to infection, but it would not be a mortal wound if they were careful in this fight. She had to assume that Hikari knew his limits and mentally prepare for taking care of the injury when the fight was over. Her blue eyes lingered over the wound still, yearning to help, but she hadn't given him enough credit before and didn't want to insult him by not trusting him now. The large monster had finally turned in their direction and began a slow and wary skitter towards them, as if understanding its prey was stronger than it had thought.

---

"H-hikari! Did you just..?"

Shock? Awe? Authenticism.

Hikari was more surprised that Kannagi had been caught off guard by the sudden movement rather than her antics. All the same, he had moved his hands on her as if he was trying to secure a family member from the jaws of death. With his breath relaxed, he would finally collect himself. He felt a bit of regret outright calling her reckless, but still believed it to be the appropriate phrase that shook his heart to the core. Hikari, as usual, did not see where they were. However, he knew the sensation of the shadows covering his body the moment they had ducked behind a cliff. She was safe with him for now, and that was important.

Whether it was reckless or not was not of importance. As usual, he would listen to Kannagi faithfully. The first time being enough to know that he should yield to her words. Though, he could not hide his concern as his head would lower. “I-I see.” He spoke defeatedly, “You had already observed that ranged attacks like that would not be enough.” Even when she seemed to be pulling off dangerous antics, she was one step ahead. She would have been the perfect partner to keep his own thoughts in check if not for the spur of the moment and his purpose for being out here was not pure.

Hikari would press his hand to Kannagi’s chest as she would try to peer past the rock face to see the beast. It was an innocent place, making sure to not alarm her at such a crucial time, but her chuckle indicated that she was grasping some knowledge of what a Usagi truly did. “It is fine.” Hikari smiled sweetly, “A Usagi does more than just fight. Please, stay concealed as we are. I can see it just fine to know exactly where it is coming from.” The rock face would be their cover and he would be their eyes. His body would slide against the face as he would keep in mind the scuttling sounds touching the dirt. His hands sliding along the visage of stone with his body while being close and beyond the sight of the beast.

“You know Kannagi-chan,” Hikari would say with a smile. “Perhaps making some noise would not be too bad, yes?” A mischievous smile played across the rabbit’s lips. It was the very same one that was at that very establishment that they were within that night. Yet, this time, it would be comforting as he would take his hands, moving them center to his chest. “Kannagi-chan,” Hikari’s fingers nearly formed a triangular formation, “At the count of three, it shall be launched skyward.” Hikari would exclaim, although, the mystery to how he would do such a thing remained.

Time was the essence. The only thing that remained now was if she would go by faith.

“Three…” His digits lined up parallel to one another.

“Two…” The thumb and fingers would form a broken triangle.

“One!” They would swiftly move together forming a seal...that was not a seal at all!

“Now Meron!”

With a cry, the shelled beast had been alerted! However, just as it had turned its body to the rock face, the land had quacked beneath them as the Earth growled beneath the beast. A rectangular block of Earth would quickly launch itself forth in a diagonal press upward through the sky. The underside of the arachnid would meet the top as it was angled perfectly to send it spiraling skyward into the air as Hikari could no longer sense its small tendrils tickling the Earth. Surely his catapult launch using Moving Earth Core had been a success!

“Detonate when ready, Kannagi-chan!” He would cry aloud, “And then we run away from here!”

The plan was cried aloud on the fly...and it was meant for obvious reasons as he was about to turn the Scorpion into a firework display.

OOC Notes: ---
Now Playing: ---

Hikari's smile and tone gave the kunoichi a new understanding of her bunny friend. There was far more to him than met the eye, even more than she had estimated at in the tavern when they had been introduced. His plan sounded mischievous, especially the moment where he had suggested making noise would not be a bad idea. Kannagi tilted her head slightly, intrigued by his secret glee until he revealed at least his part in his own concoction. A massive earth jutsu was enacted like before, but this time aimed to project from beneath the scorpion. Kannagi watched in admiration as the large creature was thrust upwards. It froze in a mixture of confusion and fear, it's tail snapping back and forth, stabbing at enemies that were not there. Its pincers snapped and stretched, trying to understand what was going on. It looked more like the scorpion was throwing its arms up in celebration on top of the rock and a bemused smile played on the blue haired woman's lips.

Detonate when ready, Hikari had said, readying his body to sprint away. Kannagi made a series of hand seals then, approving of the timely end of this battle. The scorpion's head exploded first, neck jerking forward and separating from the thorax. A spray of ichor and goo rained through the air in a mist. It's back exploded second, sending splinters and chunks of the shiny exoskeleton and its rudimentary intestines soaring outwards. The tail of the scorpion strangely managed to stay in tact, but fell directly downwards, its poisoned barb piercing the ground below and standing upwards like a flagpole which bore no flag. Before running, Kannagi's seals had created for her and Hikari a large umbrella made from the paper of her hands. She held it between them and would follow Hikari as closely as she could manage, using the umbrella to shield them from the sticky debris. "I suppose our patrol is over, now that every living thing in the area knows we are here?" The woman chuckled a bit, trying to keep pace with the bunny.

---

Hikari could only describe what he heard next would be a grotesque rainstorm.

The sound blasts of the paper seals would be like thunder to his ears. His feet carried him away as he knew the delicate ears of the Usagi Clan could only stand so much. He resisted the urge to not hear the sound of the explosions that would sound like a bolt that struck the land directly. Only afterwards, there would be some liquid that would pour down upon the hard ground. Drips were not like raindrops as they would splatter and seep which his little ears made sure to give horrid little details of.

The next would have been described as a rumble of heavy pieces like hail in a storm. Whatever bits were not mixed in with goo were bouncing like chunks of armor plating made from shell. Eventually, the pieces would come still after a wobble or two. The tail would be the last thrusting into the terrain as it stood upright. Mild amusement came along with what was a parade of sounds that were heading to the area where the flagless pole now stood. A sign that the terrain had been conquered and the mysterious assailants victorious.

"I suppose our patrol is over, now that every living thing in the area knows we are here?"

A smile came to Hikari’s face, not imagining such a moment in the wildest dreams with the Kunoichi. To hear the words she would say and to be running away in quite the manner, he would chuckle gently as his blue eyes would go to her. His ears hearing the bits of goo strike paper instead of rock and dirt. An interesting ability shown by Kunoichi that he himself was impressed with. It seemed that they both were learning a bit about themselves that a cup of Sake could not possibly reveal under the night sky.

“Knows who?” A mischievous smile on the bunny’s face, “Who where?” A riddle that a Cheshire feline would even be proud of even though the expression had paled in comparison. As Hikari would move, he would slow down his pace as he could feel the Earth moving beneath his feet. The unheaping of the soil revealed a path of dirt going between himself and the Kunoichi as it raced forth before them. The ground would swell and out would burst a green creature with tufts of fur that were as heavy as a feline,but ears and feet that suggested its body was more rabbit. It would shake its head in utter frustration freeing it of dust and debris.

It seemed like a wild animal, but yet, Hikari would keep running as he had a smile upon his face. His hands would reach downward, sweeping the creature into his arms and embraced it there with a grin. “Good work, Meron-chan!” Hikari would sing in delight as he would turn his body slightly revealing the creature to Kannagi. The young rabbit and the creature’s lower body swayed as it clung upon the arms of the body.

“Such a surprise you are! We should do this more often, Kannagi-san!” Hikari’s signature chuckle like a giggle. His facade once again revealed itself as it was that of a shinobi more than that of some simple little hare that served sake. “Sake, fighting, and fireworks? Not to mention...this?" He would acknowledge the shield of paper that covered them both. A marvelous doing even if he only heard a thicket of crisp paper shielding them. "You are turning out to be quite the lady that a rabbit would want to be around! Not just...as I said...eloquent...but romantic too?”

Blind he was, it did not stop Hikari from having that sound twinkle in his eye as his glassy gaze went to the young Kunoichi as if he was seeing her in all her glory. His facade would have been insulting if he would not actually been truly impressed with her.

OOC Notes: ---
Now Playing: ---

Kannagi stood with Hikari and his odd green fluff-friend. She observed him calling it Meron and then recalled him saying that name before several times. She smiled, "I think I understand. It was this little thing that did those earth jutsu. A summon?" Kannagi asked. She hadn't actually met many summoners in the last few years in Nikkousato. Maybe it was more common among the Moon shinobi, she deduced thoughtfully. She extended a hand to pat it once upon the head, "We made a good team Meron. Nice moves."

Kannagi gave Hikari a slight bow, waiting for the gore-shower to end before tossing her paper umbrella aside and dismissing the paper with a wave. "I have enjoyed our time together again, I admit. Even with our lives in peril, I doubt many people could take on one of those scorpions without a scratch. You were quite brave, Hikari." The twinkle in his eye that came with the mention of sake, fireworks and romance made the blue haired kunoichi toss her head side to side. "Oh, I'm not much of a romantic, Hikari. Where I come from... dating is an act to locate someone with beneficial goods or ideals and marriage is a contract done to expand and improve the family." What would I know about that, she thought dismally to herself. Kannagi shrugged, "I don't think many shinobi fall in love, do they? Wouldn't it get in the way of their duties?" She asked genuinely, as if interested like a scholar would be but without shutting down the bunny's emotions. In fact that anyone would see her genuinely as a sincere future partner would have baffled her entirely, given that she had a tiny studio home, no money, and no family to offer services with. Any other feelings would be mere infatuation, a useless fleeting emotion to try and bargain with.

"That sake though could be a real treat. Shall we go and indulge together then?" She placed her left hand in her mouth and whistled three times. The galloping of hooves could be felt before they could be heard and Kannagi's gray mottled mare appeared soon after.

---

“Quite deductive, Kannagi-saaan!”

Hikari went to the sing-song tone of that one night when he had met the young woman. His hands cuddled the bunny in his arms as she would pet it. “The Usagi Clan uses rabbit summons in order to move the Earth. This way, we can battle in close-range without any fear.” His explanation was with complete delight as he barely had the chance to talk so openly about the clan. His own ears twitched as he could still hear the crinkling sound in the air and identify the paper that was around him. “It seems Kannagi-san has quite the ability as well.” The boy would observe never hearing of such a technique. It was surely not a technique that had to do with the manipulation of the elements themselves. He could recall the sound coming from the woman’s very body. Was it a type of Kekkei Genkai?

“You know this lady?!” Meron’s eyes would squint curiously as if in suspicion. “A shinobi? Does that mean you are court-MM”

The rest illegible as Hikari’s hand would casually clasp around the mouth of the furry creature. His crystal blue hazy eyes would remain in Kannagi as if he was giving all her attention. His smile was more mischievous than friendly given that properly the young woman learned one too many things about his clan for today. The little vulgar details were saved for later, if ever that would come. He had simply taken solace that the Kunoichi gave as she would praise his valor. The boy’s cheeks flushing red as he was getting fond of her honesty whether it was a barb or a praise.

“You think too highly of me, Kannagi-san.” His voice indicates his fondness for her words if not her voice. “I-I am just a Usagi. Nothing more and nothing less. This is just what we do.” Hikari would try to be passive about it to the best of his ability. He was nothing special among his clan. The blind were gifted ones to the people, but a male? He might as well have been considered less than a Usagi with how they whispered about him. It was a meaningless effort considering a small hush of the clan was as audible as basic speech in a crowded classroom full of Genin.

But then something sparked his attention: the kunoichi’s head tilting to the side as she would acknowledge his words.

Romanticism? A contract? It was all so familiar. Hikari’s eyes would almost come to a gentle lull as he heard her. It was a pitiful expression but one that indicated just how typical it was. His hand would move from over Meron’s mouth as the rabbit would shoot a glare up to the lilac boy. It was a gaze that surely indicated stern expectation. Hikari’s eyes would fall upon the rabbit. “I see.” Hikari would chime, “A life of servitude to ideas instead of a heart, yes?” It was the song he would sing similar to her own. His head patting the green rabbit as it seemed to sulk at the boy’s behavior. Going on, Kannagi’s speech would stop Hikari in his tracks.

She always had a way of asking him questions that did this to him.

“I-I would not know, Kannagi-san.” A frown forming that was good as his sealed lips. “The Usagi are not considered shinobi. The Usagi do not...participate in such things.” It was a pained way he would explain as the rabbit in his grasp would narrow its own eyes. It seemed dissatisfied with Hikari’s explanation, but it would not openly speak as it had done moments ago. The two obviously had an understanding about breathing the clan’s customs and designs. The galloping horse and Kannagi’s sound whistle would be perhaps the perfect escape for the moment as the young boy would nod his head happily.

“Sure, Kannagi-san.” He submitted. His cheeks burning a fiery red at her suggestion. “Once again, it would be my pleasure to pour you a cup of Sake.”


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