Enjoying the Day

Sora followed the boy with his eyes as he walked closer and shook his head as the squirt tried acting tough. "Don't try to act all self-righteous shinobi, you'd have seriously hurt that girl if i hadn't stepped in. Do you get off on beating up little girls? Or is that just all you're capable of squirt?" He stood at ease and tapped his hammer on his shoulder, he was already bored of this boy from Morigakure and his tough guy act. He wondered where Kushino had gone off to, he hadn't seen her in a while and she would be the perfect way to brighten up his day.

Myeong looked to Takoda, tilting her head. "Our conflict? You sound as if I was fighting with you too! I never even lifted a finger!" she said, crossing her arms and shaking her head. Looking to the blond, she began to explain. "He wanted to try and get me to use all my techniques so if he fought against me in the third phase he'd have an unfair advantage so he could win."

I raised my hand to stick my middle finger up at the boy, "Piss off, I have nothing to prove to the likes of you." My hand would come down to point at the girl now, "The war has taught us all that battles are fought with words just as much as they are with swords, take what happened at Elkwood lightly again and I'll be sure to show you the pain those people felt." I was serious but calm in my tone, I at last had my wits about me again.

A large cloud of smoke appeared in front of Takoda, blocking his view from both Myeong and Sora that lingered for awhile. ''Now now now... save it for the Chuunin Exams guys'' A cackle could be heard from inside the dust cloud, slowly but surely it disappeared revealing Kushino, her long red hair blowing in the wind. Kushino peered over her shoulder noticing Sora, a large smile spread across her face. Kushino brought her attention back to Takoda ''I guess you must be Takoda, Poppa bear says Hi!'' She jeered with a large smile across her face. Kushino had a puzzled look on her face as she stared at Sora, he had become cuter then the last time she had seen him, maybe because for the past few weeks she had been staring at Ice, ice and more ice.

When Kushino appeared Sora forgot completely about the turd bear Takoda in front of him and walked over to the red haired girl, putting his hammer on his back as he gathered her into a warm hug. "Kushino, where have you been? You just disappeared?" She had truly disappeared a few weeks before the exams and he had been unable to talk to her in the second phase as they were told to be quiet. He couldn't keep the grin off his face as he turned to face Takoda and the other girl, one arm around Kushino's waist. "Sorry, Takoda was it? You were saying something meaningless i believe, go on."

Myeong cocked an eyebrow as she looked to Takoda. "You really aren't the sharpest tool in the shed are you?" she sighed. Seriously. Was he too stupid to even listen? She reached over her shoulder, pulling her hood up, smiling brightly once more. "It's been a pleasure, but I think I'll get going now. I'll see you all in the final phase Hammer Guy, Kushina and Bakada," she chirped happily as she began to walk off, humming in her oversized coat.

A girl appeared in front of me in a cloud of smoke, she seemed to get the boy's attention. It also seemed her name was Kushino though I still didn't know what to call the boy apart from arrogant. She made a pun on my clan and in a rather clam voice I retorted, "Is that supposed to be funny?" She had joked my father which normally would've sent me into a rage like before but I was starting to form a headache from my last episode so it slid off me. Then the prick acted as though he hadn't heard me, I could only sigh as I shook my head. "Arrogance..."

Kushino hugged Sora as tightly as she could, she had missed him so much. If it wasn't for her goals in life she would have left earlier to see Sora but Takeru-Sensei would never have allowed it, the bastard was strict afterall. Kushino smiled as Sora spoke ''Well I can't exactly tell you where ive been BUT I can tell you I was training with my new Sensei somewhere far away'' She laughed. Kushino brought her attention back to Takoda, a smile crossed her face. He was alot more like his Father then he though, they both seemed grumpy and the attitude was definitely in Takoda. ''Im sorry I never meant to offend you, I thought I knew you from Morigakure when I grew up there.'' She said rubbing the back of her head embarrassed.

Sora cocked his head at Kushino when she started talking as if she knew the boy, it was obvious to him that Takoda had no idea who she was at all. The news of a sensei surprised him, he couldn't think of anyone in the village that would agree to teach her one on one like that. He flashed a smile at the bear boy, though he was a frustrating and angry twerp he was still a guest in their village. "You should relax a bit, Takoda was it? The final phase of the exams are soon and i'd hate to see you not even make it there to get beaten." He knew the last bit was a bit of a jab at the boy but he was slightly offended at the way he was reacting after he had stepped in and stopped him from making a bad mistake. He decided that the Mori genin must just be all rude.

The girl apologized, then commented about her past and being raised in Mori. From what I could tell she hadn't been there is quite some time as her clothes smelled of something I had never personally been around. I then turned my attention back to the boy, "Right, how about you tell me your name then. I'll need it to ask the spirits not to embarrass you to badly when I beat you hould you even get past the other scrubs." I'd smirk as I said this, if he was going to be cocky then so would I, after all we had both only moments ago demonstrated a fraction of our power levels. Both of which far above a normal genin.

Kushino felt completely ignored by Takoda as he well... ignored her. Kushino clenched her fist then sighed, this wasn't the time, the next round was coming and she needed to be ready. Takeru would scold her if she didn't come back without Chuunin Rank. Kushino decided to let the two boys talk while she flipped through her little black book silently.

Sora gave the boy a glance up and down as he considered how much to tell him, after a moment he decided that he was done playing games with the punk, he wanted to spend some time with Kushino. "I'm Prince Sora Henkaku of the Henkaku people, you may have heard of us, you and yours spent the better part of history doing your best to make our lives hell. Why don't you run along now? The girl you had a problem with has already run off and it looks like you're still eager to start a fight, which i can't say i feel like doing at the moment." Sora let the words sink in, most people knew of the history of the Henkaku, how for generations shinobi had hunted them and treated them as animals, a lesser class of being to be used as monsters in children's stories. He hadn't meant to say he was the prince, he hadn't even told Kushino yet, but Takoda needed to know who he was dealing with.

The girl started flipping through a black book as the boy called Sora gave a pity-filled story about who he was. I rubbed my head for a moment and then answered him. "Henkaku eh? Can't say I know much of anything about them, princess." I took a moment to rub my arm in pain, that last punch had taken quite a bit out of me. "Can't say I'm really in the mood to throw down right now though but it seems you and this girl have business involving lips so I'll leave you to it. Just remember this, I will defeat you." I would turn and walk away, in the end today had been rather productive, I hadn't learned much about the forest girl but this Prince Sora character, he was someone to keep an eye on in the upcoming matches.

[exit]

Kushino watched and listened as Takoda left, he was a strange one to say the least, she knew he seemed tough and would keep her distance from him. Kushino turned her attention back to Sora, a confused look crossed her face ''Your a Prince?'' Kushino asked. She knew he seemed different to other Henkaku she had met but the Prince of the Clan? That meant he was the rightful heir to take over the clan. Kushino scratched her head in confusion ''I don't know what to say.. Just know I won't be treating you any differently'' She laughed.

Sora sighed, he was grateful she had said that. "Yeah i'm a prince, though don't go thinking I've got riches galore and power. Nothing like that, my people call my royalty the 'Broken Crown', we have no palaces, no riches." He squeezed her against himself and pressed his lips softly against her forehead. "So what have you been up to all this time?"

Kushino felt her body immediately relax at the touch of Sora's Skin ''You have no idea... how warm you feel'' She giggled. Kushino cheekily bowed to Sora before becoming serious again ''I have been incredibly cold and incredibly overworked, Oh and about the Prince thing, I know about your Clan. I just never thought you were the Prince'' She laughed again followed by a serious look. Kushino hugged Sora once more ''Oh by the way you'll never guess who Im fighting in the Next Phase'' She nudged Sora.

Sora turned and started walking, pulling Kushino alongside him as they strolled. He enjoyed the way she felt in her arms, she seemed to fit perfectly into the groove on his side, though that was partly because whenever he saw her he morphed his side slightly. "Oh, who are you fighting?" He was curious to know who it was and he was more than a little worried it would be one of the monsters in the exam, the people he was worried about facing himself.

Kushino felt herself being dragged but decided not to fight it, afterall it was Sora and she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could until she had to leave again, something she was afraid to tell him or her Brother. Kushino cuddled slightly into Sora as they walked ''Your lil friend Yuurei Hageshi, I think this is going to be fun'' She laughed. ''You fought him right? Well I hope Ill do well against him, I'm not going to try be over confident, it ultimately could be my downfall'' She added.

Sora laughed and unconsciously pulled Kushino in closer. "Ah Mr Shadow, he was a tricky one, I'm afraid i don't know too much of what he does, my fight with him was really one sided." He didn't know what to think of that match-up, he supposed if there wasn't anywhere shady for him to hide then it might be ok. Truth be told he didn't know much about Kushino's abilities beyond a rough knowledge of her Uzumaki seals. As they walked he found they were soon in one of the secluded parks in Aerogakure and were alone in the garden, the majority of the citizens being busy with the many festivities that surround the Chuunin exams.

Kushino reveled in Soras embrace, she had missed him alot during her time gone and she was hoping his fight in the Chuunin Exams would be safe, or atleast not life threatening. Kushino thought for a moment about the nickname, she knew he used Shadow Techniques so close combat would need to be cautious, though her own methods would mean the same for him. Even so she was glad she had trained herself up for a fight such as this. ''Well I guess we'll see, I hope you'll be there to cheer me on, Id be at your too'' She smiled. Kushino's mind wandered for a bit about her fight, she was slightly worried but she put on a brave face for Sora as they stood in a beautiful garden ''Its so nice to see stuff other then Ice.'' She said turning her head to Sora ''So what about you? Who are you facing Hmm?'' She asked.

Sora turned his body to face Kushino and looked into her eyes as he talked. "I'm not sure who i'm facing, i'v never heard of him before, but i'm glad you're going to be there to cheer me on." He cupper her chin and turned her face up to meet his as he pressed his lips to hers, he stayed that way for a while, revelling in the simple kiss. He didn't really know how to feel about this whole thing, it had caught him completely off guard. "Ice you say? Who needs ice when you've got this beautiful garden in the sky? Don't leave again, i was almost mad with worry while you were gone."

Kushino felt her body tingle as they kissed, it felt like she had been gone a life time and she felt bad she had left Sora in the dust for so long without a word. ''I guess that adds to the excitement of battle I suppose?'' She laughed cheekily. Kushino's eyes hit the floor as Sora finished his sentence, she had to leave as soon as the Chuunin exams were over but how could she tell him that? The two had become close and she was going to travel halfway across the world again soon. Kushino's body shifted awkwardly as she pulled herself away from Sora, her eyes still glued to the floor, her face showing worry and... guilt. ''Im leaving again as soon as the Chuunin Exams are over Sora, Im sorry but I have no choice'' She murmured.

Sora frowned, he didn't want Kushino to leave again as he wanted to spend some more time with her after the exams, especially if she got hurt in her fight. "You really have to, don't you? Do you know how long you'll be gone this time?" He paused as a thought came to his mind he hadn't considered. "If your sensei does anything inappropriate, or to hurt you, I won't forgive him you know." His grip on her tightened and he planted another kiss on her lips, though this one was a bit more fiery.

Kushino nodded silently as Sora asked her his questions, she felt bad about what she was doing, in some ways she was giving up love for power. It made her feel incredibly jealous and guilty. ''Yes I do have to leave, its no longer a matter of WANT anymore. I'm not sure how long ill be gone this time, Weeks, Months and possibly Years. I don't know but I will be back, I don't want to leave you here alone, your the only person Ive ever really cared about apart from my Brother'' She said a small tear trailing down her cheek. Kushino bottled her emotions as her and Sora kissed once more, she needed to stay strong. ''My Sensei isn't all bad, hes doing what needs to be done for me to become stronger. He is a good man although he is a brute'' She laughed. Kushino took Soras hands in hers ''He will not harm, hes the least of my worries right now'' She added.

Sora stood feeling helpless, it seemed there was nothing he could do to keep his fiery headed light there with him. In that moment he resolved to win the Chuunin Exams no matter what and get stronger, strong enough that he would be enough to protect her and so she wouldn't need a sensei anymore, strong enough so no one could take her away from him. "One day Kushino, I'll take you back from your sensei, or i'll force him to come here to teach you."