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Post by alianne on May 7, 2007 19:43:17 GMT -5
Like all Datenshi, Aliana appreciated the overcast skies. She could say that sometimes she preferred the rain to the sun... At the very least, the drizzle suited her mood.
When Kaji entered the ramen shop, she had to recall what it was she had planned to do for a third time and almost forgot the purpose of it. He probably already knew about them anyways... The Jounin hardly had the strength to keep her eyelids up, let alone relay a detailed description of Magasasu and Akki to him. Why couldn't she just go home and sleep?
'He needs to know. You put Totora's needs infront of your own. Now time to do it again. And after a shit load of Sake, then you can go to sleep in a drunken daze.'
Grumbling, Aliana fished out a brightly colored pill she used for energy and gulped it down dry. When Kaji entered without saying a word or even glancing in her direction, she assumed that he was either so excited to be back at Ichiraku that he didn't care to notice her, or he didn't recognize her. Her tresses now fell level with her waist and she didn't recall changing from her Elite Uniform, giving her the appearance of an ANBU.
With one quick swipe, she snatched the money pouch from Kaji's hand to get his attention and considered giving him a good smack upside the head. "Have you been gone so long that you have been rendered blind, Sojiro? Or are you older than I once thought? You disappoint me!" The Datenshi rapped her knuckles along Kaji's head, the ceased her assault and sat, waving her prize in a wordless taunt.
"Hmph. And here I was thinking to buy you ramen before you go and blow of all of your money." She removed a coin from his pouch and eyed it carefully. "And how did you go about possessing this kind of money? This much money would trouble you to know end, mulling about how to spend it." She glanced at him, amused. Despite the length of time in which he had been gone, Kaji certainly hadn't changed much.
Her thoughts flickered back to Totora and she felt guilty; she was having a good time while her Genin was forced to lay in a hospital bed with mending wounds and a curse that would haunt him for eternity. 'Perhaps if I returned to the Elite, I could bring Totora to a temple of Shishigami. There, the monks could help him. They could seal him and keep all spirits at bay. Then he might not have to deal with it...' But Aliana knew why she had opposed returning to the Elite in the first place. She had become so accustomed to Konoha, it had become her home. Returning to the Village would mean to see Kappa again, and she knew what would come of that. The next reason could be determined with a swift glance to the Sojiro in front of her. There was the option of killing Akki, but... she was not strong enough alone.
Somehow she needed to speak to Kaji alone about the Stone Ninja she had encountered. Now that she actually had information regarding their abilities, maybe he would stand more of a chance. Kaji was a formidable foe, but the thought of those swords, those dead pulling themselves from the earth and pools of blood, demons materializing... She shuddered inwardly.
'May the Mionigashima help me.'
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Post by Kaguya Yoh on May 7, 2007 22:08:04 GMT -5
Kazuma had finally cought up with his sensei at the ramen shop. The young demon feeling ashamed of hisemf for being unable to keep up. And to make it worse Kakashi actually slowed down his speed just that he would fall that behind of the both of them. Although it's not like they could really blame him he was tired from the mission. Only reason why he was still able to keep going was thanks to high stamina.
"You alright? Sure you don't want to just go home and rest?" the copy ninja asked the young chuunin Kazuma just chuckling.
"Nah I'm fine," the young demon replied as he entered the shop. His yellow eyes eyeing the Aliana with a bit of a disturbed look. Remembering the feeling he had when he was around her. He felt like she was an enemy. Which was odd for, like him, she was of kohona, an ally.
Kakashi followed the young demon into the ramen shop. His eyes looking toward Aliana. Noting the guilty look she had. Part of him wondering what was wrong with her. Although might be best if she spoke out about it instead of asking her about it. That way he would know when she was ready to talk about it.
HIs gray eye looking back down to Kazuma knocking him on the head as he noticed the look he was giving the Jonin. "Best nice," he said softly Kazuma wiping off the look that was on his face.
Kazuma began thinking back to the mission. His mind thinking of Totora and the condition he was in. The demon wondering how Aliana was taking in what hapen after all he was her student right? Although part of him concidered her a fool for allowing him to get captured in the first place. But of course he wasn't going to state that out loud.
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Post by Daidoji Karin on May 8, 2007 16:45:03 GMT -5
Karin stopped spinning when she realized that she was being talked to, and that was a long time. She stared at the girl, slightly confused. She was assigned to a team? She was needed for back-up? ...She was assigned to a team?
"Uh, yeah, right." Karin smirked slightly as she pivoted back and forth in her chair. "You don't want me. I don't why you put me on your team. I didn't win in my fight with Ezner. On a further note, I haven't had my lunch." She stopped squirming, folded her hands and said, "Please, if you are going to take me, please PLEASE let me get my ramen. PLEASE." She gave the girl a pouty face.
She suddenly noticed the boy behind the girl, his headband over his eyes. She cocked her eyebrow in curiosity. "Why are you wearing that over your eyes?"
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Post by Kaji on May 8, 2007 16:48:45 GMT -5
A haze of ramen rushed itself upon Kaji in a flux of enlightenment. He was swimming in the pristine broth of tempting and gratifying adoration. It was nearly a religious experience as the pains, hardships, and blatant anguish that he was exposed to melted off of his frame. He was free, free from the shackles of torture and misery that had wrought his being into a state of surpression. He was free from the darkness, free from his own boundaries, and free from the mental barriers that had contained him for so long. His was boundless, and the Sojiro's croning voice was invisible in this current bliss.
For sound, sight, and taste melded into a sense of comfort, as pure content flooded and radiated throughout. This ambience of warmth shouted outward from himself, notifying everyone around his experience within this ramen, and he simply stared at the stirring noodles after every bite. He was at a lost for words, and the only intteruption that brought him back to a state of reality was the reprimanding of the Jounin Aliana beside him.
The stealing of his coin purse had left him completley unoticed, and oddly- Kaji once being a pickpocket himself when times were tough, the experience elluded him. For outside Ichiraku's curtains, Kaji was mostly alert to his surrounings- when not drunk. Outside of Ichiraku he was amongst the top Shinobi in Konoha. However inside the small, quaint, ramen stand, he was a useless and futile subject to the pure delictibility of the savory noodles.
However her scolding words griped him, and he was shot back into conciousness. With a scratch to his head, he recovered. "Ugh..." He let out, staring at his lost prize in the witty Datenshi's grasp. Composing himself, he regained his disposition. He smirked, "Ah, Aliana, I'm afraid it is you who has disappointed me. For I may be useless in the presence of Ramen, but I'm still Kaji Sojiro!" He held out his hand, in a thumbs up position, while a ceaseless smirk radiated off himself.
With a slow, slothlike movement, Kaji pulled out another coin purse. This one was laced with a gold lining, and was satin in appearance. It held an odd, but familiar Sojiro crest; and it was clearly directed and given to him by the elder Sojiro. "Sorry friend, but thats my regular wallet you've pawned. I know it's sad...but there's about one coin in there..." He smirked, flicking a coin at the Ramen merchant from the much more extravagant looking wallet. He laughed, ramen nearly falling from his gape as he continued to look at his long missed companion. "You've got a habit of underestimating people!."
For it was truley the case, and although Kaji's taijutsu and ninjutsu prowess was quite known in Konoha, he carried the repuation of being aloof and oblivious within Konoha's walls. However, as an ANBU leader and within the engagement of a mission- he exuded the fierceness of Kyoumo, and held it's tiger like proficiency that made his skills known. With the addition and secrets of the Sojiro legacy, his portfolio and combat skills were ever growing. It seemed like this was the case with many of Konoha's shinobi, and while their skills seemed to be progressing furverously; so were their enemies.
No matter, Kaji thought none such things, and his sarcastic and distant demeanor shattered. A Sake induced wabble caused him to falter a bit, and he recklessly embraced the Datenshi, backing out of it suddenly. "Ramen! Friends!" He shouted the following, conveying two recently added bowsl of ramen towards his other friends. "Can you drink yet Kazuma?" Kaji boomed in a wabbly and shaky offering. He was kidding of course, but he knew the statement would revoke a smile in both Kazuma, Kaeda, and Kakashi.
The Ramen stand continued to ooze happiness, and the night bustled with the reuniting of old friends.
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Post by Inugami on May 8, 2007 17:11:23 GMT -5
Katasuko put his hands in his pockets and looked off to the side. "Long story. I don't want to bore you to death." The small fox on his shoulder jumped over to her and landed on her lap. Katasuko went to pet the fox and noticed it wasn't their. "Hmm? What the?" He continued to feel around on his shoulders and couldn't find the fox at all. Katasuko turned to Karin's direction and finally decided to answer her answer. "It's for training. In the long run, it's supposed to make me stronger."
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Post by tenten on May 8, 2007 17:46:59 GMT -5
Tenten frowned frustrated, I don't care whether you won or lost, the point is that you have to come with me to the Mist to help your team, those are Tsunade's orders okay?" She said, keeping calm and doing her best not to lose her temper. Tenten rolled her eyes, "Fine, if you need your ramen fine you can have it, just get it to go or something so we can hurry,"
Kaeda entered the ramen shop with her friends. She sat down enthusiastically in her chair. "Oh boy ramen time!" It had been forever since Kaeda had a taste of ramen, down in the hidden base she rarely had time to eat out. She ordered her ramen and ate it quickly. "MAN! I forgot how good this stuff is!" She exclaimed jubilantly.
When Kaji asked Kazuma if he could drink yet a look of uncertaintly crossed Kaeda's face. "Kaj, he's just a kid," She grinned, ordering another bowl of ramen to eat.
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Post by alianne on May 8, 2007 20:08:27 GMT -5
Aliana playfully narrowed her eyes and examined the pouch. "But how could you come to possess such a fine bit of money and in an expensive pouch? And with the Sojiro crest upon it, too..." Shrugging, she tossed the wallet back to Kaji. "I have no need for your money, anyways. Unlike some people, I save it for things I need, things other than Ramen and Sake."
When an ANBU agent, one she did not recognize, entered the bar, she felt like an outsider once again. Besides Kaji and a few others, she hardly knew anybody. All of her friends were back at her village... For the first time since her departure, she felt a pang of homesickness and a longing for the routine missions of the Elite. And then she thought of Akki... Her blood boiled. And at the worst possible moment, the Datenshi noticed Kazuma enter.
Her eyes flashed red as Datenshi blood lust overcame her in her moment of rage. The Jounin hardly noticed it when her head snapped to focus her crimson eyes upon Kazuma, the word 'Shioji' escpaing her. The next moment, Aliana had her hand over her eyes as she slowly regained control. 'Dammit... I always promised Chiyuu I wouldn't do that.'
When she revealed her eyes again, they were sapphire once more and she stood and exited the Ramen bar without a word of farewell, not trusting herself to speak. She would seek out Kaji later. But to be near Kazuma right then was dangerous. Her emotions were unstable, and that meant she was too.
Stressed and needing something to calm her down, Sake was the first thing that came to mind, and the raven haired Jounin decided upon drinking however much it took to drown out everything.
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Post by Daidoji Karin on May 9, 2007 10:14:11 GMT -5
Karin gave a whoop of joy, and said, "THANK YOU!!!" She turned to her ramen, not noticing the fox was on her lap until she felt it brush up against her elbow.
"Well, hello, little fox," Karin smiled and said to the boy, "I really like your fox." She turned back to her ramen and just started talking to the fox. "You're so cute! Have you ever had wasabi ramen? You want some?"
After eating a little bit of noodles, she turned back to the two ninja and said, "You don't have to stand there, you know. Come on, take a seat, maybe grab some ramen for yourself. Oh, by the way, who are you people?"
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Post by tenten on May 9, 2007 18:52:38 GMT -5
Tenten sighed, "Okay, but we don't have too much time to play around, who knows what your team needs, but the sooner we get there the better." Tenten considered buying some ramen for herself, but she knew that it would probably only slow them down, sometimes she had a tendency to eat slow.
"My name is Tenten," She said, figuring that Katasuko would be able to introduce himself. He was only temporarily blind, not mute. She smiled at the fox on Karin's lap, "Well it seems he likes you," She mused.
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Post by Inugami on May 9, 2007 19:15:18 GMT -5
"Hmm? Yea?Thanks. I made the fox's design by myself. I made him earlier." Katasuko trailed off and looked to the side not trying to get into detail. "My name is Katasuko. Member of team...." He trailed off once again and shrugged off his words." You seem alittle it too relaxed at a situation like this. "Your probably about to go out on a battlefield and yet your sitting here eating ramen like it was another wasteful day."
Katasuko 'looked' her way. "..just like you don't have a care in the world..You have to be freaking out right now..why aren't you?"
The fox looked at Karin slurp up the noodles and he titled his head in confusion. This was the first time he had ever seen anybody eat anything and it fascinated him. He lifted up his pall and tried to grab the end of one of the lose strands from the noodles and he fell onto the ground landing on his stomach.
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Post by Kaguya Yoh on May 10, 2007 20:52:35 GMT -5
Kakashi noted the blood lust in Aliana as she looked toward Kazuma. The jonin placing his hand on the kid's shoulder just in case Aliana lost control. He had heard about her blood line. And unlike the Shioji he knew Aliana's clan had no control when their demon came out.
Both him and Kazuma watching as Aliana left the shop Kazuma looking up at Kakashi, "Dose she have a problem with me?" he asked softly.
Kakashi didn't reply for a small bit looking down at Kazuma with a concern look. "Put it this way kid, make sure your NEVER alone with her understood?" Kazuma nodding at the Jonin's words. Yellow eyes looking at Kaji as he asked if he was old enough to drink.
"Funny ramen-sensei," he said with a laugh, "But I got to go now theres a friend in the hospital I need to vist," the demon continued waving good bye running out of the shop. His eyes noticing Aliana making sure to quickly head toward the hospital before she could do anything to him. The young demon still wondering why she seemed to have a problem with him.
After Kakashi left the jonin took a seat next to his old friend. Smiling under his mask, "So Kaji what have you been up to while you were away?" the jonin asked curious.
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Post by Daidoji Karin on May 11, 2007 5:27:49 GMT -5
"You made the fox?" Karin looked at the boy weird. "...Okay... Well, to answer your question, I'm not really thinking about it. When I get to thinking about it, I'll let you know if I feel freaked out or anything, 'kay?" She continued to slurp on her noodles when she noticed that the fox fell off her lap.
"Oh, I'm sorry, little fox," Karin put her chopsticks down, got off of the chair and picked up the fox. "Are you okay? I should have given you some." She placed the fox on the counter, but heard the ramen guy say, "Hey! No animals on the counter!"
"Oops," Karin cringed a little as she put the fox back in her lap. "Sorry, sir." She then took up her chopsticks, grabbed one noodle and offered it to the fox. "Have a taste!" After a few minutes she was finally done, and spun in the direction of Tenten.
"I'm ready now, ma'am." She smiled sweetly, holding the fox in a childish pose.
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Post by Kaji on May 14, 2007 14:43:48 GMT -5
(It's only a matter of time for an awesome 2 v. 2 Kaz)
With the enlightening noodles begining to dwindle, Kaji looked up from his bowl; oddly ripping his attention from them. It was hard, yes, but it was necessary not to drown out his company in a bowl of Ramen. He frowned, seeing Kazuma leave- hoping to spend more time with him before the Jounin was thrust back into the mission going life of a Konoha Shinobi.
"Well, see ya." Kaji let out, smiling at the boy demon. He shook his head turning to Kakashi, "He's growing up eh?" The air was completely warm, and Kaji soaked in the moment; knowing he'd be missing it when he succumbed to the toils the future had in store. He heard Kakashi's question, taking a long while to throw together an answer.
"Well you know, turns out there are more Sojiro with an awakened Raigenkou that I was led to believe." Kaji left it at that, letting the copy ninja draw conclusions from that statement alone. At the site of Aliana's departure, Kaji held up a hand in protest...but no matter she left without a word said. It was disheartening, and he knew she must have something that plauged her mind. He made a small mental note to attempt to console her in the near future, but it was sure to leave his mind unnoticed. With a smile at Kaeda, winking as he slid a coin forward at the Ramen merchant. He knew that his possestion of money would come to a surprise to the ANBU agent, and his wink comfirmed the process.
"Anyway...It's a long story. Next time we're on a mission together...you'll see." The Sojiro said in a coy manner, slurping up another spoonful of the suculant savory noodles. "How've you two been?" He paused, looking at Kakashi. "Any luck on that renegade Uchiha?"
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Post by tenten on May 14, 2007 19:12:10 GMT -5
Tenten smiled, "Okay we are all ready! Oh and don't call me ma'am, I am about your age you know, just call me Tenten please." She turned to Katasuko, she knew it wasn't direct orders to bring him with her but it would be rude not to offer after all Tsunade had told her to try to bring either Neji or Lee; both had rejected the offer. "Katasuko, you are more than welcome to join us if you are itching for a fight, but if you don't want to it's understandable."
Kaeda waved good bye to the chuunin student as he left. She slurrped up some more noodles as Kaji made some quick idle chat with a girl next to him. Only after a couple seconds of conversation did she get up and go. She seemed to have a concerned feel about her, but Kaeda knew this was none of her business. As she left she recognized a sense of worry sweep over Kaji.
Kaeda grinned devilishly. "Kaji Sojiro! Why wasn't I informed that you had a girlfriend?" She squealed, flinging herself onto Kaji giving him a hug. Maybe it was the ramen, or maybe it was being with all her old friends, but Kaeda was in a much happier and more hyper mood then she had been in a while. She ruffled his hair and gave him a friendly punch in the arm, "Kaj you ol' dog, I always knew you were a ladies man!" She laughed. She nudged Kakashi in the arm with her elbow, "Am I right?"
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Post by Inugami on May 15, 2007 14:07:10 GMT -5
Katasuko looked at the two and snapped his fingers for the small fox to come. The fox jumped to his shoulder and Katasuko petted it on the head. "I'll have to pass. There is no point of me going on a mission if I still have no squad." Katasuko gave them a wave good bye as he walked out the door.
"...Now back to the punishment called training..Right..come on Tasuki..Tasuki?" Katasuko looked at the fox and shrugged his shoulders. "That's what I'll call..Tasuki." With that Katasuko left the scene and went back to training.
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