Resting [OPEN]

[Yanagi Fuyu]

Yanagi travelled quickly through the Fire Country landscape, running alongside an eastern-flowing river as she headed back to Konoha. She’d been on a C-rank mission to one of the small civilian towns mid-way between the Hidden Village and the Western border, to suppress and relocate a lone wolf that had been troubling the villagers.

Finding the wolf had been easy, fighting it had only earned her a bruised shoulder from her impromptu tackle of the creature, and she had proceeded to knock it out and transport it to half-a-day’s travel away, in an uninhabited area. A simple mission, but it was worth a fair amount of ryou, plus it was a break in the routine.

Now, she was looking forward to getting home and into her own bed before sundown. She’d been granted a few days to complete the mission, due to the distance to the village and distance needed to move the wolf, but since she was so close to Konoha, she didn’t want to have to sleep outside and only have an hour or two of running left in the morning.

The river cast amber-coloured flecks of sunlight into the air, before falling back to join the main body of afternoon sun tinged water.
Yanagi slowed, deciding to take a break before running solid until she reached home.
She came to a stop under a wide-branched oak tree that had half of its roots in the river, clambering up into its lower branches to rest, her shadow a grey giant stretched out on the grass, sewn in place with the shadows of the thinner twigs and branches that knitted around her.

[misaki]

Misaki was returning from a break in training. She had been given a few days to relax and she decided to explore the other lands in the Land of Fire. Her vacation was coming to an end and she decided to follow the river home. She had heard that one of Konoha's ninja had been sent on a mission near here. Misaki ran following the bank of the river at a casual pace, her black hair tied in a braid shifted with her stride. The wind blowing her deep purple bangs out of her face.

Misaki slowed as she spotted someone else on the bank. As she approached she realized it was one of Konoha's ninja, probably the one from the mission. She walked over to the other ninja. Her dark purple eyes looking at the other lady. Were you the one they sent about the wolf? I'm Misaki. I was just returning to Konoha and I heard about your mission. So I decided to travel this way, thinking I might meet you on your way back.[/b] she said in a calm but good-natured tone. She hadn't meet most of the village ninja. She had only been there a short time. About once every year she returned to the village Hidden in the Mist, where her parents were born and she was raised. Though born in the Leaf Village she had stronger feelings for the Mist Village concerning her past. She left her old home to become a Leaf Ninja but she returned to pay respect to her care-taker, Tsume who was killed by rouges. She decided she should start getting to know the other Leaf Village ninja before the Chuunin Exams, so if by some small chance she made it past and was named Chuunin she might be sent on a mission with some of them.

[Yanagi Fuyu]

Yanagi opened her eyes fully and sat up, looking down at the voice properly as she shielded her eyes with her hand, though the canopy did that well enough. She’d heard someone coming, but after a quick glance had decided not to bother them, though she’d kept her gaze on them through her lashes lest they try attacking her, for any reason.

“Yeah, I’m the one who dealt with the wolf. I’m Yanagi, pleased to meet you,” Yanagi called from her perch in the branches, before jumping down to the ground and crossing to stand within conversation-distance of Misaki.
“I didn’t know there were any other missions out here; where are you returning from?” She continued; a curious tilt to her head. As far as Yanagi was aware, the nearest mission was a few miles north. She hadn’t considered vacations, though.

[OOC: ugh, sorry for the utterly rubbish post, I’m still feeling a bit out of it from my op. I’m usually better than this – promise.]

[misaki]

As Yanagi jumped down Misaki could see her more clearly. Misaki guessed she had probably seen her in town but couldn't remember ever seeing her. She smiled at her question. Well they gave me a few days to relax from missions, and since I was raised in the Mist Village and wasn't accustom to all the Fire Nation's cities I decided to have a vacation to get better bearings of the nation I'm now training to serve.[/b] she replied. She wasn't assumed of her roots from another village. Though she was often asked why she wasn't training to be a Mist shinobi. She always said that she wanted to be a Leaf shinobi because the Leaf Village was her birth village, her family was born in the Mist village, not her. And they were all dead now.

Are you returning now? she asked, clearing away the thoughts of her past. She looked at Yanagi with a kind yet respectful face. Although Yanagi was only one rank above her she was still stronger. Misaki was going to try the Chuunin Exams this year but tried not to think about how well she would finish. All she was worried about was trying her best. She waited for Yanagi answer while glancing over at the river. She sound was calming to her ears.

[OOC: It's OK, I don't mind.]

[Yanagi Fuyu]

Yanagi nodded, making a vague noise of understanding. Holiday. That was why she didn’t know anyone else was in the area. “I see.” She didn’t question why Misaki worked for Konoha; if she was loyal, Yanagi didn’t care. The Konoha hitai-ite around Misaki’s neck was enough to keep Yanagi quiet on that matter.

“Yeah, I was just having a break from running. I’m ready to set off now, if you want,” Yanagi replied, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the village. She hadn’t rested for as long as she’d planned, but this way they were almost certain to reach Konoha before sundown, provided nothing got in their way.
The possibility of something slowing her down brought the faintest of lines to Yanagi’s brow in a moment-long frown. God help anything that did get in her way; Yanagi wanted to get home tonight.

However Yanagi didn’t dwell on the possibility long; the beginnings of her frown disappeared as she cast out her concerns. If something happened, it happened. No point cursing it before it even occurred.
A brief glance up at the warm sun told Yanagi it was nearing six. The summer nights were drawing in at around nine, so the Leaf nin had a few hours to get home in the light.

[misaki]

Misaki looked toward the Leaf village and nodded. I'm ready if you are. she said. She decided to let Yanagi lead the way though they both knew how to get home. She did it in a show of respect to the Chuunin. She had always been taught to respect those of higher rank, even if you were fighting them. She always tried to keep her manners, though that proved hard in fights at times.

She looked at the sun. A few stray clouds drifted around the large golden sphere. But the clouds were small and wispy, the blue was still visible. She smiled. The heat of the day was beginning to ebb and it would soon cool down. She hated the heat of summer, yet dreaded the snow of winter. She enjoyed the cool breeze of a summer night. Maybe it was because that was when Tsume trained her most often.

She looked back at Yanagi, and waited for her to start off again. They would be home before night but she still couldn't wait to be back. She had had a good vacation, but was ready to return, and start going on missions again. She didn't mind working to protect the Leaf village, really she liked it. She enjoyed proving her loyalty to her birth village.

[Yanagi Fuyu]

Yanagi nodded, smiling, and with a last glance around to make sure she hadn’t left anything, set off for the Leaf Village at a brisk run, leaping into the trees a few moments later, leaving Misaki to follow her through the trees or on the ground as she pleased, though she kept her eye on the younger girl, just in case something happened. It’d be just her luck for a random missing nin to decide visiting this area of the Fire Country at this time of year was a good idea.

Yanagi estimated that at the speed they were travelling, they’d reach Konoha in around two and a half hours. Yanagi would have gotten there faster, but she wasn’t sure how fast Misaki could travel and didn’t want to push the girl when she didn’t need to.
The chuunin set a reasonable pace as they sped through the forest, keeping the river within hearing distance and using it as a compass when the sun was blocked by the dense canopy.

After a few minutes, Yanagi’s mind turned to home, wondering what was for dinner and what traps Isamu and Masaru had arranged for her to return to. The teenager smiled, knowing exactly how the minds of her old team – her family in more ways than one – worked. She belonged to a clan of troublemakers and practical-jokers, and though they weren’t her blood relatives, Yanagi was convinced her real family, whoever they were, must have been the same, because she got the exact same kick out of a good joke her adoptive family did.

Now looking forward to getting home even more, Yanagi sent a glance down at Misaki, her mind still on fond memories, causing her to smile.
“You okay?” She checked, dropping back to run next to the younger ninja, her long hair trailing like a cloak behind her.

[misaki]

Misaki kept pace with Yanagi, following a few paces behind. She could keep pace with the other ninja but followed instead as a sign of respect. Again she showed respect for the Chuunin more that was needed at times. She had always known as over respectful, if that was possible.

She could go faster than this but didn't want to rush Yanagi. As Yanagi jumped into the trees Misaki followed. She still stayed back a little. Her black braid bouncing with her steps. Her purple bangs being pushed back by the wind. She smiled as the cool air rushed into her face. Her dark purple irises taking in the surrounding. They were becoming more familiar the closer to the Leaf village they came.

As Yanagi dropped back and spoke Misaki looked at her. She was gratefully to be with another leaf ninja after being away from her home for around a week. Though they had just meet they both server the same village, that was good enough for her. Misaki nodded at her question. Yeah I'm fine. So do you have a family? [/color]she asked. Most the people of both the Leaf village and the Mist village, even the ones who didn't know her, had heard about her being an orphan. She didn't mind it now, but when she was younger it hurt, like a kunai in her heart. Now she took it as nothing but the truth. Wither she talked about her family or not they were gone, and nothing would, or could, change that. She would just have to try her best and hope in the end, they can see her and are proud to call her one of them.

As she waited for Yanagi's answer a noise made her stop. Someone was following them. The sound was shoes hitting wood. Most ninja would be sure to walk lightly but this one must have wanted to be noticed. Misaki looked at Yanagi to see if she had noticed. Yanagi had stopped a little ahead on her.

[Yanagi Fuyu]

Yanagi blinked, slightly surprised at the sudden question. She wasn’t bothered by it though, and she thought for a moment before she answered.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a dull thud behind them. Footsteps on wood. Followed. Great.
Pretending to be pausing in contemplation, Yanagi slowed them stopped, leaning against the trunk of the tree she’d landed on, ‘hmm’ing in ‘thought’ before answering. She’d tilted her head forward slightly, so a curtain of dark, knee length hair fell to hide her face. Yanagi peered through the strands in the direction of the sound as she replied to Misaki’s question, keeping her tone natural.

“I do have a family, but they adopted me after I came wandering into the village when I was a kid. I’ve no recollection of anything before that. No idea who I am,” She replied, the last part cheerfully. She was quite happy as Fuyu, Yanagi thank you very much. Even if her past came to find her, it wouldn’t change who she was or who she wanted to be. Speaking of coming to find her, Yanagi masked her chakra before stretching it out towards the noise source. To be in the trees, the person following them must be a ninja. Yanagi wanted to know who and how powerful.

She continued the conversation as she searched, having by all appearances stopped to chat. “But the family I’ve got are as close to me as anyone who’s related by blood. I’ve got parents, and a pain in the butt of a brother, but he means well. Except when he’s trying to land me in hospital,” She joked, grinning. Isamu was known for his crazy stunts, and often roped his sister into them, more often than not as the guinea pig. Luckily, Yanagi had great reflexes and was very durable.

“How about you? Do you have a family?” Yanagi asked in return, being one of those who was unaware of Misaki’s background. Even if she had known, she would have asked to keep talking. She wanted whoever was following them to believe they were still undetected, even as Yanagi drew a kunai silently on their pursuer’s blind side. As she did, her eyes flickered to Misaki’s, silently ordering her to act normally for now and keep talking.

[OOC: ooh, unknown ninja ;D Do you already have an idea for who this mystery follower is? If so, great, we're on a roll, if not, we could ask someone else if they wanna join the thread - could be interesting.]

[misaki]

Misaki noticed what Yanagi was doing, and followed the lead. She tried to act like she had just stopped to listen and talk with Yanagi. She listened to that the Chuunin was saying with understanding and something like envy. She hadn't had a chance for a second start. She was an orphan of another nation. She had two homes and loyalties in most times. But if her homes faught the Leaf was the side she would be on.

When Yanagi asked about her family she shook her head. I was born here but my parents lived in another village. They were killed and I returned here to become a Leaf shinobi. She had heard the storied about the past leaf village ninja, and hoped to have stories told about her then she was older. She had always been a fast learner. She left out the name of her village to keep from giving away her fighting style if the other ninja came to fight.

She wanted to look back and see who it was but she held back. That would give both her and Yanagi away. As far as they knew the other ninja didn't know they knew they were being followed. Was it hard, passing the Chuunin Exams?[/color] she asked. It was on every Genin's mind so she figured that shouldn't give anything away. Everyone knew about the upcoming Exams.

OOC: Not really. I just thought it would make it fun to add another ninja. Do you have any ideas on who it should be?

[Yanagi Fuyu]

Yanagi dipped her head in acknowledgement of Misaki’s story, a flicker of emotion showing in her eyes for a moment.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” She said sincerely, taking an instant to meet the genin’s eyes, before turning her hair-shielded gaze back to their concealed pursuer.
She hadn’t been able to tell a lot from her probing chakra; but whoever was following them was no amateur. Past that, Yanagi couldn’t figure out much else.

“The chuunin exams...they were trying, but if you put in the work and training before hand, you should be fine. Listen to the examiners, but don’t be too intimidated; they’re all a bunch of softies really,” She joked, eyes crinkling briefly before the mirth was swiftly choked and the wary thoughtfulness returned as she glanced back at their source of concern.

Quietly thinking the situation through, Yanagi decided to take the gamble and get their shadow out in the open.
She looked back at Misaki again and mouthed ‘get ready’ to the younger girl before shrugging away from the tree trunk, taking an easy few steps along the branch, as steady as she would be on the ground.
She subtly put herself between Misaki and the unknown ninja, raising her voice as she turned to face them, the kunai still hidden at her side in a firm grip.

“Show yourself. Slowly. Make any move to attack and I will kill you. Move carefully,” She advised, her tone calm and authoritive. Okay, so the shinobi could be the strongest person out there simply masking the chakra the way Yanagi had hers, and the idea of a Konoha kunoichi with too-long hair killing them would be laughable, but that was extremely unlikely. Either way, acting confident was one step towards winning any confrontation. And Yanagi didn’t just act.

[Yamaki Kohaku]

Swiftly a figure jumped down from a tall tree behind the direction Yanagi was facing, the close she had been concentrating on 'poofing' back to the original body. He stepped forward and glanced over the two ninjas in front of him before smiling.
"Ahh Konoha ninja, well, no worries then!" He said brightly, putting his Kunai back into its holder (of course he still had one concealed in his patterned arm-warmers, he hadn't forgotten they could be enemies in disguise).

He stepped forward, frowning at the girl who had threatened him, leaning forwards inquisitively and speaking in a slightly scolding voice. "Now why are you threatening me like that huh? I'm from your village...though I guess I was sneaking round...well I didn't know you were from Konoha I guess." Toward the end of his sentence he seemed to be talking more to himself than anybody, then snapping back to attention and smiling at those before him, he awaited a response. He did not feel like these two would attack him and therefore maintained his physical closeness to the girl.

He had been returning home from a training mission when he had sensed two presences nearby. Being the cautious person he was he'd created a clone and followed them for a while to see if they were bad news or good, now he was fairly certain these were good people.

OOC: Goodness sorry if that was rubbish I'm quite tired haha

[Yanagi Fuyu]

Yanagi cursed the second she heard movement, whirling to face it and raising the kunai, moving again in between the new ninja and Misaki. It wasn’t that she thought Misaki couldn’t defend herself, but until Yanagi knew what they were facing, she felt better acting as a shield. As the pursuer dropped into view and their clone disappeared, Yanagi wondered how she hadn’t detected the ninja’s real location. It irked her to have been deceived by a clone; an ordinary bunshin.

Quietly, she swore again, then for a moment she considered apologising to Misaki for her bad language, but decided against it. She’d probably heard a lot worse, and if she hadn’t, she soon would. You’d be surprised how easily profanities came rolling off your tongue in this line of work.

Yanagi eyed the person’s headband, noting its symbol. She still didn’t relax, keeping the kunai trained on the brightly dressed guy as he wittered on, wondering what sane ninja wore patterned arm warmers that looked more decorative than practical. Who the hell was this guy? That was if he was even who he appeared to be, since it would be easy for an enemy ninja to use henge and change their appearance. Why they’d go after a Konoha chuunin and genin, Yanagi wasn’t sure, but stranger things had happened.

“Who are you, and why were you following us?” Yanagi asked curtly, still not convinced she could trust this person.

[misaki]

Misaki watched as the ninja appeared and jumped back out of Yanagi's way. She was about to ask who their follower was but held back. It was Yanagi's place to ask that, being a Chuunin. Misaki placed a hand on her pack but waited to see what he wanted first. She tilted her head then straightened it again. She was trying to think about all the things that could be going through his head at that very moment. Can we trust him? Is he who he appears to be? It he really OK? she wanted all tha anwsers. She would have to wait. He would anwser them on his own time. Now she just had to stay alert. She couldn't garentee he didn't have back up a little ways back. She didn't scence any but that didn't mean much.


[OOC: Sorry it's short I'll try to post longer next time.

[Haptism Allelujah]

Allelujah sighed as he continue to run towards his village. He had just came from training, of course if you call killing a large group of Badits training then yeah, it was training. Though he's was a Gennin he lacked in Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, due to the fact that he never really had a sensei, but for what he lacked in these skill's he made up for in Kenjutsu, Taijutsu, and Chakra Control. Amoung most of the Gennin in the Village he was considered a prodigy in the art of steal killing and using made use of this technique killing badits in order to earn a little pay.

His appearence was somewhat different from other Gennin, he wore no Headband, thinking that the whole Idea of showing where you were from beat the whole purpose of being a Shinobi. He had shoulder length green hair that was made to where oneside of his bang's hid his right while the other left silver eye was left exposed. He wore lose fit Black ANBU style pants going down to his shin's which were covered in black Shinobi Shinguards. His Shirt was a sleeveless Zip-up one open up to a point where it revealed his collar-bone. On his back was what looked to be a 16 Inch Tanto with a Chokuto handle, sheathed in a 10 inch sheath (the hlit is 6 inch's long) and he had two Kunai Holster's tied to his leg's, one on both side's. It was obivious this boy was a Shinobi and not by just the appearence of his cloth's. His body was one that had been perfectly honed since early childhood, not to bulky and definately not untrained, he had a body that most would die to have at his age, and his eye's or atleast the one that was shown, held within it kindness and compassion, however at the same time showed expierence, it was the eye's of one who had seen death and had witnessed countless battle's, within it held lonelyness and wanting to be accepted, it seemed to pierce straight through those he looked at.

Anyway as he headed towards his village, he caught wind of three Shinobi level chakra signature's no less than 200 yards from his current position. Going into full-stealth mode, he masked his chakra output and slowly made his way towards the three individual's. Stopping not to far from them, he focused his ear's and listened to their conversation.

After a few seconds of listening he caught on to what their conversation, if you could call it that was about. 'hm, argueing about wether or not their comrand is really a comrand huh? Typical Konoha-nin' he said pulling-out a Konoha Bingo Book that listed the name's and rank's of everyone in Konoha. He flipped through the page's until he finally found what he was looking for then decided to make his entrance in order to settle things before the got out of hand.

"He's not lying you know, his name is Yamaki Kohaku, Gennin level Ninja of Konohagakure no Sato...." he said as he calmly stepped out to meet them. "Name's Akechi Hiro, also a Gennin of Konoha, and if I'm not mistaken" he said giving out his false name that he had been given by the Sandaime Hokage to hide who he really was. Quickly shifting his gaze towards Fyuu " Your Yanagi Fyuu, Chunnin of Konoha, you wondered into the village and was eventually adopted by your current family the Fyuu family, correct. And you" he said shifting his gaze towards the Gennin girl "Your name is Misaki, a recently approved Gennin of Konohagakure no Sato, your profile say's that you hail from Kirigakure no Sato, but you were born in Konohagakure, however you decided to move back to Konohagakure due to your parents death which left you an orphan like Fyuu-san, am I correct in everything I have said" he asked putting away the Bingo Book.

"Sorry about butting in all of a sudden but since you looked as if you were going to attack your own comrand I figured that I should atleast given out a little info on each of you so their would be no mistaken Identities, and if you want to question all that I have told because of the fact that I maybe an enemy Shinobi in league with him Check your Bingo Book Fyuu-san" he said as he turned to start walking away, despite the fact that he didn't wear a Konoha Headband, his name was in the Bingo Book and thats all she would need to prove his story. Of course he didn't want to walk away, honestly he wouldn't mind spending time with someone other than himself as he to was and orphan, but unlike them and orphan from birth.


(OH sorry for jumping in the creator of the thread said she wouldn't mind and sorry about the whole explanation of the clothing thing, I figured it would help you get a better clue of what my character looked like without having to go to my profile and look.)