A time to think

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Yaki sighed inwards as she slipped past the hustle of people going in and out of the central market. The tunnels of sand were filled with people. Sometimes Yaki though that Sunagakure resembled an above ground anthill. Despite them being tunnels, the sun shone through the roof of the sand structures, lighting it just perfectly. The sand seemed thin and liable to cave in at any point, but they were watched day and night; always kept safe for the people who lived here and would walk among them.

She was off today due to the fact that Ashikaga had drunken himself into an un-wakable sleep. She didn’t really care much; training wasn’t going as well as it had with the other team, and because they were no good together they had barely been called on to do much of anything. She was better then that, but never had the chance to prove herself. She did try to get along with her teammates, but it was hard when you were seen as inferior. She just wanted to be seen as any other kunoichi; something that was being looked over where she was. Due to their inability, The only time she had been out of Sunagakure since moving here with her mother was a few years back when she had been sent to Kumogakure to deliver a message. She remembered it well because Her Sensei had tried to leave her there. Had it not been for the kindness of one man, he’d never have caught up to them. She’d never gotten his name, though he had gotten hers when he asked. It was a brief meeting, but his kindness stuck with her all the same. For a split second she wondered if he was still alive, or if he had been KIA in the recent spats between countries. The thought didn’t linger long though, as she turned the corner toward the park.

This was where she always came to get some time to herself. Her friends had never come here, so there were no memories of them anywhere. It had hurt when they left, and she had once thought of running away after that. It was a serious thought, but she knew she wasn’t strong enough to do such a thing. She relied on others far too much to become a nukenin. So here she was, stuck with the idea that the only people she had been close to were fugitives or already dismembered. She seated herself on top of one of the many dunes that peaked around the tiny pond.

“Will I be remembered when I am gone?”

She whispered softly. If she were to leave, or die as her friends did…would she be remembered by anyone? Would anyone care? She didn’t know. She felt the tears well up in her eyes but she tried to hold them back. Maybe if she remained as she always was, smiling on the outside, things would turn out okay. There were plenty of people in Sunagakure; she couldn’t’ have possibly have met them all.

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[ryuuraizen]

The man she met those years ago had been furious with her teacher. He'd sent a formal letter to the, now late, Kazekage. Since he had not heard word from them on the subject, he decided that he'd personally travel from Kumogakure to Sunagakure, to ensure that the new Kazekage would ensure that that man be stripped of his rank, and outcast as a shinobi. So, with his escort, the Raikage left for Suna. He only took one ANBU with him, as he was still a very capable fighter. It'd been a few days journey, but they'd arrived. He was now simply waiting for the time when Gaara would be free to discuss. That's how he found himself in the park, simply relaxing under the shade of a tree, when he heard a soft whisper...

"Will I be remembered when I am gone?"

He knew that voice. It'd been years, but he still remembered the poor girl... After all, she was the reason he was here, wasn't she? With that, he simply moved over to her, fast as possible, and whispered softly, "I will remember you, Yaki-chan..."

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Yaki jumped and rolled off her dune, her eyes wide. Someone had spoken to her, and they knew her name! Her ebony hair swirled around her face as she twisted her head to look at the person whom had spoken to her.

Her chocolate eyes found themselves staring into those the shade of a lovely purple. Her heart sunk a little bit before exploding up into her throat. Were those the same eyes that ad been smiling while hers had been crying so long ago? Those same eyes that had made her feel like she was going to be okay? She shook her head and inhaled deeply. The band wa the same, Kumogakure; but it was impossible for it to be the same man. All she could see through the mask was his eyes, those brillant violet eyes. Perhaps his son? His brother? A member of the same clan? She let one of her best smiles slip across her face and then bowed to the man in question

“I...I am terribly sorry, but do I know you?”

She lifted her head and looked at him, but in one extremely horrible twist of fate the desert sand beneath her feet shifted and she tumbled backwards. She closed her eyes tight and secretly wished she could just die; she was too embarrassed now to think of anything else.
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[ryuuraizen]

With one arm he caught her, and he pulled down his mask with the other. "Yaki, you wound me... Surely you remember me, don't you?" His eyes seemed to speak to her, calming her, letting her know he didn't care if she made mistakes. "I suppose it has been a long time since I met you in Kumogakure... hasn't it?" He grinned, and said, "It's Raizen. Ryuu Raizen... And, I'm glad to see you made it home safely..."

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Yaki felt a tiny blush slip over her cheeks as his arm slipped around her. This was exactly the reason why she had never attempted to follow in her friend’s footsteps. She couldn’t even stand on her own two feet here, without being in danger! Her black hair fell from her eyes and she looked up, for the first time in years since that day, into the face of the man she had always thought about. He was older, of course, but it was the same face that had smiled and took her hand to help her.

Ryuu? So that is your name? I…I never thought I would ever see you again! Thank you so much for that day. It has been on my mind since then. You..are one of the only people that ever showed me kindness. Oh Ryuu-Sama! I’m so glad that you’re alive!”

She pushed herself up and wrapped her arms around his neck, her face nuzzling into his chest. Now things could go back to normal and she’d never have to worry if he was still alive. She knew now, that he was breathing and perfectly fine. She was so happy that she did not realize the man walking from the shadows towards her. The truth was, Yaki had no idea just WHO Ryuu was. When she had met him, he was a jounin and nothing more. She didn’t realize that hugging him could have bad consequences.
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[ryuuraizen]

Ryuu smiled, and wrapped arms around her, as well. "Mmm... I'm glad to see you're smiling, Yaki-chan..." he cooed at her. The jounin that approached was met with a rather harsh stare from the Raikage, but he didn't say a word. "Tell me, Yaki, have you been happy since your return? I've often wondered if you're alright. After all, you were the first person from Suna I ever met. I'm... I'm really glad to see you, Yaki. It's definately been to long." His purple eyes were gentle, and his words were soft. He held her like he'd hold a long lost lover... Someone that he'd missed for a long time, and never wanted to see leave again. "So, tell me, why are you out here, all alone?"

[Leiko-hime]

OoC: No, really, I'm not a party crasher! I have an invite!

------

A bone deep tiredness was curling around his bones like an invisible and heavy fog, even the small plants that wound around his arms from wrists to shoulder were rather more quiet than usual, hardly even shifting as they rested against his warm flesh. He’d just returned from his long trip into fire country to look for any trace of the Sumiyaka: He hadn’t tried all that hard, he supported her decision even if he didn’t understand why, or voice that fact. As far as he was concerned if this was what Leiko needed, more power to her. Letting out a breath he stepped into the small shop his family ran, the bell on the door jingling a merry ditty as he stepped inside: He could immediately feel the change in the atmosphere; not only was it quite a bit cooler inside than the blistering daylight beyond, but there was so much life. All around him the plants muttered about digging their roots deeper, spreading their leaves higher, creating the next bloom just so. A small tired smile quirked his lips as he listened to it, the outside world of Suna always sounded so quiet. The Kira-Kusaki wrapped around his arms immediately began to shift and writhe like dozens of fibrous snakes: They could feel the Queen was close now.

Hiiro immediately strode through the shop, stopping from time to time to brush his fingers over the leaves of the plants that swayed toward him, recognizing his presence. His human mother sat behind the shops counter, and she smiled at him as he approached her. Hiiro stopped and bowed to her, giving her a polite hello before he disappeared into the living quarter’s area of the shop. If Akako was put off by his behavior she didn’t show it.

The youngest Akiyama brother didn’t stop to greet the rest of his family, though the calls of his niece and nephew echoed after him as he slipped up the stairs making for the roof. Once on the roof he very nearly broke into a sprint, hurrying toward the partially shaded corner where the colony of Kira-Kusaki grew. He let out a breath that he hadn’t realized was choking in his lungs, "Okaasan…"

-Ah, my child.- The voice sounded like the whisper of leaves, of shifting soil, and tranquillity, and it immediately soothed something Hiiro hadn’t really known needed soothing. -My child, mine… My, my child… You are so weary. So tired… Rest, will you not rest?-

The bulb like head of the massive plant rose out of the bed of vines that surrounded it, a single thick vine extending as the head leaned out toward him, and Hiiro immediately stepped forward so the plant could wrap around him, the bulb like head nuzzling into his hair. "I missed you Okaasan." He murmured.

The plant’s ‘petals’ opened to reveal the multitude of teeth that lined soft inside of the head, to him it seemed almost like a smile. -Missed you to, child. My child… Will you rest… Rest with us?-

He shook his head sadly, "I can not just yet, I must find Yaki-chan… I left without telling her I would be gone…" He looked aside. The poor Usagiku had already been so distraught over Haru’s death, and Leiko’s disappearance and then he’d just disappeared as well. He hoped she would forgive him.

-Go then, mine… my child. Then come back, and rest… Yes, my child…- The petal’s folded closed as the Queen plant nuzzled against his rose red hair again.

He smiled softly, running a hand affectionately over the slightly waxy feeling skin, "Of course, Okaasan." The large main vine unwrapped from him, and the multitude of smaller plants slithered and dropped from his arms, returning to the colony while more appeared from among the roots and vines to climb into the vacated position, he was never without part of the colony; without part of the mother. He dropped off his traveling satchel among the vines before turning and heading back down, and out of the shop.

------

It had taken a bit of effort to find out where Yaki was, but in the end he had been directed to the desolate ‘park.’ If he’d been the kind of person to he’d have sneered at the thought of the word being used for that barren space, it was an insult, really. He walked quietly down the streets until he finally found the path that would take him there, and within a few short paces he found himself standing on the edge of the fenced in area. His eyes first tracked to the few trees that clung to life at the edge of the ‘pond’ they muttered sullenly to themselves. Most desert life was like that, dark and so very focused on living, they had to be: However, they were some of the toughest plants he knew, they made wonderful allies.

Next his gaze swung across the barren area, flickering over the dunes until he spotted what looked like a cluster of figures. Frowning, he wondered if someone was bothering Yaki again, it happened so much. He strode briskly forward, pulling his katana from his where he kept it slung across his face to hold the sheath in his left hand, prepared for quicker use if he needed to use it. As he got closer he opened his mouth to call out, and again he failed to call her what he could only seem to call her in private, when she wasn’t even there to hear: He only seemed to be able to speak her given name to Okaasan. "Usagiku-sa-…"

His voice died on his lips as he took in the scene presented to him. Who was this man? Why were they embracing as such? Something leaden settled into his stomach, and he stood there frozen staring with slightly wide autumn brown eyes, a small frown creasing his features for several long moments before he forcibly smoothed his face into it’s usual polite blankness.

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Yaki exhaled and when she inhaled she smelled his scent. He smelled so different. Her fingers curled into the cloth around his shoulders and her eyes flickered between being shut and opened.

”I’m perfectly fine. Sensei was rather disappointed, but he did not leave me again. I...was…happy for a little while. Things have really gotten lonely around here. My friends…one has died, and the others...they…they left. Leiko was a big deal, but then Hiiro-sama…”

The other man’s voice seemed to slip from her lips with a deeply saddened tone, it was as if there was something she had wanted to say, do to him and had never gotten the chance.

”Hiiro-Sama left without much of a word. And no one acts like he is gone. It has been so long since I have seen him. Everyone left but me. I am alone here now, that is why I am alone at the park. There is no one else here.”

She didn’t mention the fact that she was almost ready to summon Haya for company. When she was alone and feeling sad she almost always summoned her rabbit friend to keep her company. More and more she would find herself just locked in her room, or out here alone, with none but the little rabbit to talk to. Haya didn’t mind so much though, she had told Yaki plenty of times about the craziness that went on where she was from.

I have thought about you so much. I was afraid with all the fighting that had, and still is going on, that you would have perished. Never go away without keeping in contact, you promise? I don’t want to wonder anymore!”

She smiled and pushes away from him, looking right into his eyes. Her own brown ones sparkled with delight. It was odd how just moments before she had just been thinking about him and now he was standing right here in front of her!
She was about to fling herself at him again when she though she had heard her last time. A small look of shock and panic washed over her as she whipped her head to look. Was it…could it…?

“Akiyama-Sama?”

Se was frozen standing there. She had thought he had left. It had been jut shortly after Haru’s death the last time she had seen him, and he had been as he always was, quiet with that determined look on his face. Now, it was as if it was that same day.

“Aki…yama…is…is that you?!”

Before she could control herself, she began to run at him full speed. Before he was able to move she had leapt onto him. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, and her legs lifted from the ground and held her up by slipping around his waist. Her black hair swirled around her shoulders and her Kunai pouch and Headband were pressing against some very uncomfortable areas.

“HIIRO-KUN! I have missed you so much! Where have you been? Why didn’t you tell me where you were? Are you okay? You’re not hurt are you?”

she began to cry now, crystal tears streaming down her face. She wasn’t all alone after all! Hiiro was here, and she was holding on to him. She hadn’t stopped to think about how it would look to anyone else, or to Ryuu. She was just so happy to see him, that all thought processing had ceased to exist.

Never…ever do that to me again Akiyama-Sama! You better promise me!"
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[ryuuraizen]

OOC: Oh no she didn't! Ohhhh, yes she did! Now, stop making me look bad! >.<!
~~~~~~~~~

Ryuu blinked. He'd noticed the other boy, but not because he was the friend Yaki had been discussing. The fact was, there were several little chakaras around his. Which was weird. Really weird. Weird enough for him to be curious, and want to stare. But, he was, after all, a shinobi... Instead of staring, he'd note it, and remember to either dig information up on the boy, or at least have someone else do it. But, what was suddenly more his concern was the movement of Yaki from his own body to the newcomer's. He blinked briefly, and then raised his mask. He trusted Yaki, but did not know this boy at all.

After waiting a few moments, for a rather adorable reunion, he walked over, and said softly, "Yaki-chan... aren't you going to introduce us?" His eyes flickered, that gorgeous shade of nearly electric purple taking Hiiro in, and studying him. He'd been trained for years, and years, to do just that. "Or, would you rather I leave, so you two could have some time alone?" His voice was calm, as if nothing was wrong... But, he'd finally found this girl, the one he saved all those years ago, and this... child was ruining his few moments alone with her. It made him mad, but you'd have to be more than a mind reader to know that.

[Leiko-hime]

OoC: Stop letting me!

------

He’d had about thirty seconds to brace himself for the oncoming impact with Yaki had noticed him, unfortunately for the Akiyama he hadn’t expected this to happen, so when Yaki literally threw herself at him the three foot katana grasped in his hand went clattering to the ground as he moved to grab hold of her, his other arm flaring out to the side as his body suddenly found itself with a drastic change in weight for the lax stance he’d been in. Immediately his training kicked into gear as he fought to sustain his balance, but it was all for naught, and Hiiro’s precarious footing slid on the loose granules ever present in Suna sending him thudding to the ground on his back. A rush of air left his lungs as he hit the ground compounded by the fact that Yaki had come down with him. So there he lay, gasping to regain his breath, as Yaki rattled off her questions in rapid fire succession, on hand grasping her side just above her hip where he’d grabbed her to steady her earlier.

The poor guy was honestly feeling rather stupefied at the moment, and as he stared up at the Usagiku through the disarray of his rose red bangs only faintly hearing her questions he fought to hold his composure, feeling the tell tale heating of his cheeks. The last time he’d blushed in her presence had been a lesson in mortification to be sure. She’d thought he was ill, and not for the usual oblivious way some people go ("My, you look red, do you have a fever?") No, Hiiro had silently cursed his Akiyama blood in as many was as he could think of; unfortunately there weren’t very many, Hiiro didn’t know many curses despite spending the greater part of his life in the company of one Sumiyaka Leiko.

Jerking his head to the side he stared fixedly at a small, brown weed a few feet away hoping that his wild hair, and the high collar of his white coat was sufficiently hiding his face from view.

Meanwhile, while all this was happening the Kira-Kusaki were shifting, the first impact had startled them, but since they had felt no fear (only surprise) from their Brother they had not done more than writhe in irritation. However, when they’re human host had toppled onto the ground, causing them of them to their vines and leaves pinched uncomfortably they began to slither and squirm. One of the drones peeked from the folds of Hiiro’s long sleeve to see the cause of the disturbance, viewing the scene from it’s minute heat sensors and reporting it all back along to the other drones, and coincidentally the Queen.

The Queen stirred back among the drones at the colony, and after a few more bits of trading information realized who it was that had ‘attacked’ her Child. The flower shifted, and had anyone been there they might have thought the small gape opening between her petals to have been mischievous or coy. She sent a reply to the drones in their quest for a command.

The drones reacted instantaneously as soon as the got the message, each of the dozens of tiny plants that covered the Akiyama’s arm shifting simultaneously to slithered and squirm down his arms and over each other. Small bulb like heads peaked out from Hiiro’s sleeves, and a few even peered out from the collar of his coat. The one’s on the arm that still had a light grip of Yaki immediately began to twin up to grab hold of her.

Hiiro meanwhile was doing his best to answer Yaki, to stupefied, and embarrassed to notice the movement of the drones (He was rather used to the snake like shifting, it was nothing new to him). "I… I…." The Akiyama stuttered, unhelpful, trying to put together a decent response. "I.. er… I apologize Usagiku-san." He muttered dazedly.

Had she ever called him by his first name before, let alone with any form of familiar or friendly suffix?

"I’m afraid that they sent me to look for Leiko-san and I had to leave immediately. I d-do hope you will forgive my.. er… me…"

It was about then that he noticed that the unknown man the Usagiku had been embracing was standing over them and the mortification immediately increased ten fold, causing Hiiro to once more avert his light brown eyes, and attempt to hide behind his hair and coat collar. Which was when he came nose to nose with one of the droves peeking out of his collar, it’s bulb-like head angled to have a look at the man with it’s heat sensors.

What in the world was it doing?

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Yaki was slightly aware that she was sitting on top of Hiiro; but the surprise that he was back simply knocked that to the back of her thoughts.

"Of course you're forgiven Akiyama-sama! I'm just so happy you're back! i thought you have left me too and..."

The realization of what he had said finally sunk in, and her features began to droop slightly.

"You...didn't find her, did you? Sumiyaka-Hime is still alive, right?"

If she'd been crying before, it was nothing like now. She'd been pleased and happy in that fact that even if Leiko had left that she was still alive and breathing. She knew Hiiro was serious about tasks he was given and this scared her just a bit. She knew that he cared for Leiko more then he cared for the harsh desert conditions of Suna; but at the same time...

Ryuu's shadow snapped her out of her thoughts and she gazed up at him for a moment before her own blush slipped across her cheeks. How silly must she look right now? She tried to move her leg, but found it difficult, so instead she sat where she was. Last thing she wanted was to topple off Hiiro in an undignified manner and embarrass herself even more.

Oh! I'm so sorry Raizen-sama! This is Akiyama-sama, one of my friends. i thought he had left Suna too, but it turns out he didn't!"

She beamed and then her face turned into a Rather awkward one. she thought she felt something touching her leg, but she wasn't terribly sure about it. She held her breathe for a moment, deciding it was her imagination.

"Oh you don't have to go anywhere. The more the merrier right! Hiiro this is the Kumogakure shinobi that helped me get back when Gennai-sensei tried to leave me in Kumo."

She had turned to look at Hiiro's face, and thought something looked odd about it. She leaned in a little closer, and realized his cheeks were an awkward shade of green; something that she'd seen happen only a few times before.

"Are you okay Akiyama-San? You look a little gree....AHHHH WHAT IS THAT?!"

Yaki had never seen Hiiro's drones, in fact, she knew very little about him besides what she knew from afar. she knew, very little about him to be perfectly honest. this would be the first time she;d ever seen one of the plants. it was kind of cute, but something about it made her uneasy. She tried to pull away from Hiiro, and realized that she couldn't move from him at all. Looking at her legs for the first time, she realized vines had wrapped around her, and were holding her into place.

"Ahh! Ahhhhh!!! What is this!? What's going on I can't move!"

The more she looked now, the more of the little plants she could see. they were covering her, and seemed to have no intention of letting her go. Panic filled her whole being as she struggled to break free. What was going on!?
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[ryuuraizen]

Ryuu was not going to let this proceede. He was not the type of person to allow for his friends, or... whatever Yaki was to him, he'd yet to decide, be in harms way. So, he thought for a moment, and then grabbed Yaki, and pulled. He didn't pull back, though; he instead pulled forwards, as he used a substitution jutsu on both of them, replacing her with, in fact, a log. It was simply easy to summon one, and switch it out for Yaki.

"Hiiro, I don't know what the hell those are, but don't touch Yaki with them. Ever again."

His eyes were cold, deadly. They took in Hiiro once again, considering the recent activity on his person.

I didn't see any handseals, so that's not a jutsu... he thought to himself. He noted it, then looked at Yaki. "Yaki, are you alright? And, do you feel safe here?" His eyes had changed, suddenly, from the eyes of a killer, to the eyes of someone who just wanted to take care of something close to them. "You're not injured, are you?" he nearly cooed, running a hand against her cheek. "I could take you to the villiage doctor, if you'd like..."
~~~~~~
[OOC] See, told you.

[Leiko-hime]

The flattened Akiyama let out a small breath of relief that she’d forgiven him: There were very few people he liked in this barren hell, and even fewer that he actually cared about and the Usagiku was one of the only ones still here. In fact he was pretty sure that if it wasn’t for the fact that she was here he’d probably have been long gone as well. He hated this godforsaken place, and its utter complete silence; it was only after the rare rainstorms came that he felt at all comfortable and even then the voices of the plants were so muted from distance that it made him grind his teeth. All the same, he drew his attention away from the thoughts swirling chaotically in his mind to respond to Yaki’s quick questions, "No, I did not find Leiko-san, but I found signs that she was alive. However, I do not think this is the proper place to discuss this Usagiku-san." His brown eyes sent a wary stare toward the unknown man, his eyes taking in the hitai-ate that proclaimed he was most certainly not from Suna, to that effect he felt it best not to mention possibly touchy information in front of him, no matters how much Yaki trusted him.

When Yaki started speaking to the stranger Hiiro turned his attention more toward his drones, and the amount of movement they were making and when he attempted to move his hand he found it too little to late: They’d bound up all around his wrist as they clung to Yaki’s side. His brown eyes widened slightly, then narrowed his teeth gritting slightly, "What do you think you’re doing?" He hissed, his voice barely more than a breath between his teeth, it was more about his changing emotions that they would respond to than the words at this time.

The responses came back, sounding mischievous and amused, -Mother said… Mother said…-

Damn that plant, what was she thinking? Trying his best to recall them, tugging lightly at his hand as well as trying to subvert the Queen’s command with his own will (That never worked, but he was desperate here) he glanced up in time to hear Yaki tell him who the stranger was. He gave the man another blank stare before nodding his head, "In that case I believe it is a plea-…" His response was cut off, however, when Yaki started screaming, apparently she’d noticed the drones; who, for the record, were being stubborn.

"Please, Usagiku-san, calm down they will not hur-…" Once again he found what he was trying to say cut off as she suddenly disappeared in a puff of chakra induced smoke to be replaced by a log. He blinked in confusion for a moment until he heard the voice of the Kumo-nin speaking to him. The Akiyama’s brown eyes narrowed.

Distantly he heard the mental chorus of -No fun… No fun… Bad man… annoying man…- in his head as the drones either fell to land on the ground, him, or found themselves clinging to unyielding wood. Ironically thought that finally he and his siblings were on the same page; he didn’t like this guy.

Hiiro shoved the piece of dead tree off of him, and stood up slowly, his free hand reaching down to grab his katana from where it had landed nearby as he stood, his other hand was still covered in a seething writhing mass of drones. The rest clung to his clothing with their roots, and vines, or once he was on his feet, began to slither up his legs. The one that had spent the entire time wrapped around his upper arm, and peering out of the collar of his over coat, was swaying next to his ear, the four ‘petals’ of it’s head open to reveal the pulpy mouth with it’s multiple rows of tiny sharp teeth. It looked something again to a mutant snake waiting for the opportunity to strike. Hive mentality quickly brought the rest of the bulb-like heads to face in the direction of the Kumo-nin, the thick fleshy petal’s of their heads working, some gaping open.

Hiiro for his part, lowered his head slightly glaring through his crimson fringe at the man, "I do not," he spat. "Believe you are familiar enough with me to call me that, Raizen-san." Well, at least he’d managed to catch the man’s name earlier and he refused to afford the man more respect then he absolutely had to, Yaki could call him Hiiro all she wanted, he considered her a friend at the very least; she was a member of his extended colony along with Haru and Leiko. This man, however, could not. Not only had he never met him before, but he’d just insulted him to something near the highest degree! A cold frigid look glinted in the Akiyama’s eyes as he lifted his head slightly, though the expression on his face never left it’s polite blankness, it was a look of built up malignant hatred that had grown and simmered in the Akiyama since he’d first set foot outside of his human parent’s shop.

"I’ll have you know, Raizen-san," He said quietly, his voice even and calm, almost flat as though he were doing no more than talking about the weather. "That I would never bring harm to Yaki-san." He spoke her given name here to add a little extra emphasis on the fact that he was on friendly terms with her, but his eyes momentarily flicked to the mentioned Usagiku hoping she wouldn’t be upset over it’s use before resettling on the Kumo-nin. "Nor," he continued. "Would any of my sisters, harm what is acceptable to Okaasan."

That, was the crux of the matter. Okaasan had approved of Hiiro’s extended ‘colony’ she liked the humans he called his team, his friends. She liked Yaki, because she knew these people made Hiiro happy, and she, nor any of his ‘family’ would ever hurt them if it could be avoided. However, she had felt his frustration, and anger at this man’s words and so the drones were buzzing on alert, ready to attack and rend this fool who dared treat their brother so. So, there he stood, glaring hatefully at this stranger, who he’d nearly liked if only because he’d helped Yaki (Something he and his teammates had strove to do since Leiko had introduced the girl to them). The drones had wound up around his arms, on the outside, clasping the billowing sleeves of his coat to him, as well as across his torso, and around his neck their heads curved away from him as they 'looked' toward the man, the petals opening and closing, some gaping open to hiss, a low sound like a snake.

[º•.Ki-Chan.•º]

Yaki was still screaming with her eyes shut thighs when suddenly her head felt like it had been hit by something. She was feeling dizzy and when she opened her eyes she realized that she was now being held tightly in the arms of Ryuu. It ad happened so fast that she was stunned for a few moments; not catching anything that Ryuu had said to Hiiro. She only snapped back to attention when a soft touch ran across her cheek. She looked up and found herself, once again, staring into the brilliant purple eyes of one Kumo-nin.

“Yeah…Yeah I’m okay. I’m not hurt I don’t think.”

She looked over, just to see Hiiro standing, his eyes were blazing with a fire she’d only seen once, and then it was not so pretty. From his arms, chest, and well...everywhere the little plant-things were sticking out making awful hissing sounds. Yaki was frightened, not sure of what they were, or why they were in fact all over Hiiro. She pried herself from Ryuu’s arms and slowly stepped back from them both. She didn’t like the tension that was most certainly vibrating off of both of them; though honestly Hiiro was frightening her more due to the dozen of snapping jaws that seemed to have popped out of no where on his being. She had stumbled a good ways away from them both when she could hear her crimson haired friend speak. It was strange how even though she could feel his anger, he seemed to speak so calm.
"I’ll have you know, Raizen-san, that I would never bring harm to Yaki-san. Nor, would any of my sisters, harm what is acceptable to Okaasan.”

Yaki felt a twinge of guilt. She knew Hiiro wouldn’t hurt her and she knew that Ryuu would not either. She had just never seen the snake-plants before and they had most certainly caught her off guard. She looked at Hiiro more closely now, studying the plants. He didn’t seem to mind, and they didn’t appear to be hurting him.

“Okaasan? He never calls his mother that…and…he doesn’t have any sisters…not any that his moth…”[/I]

Her thoughts were stopped when she felt a slight squirming in her shirt. She already knew what it was going to be, but with a heavy inhale she reached down through the top of her shirt and lifted one of the plants that was clung to her, hidden in her clothing. Thankfully both Ryuu and Hiiro were too busy glaring at one another to have noticed the rather unbecoming movement. It seemed to be barely alive, its vines twitching just slightly as she lifted it. With her other hand she poked it softly, knowing it might not have been the smartest idea ever; but she was curious. Besides, Yaki wasn’t known for her ability to think with the smartest of them. Her gullible and trusting nature was what got her into a lot of messes.


The plant twitched from her touch, and Yaki found herself stepping backwards from it, despite that it was in her hand. It bulb-like top lifted, and though it had no eyes, Yaki was sure it was staring right at her. It hovered like that, for a moment, its petals opening and closing like fluttering butterflies wings. It sounded like it was actually purring for a moment even. It didn’t seem to want to hurt her at all, so feeling brave she reached out a finger and stroked it along the bottom side. Its vines and petals seemed to curl up in a movement of approval before snapping open, tiny teeth barred. Yaki’s hand immediately withdrew from under it, and with a soft plop it hit the ground. Te plant seemed to be stunned for a moment, but then made its way back up Yaki’s body were it successfully avoided her swats and small peeps of fear. Once it had reached her shoulder it leaned out and began to weave, its head snapping and hissing at Ryuu like all the others.

“Puchiha? Are you a friend of Hiiro’s?”

She spoke for the first time for a while, her voice shaky and fearful. The bud did not make a move to prove, or disapprove the question, its just remained with its head trained onto Ryuu; snapping and hissing as if if it were big enough it would chomp is head right off. A tad bit still afraid she stood perfectly still, not even breathing too heavy. Her lips were a thin line, and her nostrils seemed to widen more when she breathed in. The Puchiha’s breath, if that’s what it indeed was, smelled sickingly sweet. As if someone had smeared honey all over a sugar biscuit with strawberries and near rotten grapes. It wasn’t horrible, but for some reason made her feel queasy. She noticed that the men both didn’t’ seem to realized that she was there anymore, as if they had some long lost dispute to settle that she had no idea about.

“Raizen-Sama; Akiyama-Sama…did I cause this?”[/I]

She was scared. The lat thing she wanted was for them to attack each other. Though to anyone standing outside the scene it would now appear that Yaki was trembling behind a protective Ryuu from a rather insane looking Hiiro; not to mention to flicker of fear she showed every time she caught a glimpse of the hissing plant on her shoulder. She opened her mouth to speak, but the plant jerked forward, as if lunging to reach at Ryuu. Yaki immediately though keeping her trap shut was the best thing she could do at the moment. Maybe things wouldn’t turn out so bad, right?
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[ryuuraizen]

Ryuu blinked. He sighed, and said, "Akiyama-san, first I apologize for an improper addressing to you... But, you must understand... you seem to be in a position of hostility towards both myself, and Yaki-chan... So, yes, I acted in a slightly rash way. But, I would rather save someone from nothing than let them get hurt. Wouldn't you agree?" He stared at the rather annoying plants, clearly not liking their attitude. "Now, if you could... withdraw your friends there, perhaps we could discuss this? Like adults? Or, have you snapped, and are you now so dangerous that you must be stopped forcibly?" If nothing else, Ryuu was making an effort. He turned to Yaki, noting that there was a plant on her. "If I wasn't honest about this, I'd have already attacked you and your plants... But, here I am, standing with no hostile intentions. If you calm down, perhaps we could avoid unnecessary escalation, hmm?"

Ryuu was already ready with four jutsus in mind to use, off the top of his head. But, all of them were defensive. Focusing strongly on grabbing Yaki and running if he needed to. He truly wasn't hostile; just protective.

"Yaki-chan trusts you. She likes you. Which means, presuming you're not an enemy shinobi that's trying to deceive us, you're a decent person. And, I'd rather not make enemies in Suna. So, do you think this is reasonable? Or, should we continue this roostering?"
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Damnit, even my good posts seem crappy. >.<!