Mirror, Mirror

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:01 am

”I’m off, Obaasan!” Hiraku waved goodbye to his grandmother before closing the door and heading toward Iwagakure. He weaved through the tall buildings, enjoying the cool breeze coming down from the mountains. He smiled to himself, crossing his arms over his chest. Anyone who saw him might have thought he was acting self-important. The reality was he was simply excited about where he was headed.

He stopped briefly on the way to buy a single orange lily. Such flowers were rarely sold in Iwa, so it cost him a pretty penny, but he knew it’d be worth it. He quickened his pace as he approached the small restaurant, a huge grin on his face. He put the flower behind his back and walked in.

The restaurant was a bit slow; only seven customers were scattered in the dining area. Hiraku quickly looked around, scanning every face for the particular one he wanted. He silently walked up to an auburn-haired waitress, her back turned to him. She seemed to have just finished taking a man’s order. The customer was starting at her in a way that made Hiraku vaguely furious. He ignored the feeling and walked towards her.

He carefully pulled her hair back, placing the flower behind her ear. She gasped when her hair was touched and whirled around angrily, but her expression softened when she saw Hiraku.

”Hey, Minori.”

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:19 am

Oddly enough, Omoi happened to be at the same restaurant, though sadly, she was in a different waiter's section. Still, she was enjoying some of the restaurant's deserts, currently digging into a foreign confection they called "White Chocolate Tiramisu." Needless to say, Omoi was much more used to more local cuisine than anything else, so when she heard the word "chocolate", her sweet tooth went rage mode.

She bought three full orders and was considering buying a fourth.

The methodical sating of her taste for sugar was interrupted by something flashing in the corner of her eye; she looked up to see who else but Minori and Hiraku! Omoi took particular interest in the flower that Hiraku had bought for the giggling auburn haired waitress: an orange lily, a flower none too common in these parts. She giggled to herself. 'Hiraku-san, you sly dog, you...' she thought.

Then she caught sight of the lecher that she was forced to serve, and like Hiraku, Omoi didn't entirely enjoy seeing the way he was eying her. Then, he started moving; noticing that Hiraku was distracted, the bastard began reaching for a feel on her butt.

His hand didn't even reach halfway. In a single movement, Omoi went Red Hulk on the poor fool; she closed the distance between them in a single bound and ended his treachery with a powerful down hook on his nose. The man's hand spasmed for a moment then went limp as his equally perverted compatriots now looked on in horror. "If I see, hear, or even think that one of you pervs are bothering my friend Minori-san, my fist'll lodge itself in your skull so hard it'll make the Tsuchikage jump in fear," she warned them with an ironically sweet tone.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:50 am

The chuunin sighed; he was really getting sick of the lewd customers that frequented the restaurant. He decided to ignore it for now; no need to start another fight. He smirked, directing his attention ”Hey, Omoi. It’s been a while. Let’s order something, hm?” While he talked, he adjusted the flower in Minori’s hair, causing her to blush furiously as his hand lightly brushed against her face. It was certainly not an accidental move.

”Th-thank you, Hiraku-san.” She smiled and started to walk to fill the men’s order, but before she would fully turn away, he lightly took her hand. ”Didn’t you hear the manager? He just gave you a little break.” A mischievous glint flashed across his eyes as he started to guide her towards Omoi’s table.

”Omoi! Tell us, how are things?” Minori started blushing again, especially when he said “us.”

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Fri Jul 23, 2010 7:12 am

Totally forgetting about the rowdy perverts, Omoi nodded sweetly as they walked back to her table. One of the waitresses whispered something about covering her tables for her and winked before scurrying back to their duties. The two empty plates that had once housed white chocolate tiramisu were now neatly stacked on her side of the table along with her current desert.

"Meh... nothing much, really," she told them, her food currently unimportant. "Maru-kun and I are doing fine. He's been taking missions and I've been training a lot, so that's a bummer. We still get to see each other a lot though."

She leaned forward, her eyes glowing with excitement and intrigue. "But enough about me. Tell me about you guys! What have you two been up to?"

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:23 pm

He smiled, glancing at Minori. ”Oh, you know this and that. I took her up to the mountains last week; there’s actually a pretty little river that cuts through two of the smaller mountains.” As he talked, Minori couldn’t help but smile. She leaned in closer to him, a barely noticeable movement. ”I’ve also been training; I’m thinking about leading a small genin team, if I can find the time. I have an escort mission coming up, so I’ll be gone for a few days.”

Minori frowned at this; she had almost forgotten Hiraku was due to leave the village. He’d probably be gone for nearly a week, escorting a caravan to Rock Country’s border. She wouldn’t admit it, but she was worried. It was only a C ranked mission, but he was doing it alone, even though caravans were known to be frequently attacked.

”What have you been training, Omoi? Perhaps Hiraku-san can help you.”

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:52 pm

Omoi couldn't help but giggle; they had only known each other for a short time, but they had already gotten so close! She couldn't wait to see where things would go with Hiraku and Minori. She could already see it now: Hiraku in a sleek black tuxedo, Minori in a lush silken gown, or maybe an elegant kimono, if she were more old-fashioned. And there Omoi would be, somehwere in the wedding party, hopefully as the Maid of Honor for having helped introduce the two.

Hey, a girl can dream, right?

Minori's question ripped Omoi from her child-like fantasy. "I don't know..." Omoi said, tapping her chin with the tip of her finger. "Hiraku-san, are you any good with iijutsu? I thought it wasn't really your thing."

From behind the kitchen doors, the manager walked out, seemingly heading home for the day. Giving a quick glance over to their table, he nodded politely towards Hiraku and Minori. They probably wouldn't see anything wrong... but something about that look gave Omoi the chills... almost as if he were hiding something...

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:01 pm

Hiraku laughed nervously. Only a few people knew about his aversion for most ninjutsu. He tended to avoid ninjutsu like the plague. ”Yeah, that would be a no. But, if you need help in genjutsu or tai, I’ll be glad to help.” Hiraku let out a small sigh, leaning back in his chair. He hated the thought of performing ninjutsu; he’d rather avoid letting his affinity rear its ugly head.

”Oh! I almost forgot! Minori stood to her feet, Hiraku immediately following her movements. ”I have some things I need to take home. The manager was nice enough to give me a bit of food to take home. I hate to ask, but do you two mind helping me? They’re a bit heavier than I thought they would be.”

Hiraku nodded, looking at Omoi. ”I understand if you would rather get back to your training. I think we can handle it. If you want, you can come with us afterwards. We’re probably going to head over to my grandmother’s house.” Yep. Hiraku had already introduced Minori to his grandmother. It seemed they were getting along quite amiably.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:21 pm

Omoi shook her head. "Not at all. I'd be more than willing to help you guys out," she stated, daintily wiping her cheeks with a napkin before getting up.

As Minori went to get the food, Omoi couldn't help but glance around the restaurant. Her eyes rested on the booth where the ruffians that had tried to illicit favors from Minori had been sitting the night she and Hiraku had met. The indent in the tatami separator was still there even. As she looked at it, however, her mind briefly flashed back to the night of the incident. She hadn't paid attention to it that evening; she was too busy trying to set Hiraku and Minori up with each other. However, a realization slowly crept into her mind as she turned back to face the doors where they awaited Minori's return...

'I missed?' she asked herself, still not quite believing it.

If she had missed... then what had made the bottle shatter?

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:32 pm

”Omoi-san, are you alright? You look pale." While Omoi was busy thinking, Minori had already returned with the boxes. She had dragged the heavy boxes most of the way before Hiraku took over. The chuunin lugged the two largest ones, taking one in each arm. They were huge, but he lifted them effortlessly.

Hiraku hadn’t even noticed Omoi’s expression until Minori brought it up. Now, he looked at her curiously. ”I hate to rush you, Omoi, but I’d like to get going. I’m starving!”

Minori giggled, taking one of the smaller boxes in her arms. ”Well, we’ll just have to get some food into you, hm? I’d also like to get going. I didn’t have time to look in these boxes, and I’m wondering what’s in them.” The couple walked forward, Hiraku using his foot to push open the back door so Minori could walk out first.

She started to walk out, but she turned around, still concerned about Omoi’s expression. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 3:50 pm

Minori's concerned questions broke Omoi from her trance. "Sorry about that guys. I'm fine," she assured them with a smile. "Just had my mind stuck on something, that's all."

Relieving Minori of one of her boxes, she helped her and Hiraku make their way out of the restaurant. 'I'm probably just being paranoid,' she told herself as they walked along the roads. Who cared how the bottle broke? What mattered was that Hiraku and Minori were together, and they were happy.

From well beyond where any of the three could see, the manager of the store watched their progress down the street with steeled eyes, those of a practiced criminal. With a sickening grin, he turned a street corner and vanished.

(OOC: You might wanna do a small time skip to your grandma's house now.)

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:53 am

About an hour later, Hiraku was leading them both to the outskirts of Iwagakure. His grandmother lived in a quaint little house near the northern side of the wall. He opened the door for them both, a wide smile spreading across his face. ”Home sweet home.” Hiraku and Minori removed their shoes, and he headed to one of the back rooms. ”My grandmother might be asleep. I’ll go check.”

He disappeared into the next room, leaving Minori and Omoi alone. Minori walked around a little, stopping to look at a few pictures. She carefully picked up one of the pictures; in it was a couple, sitting atop a large rock. The woman was pretty and smirking, like she had a secret to tell. The man had tired eyes, wild hair, and a huge smile on his face that said he hadn’t a care in the world. He looked exactly like Hiraku.

”This must be…” Her eyes lowered to the infant in the man’s lap, curiosity glowed in his eyes as he reached for the man’s hair. ”I’ve heard stories but…I never expected these two to look so…normal…”

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:20 am

Omoi's intrigue had been piqued as well; she made her way over to Minori to look at the picture herself. It took her a moment to realize who they were: Hiraku's deceased parents. 'He certainly looks a lot like them,' she thought to herself as she picked out which features he received from his parents. Such medically oriented tendencies were very hard to stifle for the young kunoichi.

She smiled as she gently placed her hand upon Minori's shoulder. "You'd be surprised, Minori-san," she told her quietly. "We may be ninja and we may have all of these abilities, but in the end, we're still human. We still cry, we still laugh, and we still love... just like how Hiraku-san cares so much about you. Something tells me that man would take on the entire world if it would make you happy."

Omoi tapped her foot as they waited. 'Hiraku-san sure is taking a while,' she realized as she took in the view of Hiraku's living room.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 4:21 am

OOC:
Hey, Sei. Hiraku’s history is now COMPLETELY different. I’m not sure if you’ve read it or not, but yeah. Previous posts apply, but his history is a lot more brutal now. O.o

Minori opened her mouth to speak, but a hand coming from behind startled her. It was Hiraku, reaching to quickly snatch the picture away from her. He stayed silent as he replaced the picture on the mantle, face down. ”I don’t know why she keeps these….” His voice was barely above a whisper, but still clearly audible. He turned to look at them, the kind look completely erased from his eyes. Minori shuddered; the room suddenly felt cold.

She watched as Hiraku walked toward the kitchen, flexing his hands in agitation. He suddenly turned around, the warmth returning to his face. ”Obaasan is asleep, but I’m sure we’ll be fine if we just stay a little quiet, hm?” He smiled as if nothing happened. Minori nodded, still at a loss for words. When his back faced them, she gave Omoi a worried look.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:06 am

Although Omoi herself was somewhat surprised as well, she kept her cool. Minori had no clue why Hiraku reacted the way he did to the picture, but Omoi recognized that look...

It was the same look Omoi had gotten before Reiyaku had returned, whenever she was faced with the memory of his disappearance that night. It was pain... and the coldness within his eyes was the only way Hiraku knew how to brave it. He had to; to do nothing against meant to lose control, one thing that a ninja could never afford to have taken from them.

Omoi's eyes softened as she lay her hand upon Minori's shoulder consolingly. "Give it time," she mouthed silently. Omoi's sympathetic gaze at Hiraku made it easy enough to tell that it was something that hit a bit too close to home for the chuunin.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 6:21 am

His hands were shaking as he brought them their tea. He sat down the tray, first handing Minori a cup, the Omoi. He drank in silence, memories still swarming in his head. Minori sat down, somewhat afraid to make eye contact. "I'm...sorry..." His voice suddenly cut through the silence. "My p-...it's just...I don't..."

Minori smiled taking his hand in hers. "It's fine, Hiraku-san. You don't have to talk about it." Honestly she was still unsure. Most villagers knew about his family, but she hadn't expected such a strong reaction. She figured it was something he'd talk about when he was ready.

"Omoi-san, what would you like to do? I think it would be a good idea to get some fresh air again, hm?"

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Wed Jul 28, 2010 8:30 am

Omoi wanted to say something as well, but she knew better than to intrude upon their "moment" (if you could call it that). Instead, she simply smiled and nodded in sympathy and support.

The sudden question made Omoi blink in surprise. "Hmm..." she mumbled, tapping her chin with the tip of her index finger, something she almost always did whenever she was trying to decide on something.

After a few seconds of deliberation, Omoi's eyes lit up. "Hey! How about onsen? I'm sure that a trip to the hot springs will do us all a load of good!" she queried, not really paying attention as to how embarrassing such a proposition might be for Hiraku and Minori.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:08 am

Hiraku almost choked on his tea at the suggestion. It came out as strangled coughs, and a gurgling sound in his chest. He looked over at Minori. He didn’t think it was possible, but she had managed to flush an even deeper shade of red. They were both at a lost for words. Sure, they had been seeing each other for a few weeks, but the idea of an excursion to hot springs was a bit…different.

Of course, they’d be in separate baths, but the idea of them being naked so close together was a bit much. They were both too modest. But they were also too polite to turn down Omoi’s offer. Minori squeezed her hands in her lap and nodded, not making eye contact with either one. Hiraku merely stared ahead, thoughts whirling in his mind, though he, too, nodded in agreement.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:46 am

(OOC: When you post, let me RP the receptionist at the springs. I have something specific planned.)

If this were the world of Metal Gear Solid and Omoi happened to be one of the many guards doomed to be backstabbed two days before retirement, a giant question mark would have popped up over her head at their reaction. Even with as shy as she could be sometimes, Omoi herself was rather open about her relationship with Maru, and as such, wasn't bothered by making such suggestions. This, coupled with the fact that she and Maru regularly visited the hot springs and the fact that sometimes Omoi was just a bit of a dunce, made their awkwardness go completely over her head.

"Then, it's settled, then! To the onsen!" she exclaimed quietly, still aware of the sleeping grandmother upstairs as she went to put her sandals back on.

Mid-step, she stopped. "But first..." Omoi remarked, slowly turning around with a sweetly devious grin on her face. "Hiraku-san, do you think you could meet us there? I wanna make a quick stop with Minori-san. Just tell them Omoi sent you; my dad's got a tab running there, so we're covered."

She had reason to grin, too; Omoi had left out one tiny detail when asking Hiraku to meet them at the springs...

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:02 am

Hiraku blinked, looking over at Minori. She, too, looked confused. ”Um…yeah, that’s fine, Omoi. I’ll just meet you there.” He waved them off, closing the door behind them before running up to his room. He thought for a moment, looking around for a second. He wasn’t one to frequent hot springs, so he wasn’t sure if he should bring anything or not.

He walked into his room, greeted by a modestly decorated room. The room was white with green trim; his bed neatly made with dark green sheets. He walked into his bathroom, grabbing a towel from the rack. He was pretty sure the hot springs would provide towels, but he couldn’t be too sure. He grabbed two more and headed back downstairs.

Once he was outside, he slowly made his way to the other side of the village towards the hot springs. He took his time; he knew women were…weird about getting ready for things. They took forever, often for no reason.

Meanwhile, Minori let herself be led by Omoi, silently wondering what the genin had in mind.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:41 am

Omoi giggled lightly at Hiraku's response and, with that, led Minori out of the house and down one of the streets, taking a distinctly different route than Hiraku to a small store tucked away between several larger shops. What was so special about this shop, one might ask?

Answer: They specialized in swim wear.

Yes, everything from the traditional to the elegant to the less *ahem* conservative suits were sold here, and by the familiar greetings Omoi got here, she frequented this place pretty often.

A kindly old woman shuffled up to greet the genin. "Ho-ho! Omoi-chan, what brings you here today?" she asked with a smile that seemed to warm the entire room.

"Hiya, Suzume-obaasan!" she waved back. "This is my friend, Minori-san, and we're heading to the hotsprings. Do you think you could help us pick out a good swimsuit for her?"

It was easy enough to tell by the glint that came to the woman's eye that she was an artist by nature. "Will I ever!" she affirmed, making a few seals, tapping the ground with her foot as a ladder made entirely of stone popped up from the ground. Climbing up it, Suzume took her hand to Minori's chin, ever so gently turning her head to evaluate her profile before pulling out a tape measure to ascertain her proportions. "Such wonderful auburn curls and gentle blue eyes! Oh, and what a lovely physique. Don't your worry, Minori-san; we'll find you the perfect bathing suit yet!"

Gently yet firmly scuffling her into the quite sizable changing room, the two went to work. From outside, the whoosh of cloth could be heard amongst the giggling that Suzume and Omoi produced. After only five minutes of switching, one was picked out: an orange strapless two piece with a tiny matching bow on the bottoms and silken ruffles that adorned the edges of each piece.

Omoi went beady eyed at the results. "Oh, Minori-san, you so pretty!" she complimented.

Suzume crossed her arms with a proud smirk on her wrinkled face. "You'll knock the socks off of any man that sees you in that get up. Looks like my work here is done," she chuckled.

With her suit picked out and Minori pressumably having changed back into her kimono, Omoi plopped the money on the counter, waving goodbye as they walked towards the springs.
----------------------------------------
Hiraku was met by a young black haired woman who sat behind the counter. "Good afternoon, sir! she greeted, bowing lightly. "Before you go in, I should inform you that the bamboo separator is under repair; as such, we're having the onsen be unisex until we can finish repairs."

Yep, Omoi never told him about the curtain. Life kinda sucks sometimes.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:08 pm

The poor chuunin nearly dropped the towels in embarrassment. Unisex?! If that was the case, they would all have to wear some form of bathing suit. And, of course, Hiraku didn’t think to bring one. He was expecting to be able to go balls out in the safety of an all-male bath.

But those hopes were shattered. Destroyed. Obliterated. He just stared at the black-haired woman like she was a five-headed alien with babies for teeth. He just didn’t know what to make of her. After several moments of standing there staring blankly, he buried his face in a hand, looking down at the damp ground. With a nod, he leaned against the wooden frame of the bath building, waiting for the other two to arrive.

Meanwhile, Minori was having…quite a time. She squealed in protest when they dragged her to the back, stuttering and blushing as they pulled fabrics around her. ”Oh, please, this isn’t necessary; I have a perfectly fine bathing suit at home.” But her efforts were futile. There was nothing she could do to stop the antics of the fashion-crazed woman. And Omoi was enabling her. ”Omoi-san, please!”

The next thing she knew, she was staring at herself in a mirror, wearing an absolutely gorgeous orange two-piece. She cocked her head to the side, admiring herself at different angles. She never really thought she was pretty, but the bathing suit made her feel rather…good.

She turned around to face Omoi and the saleswoman, her face free of its typical red flush. She bowed, nearly falling over. ”Th-thank you Omoi-san, Suzume-san.”

Hiraku was in for a treat.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:28 pm

(OOC: Know you probably still don't want it, but the offer's here if you change your mind. Also, I'll let you decide how many people are at the springs.)

The receptionist couldn't help but chuckle at the poor chuunin's bewildered stare. "If I might offer a solution to your problem sir... I know it might seem a bit awkward, we do have some spare swim trunks. They're rather well kept if you're interested," she suggested, trying to be as helpful as possible.

Almost as if on cue, Omoi arrived with Minori. "I haven't been to the springs in a while, you guys. Thanks for letting me choose," she told them as they met in the lobby. "Come on, Minori-san, let's go change into our bathing suits. We'll meet you inside, Hiraku-san."

With that Omoi gently pulled Minori along. 'Wait till Hiraku-san gets a load of this,' she thought, still immensely proud of the choice of suit she and Suzume had made for Minori.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Fri Aug 06, 2010 8:42 pm

”No, thank you. I think I’ll be fine.” he said, nodding at the woman. Hiraku smiled at Omoi and Minori’s arrival, though his attention was mainly focused on Minori. ”Oh, it’s no problem, Omoi. We’re glad to spend some time with you.” As he talked, he couldn’t help but wonder if Omoi knew about the hot spring’s status as ‘under construction.’ He pushed the thought from his mind, considering he wasn’t one to be naturally suspicious of others. As they walked towards the ladies’ changing room, he turned in the opposite direction, heading towards the mens’ room.

Within the men’s room, there were four other patrons, all walking out as Hiraku walked in. They seemed slightly drunk, but not obnoxiously so. He eyed them as they walked out, hoping they wouldn’t cause any trouble. It seemed to him that wherever he went with Minori, they always attracted some form of trouble. Hopefully tonight would be different.

Since the room was empty, he simply changed in the open. He removed his signature black jacket, hanging on a hook in a back corner of the room. His pants and shirt soon followed, folded neatly in a small red cubby. Now stripped of his clothes save for a pair of shorts that hung to his knees, Hiraku walked out of the changing room, waiting near the door of the women’s room for Omoi and Minori to come out.

Within the women’s changing room, Minori was smiling withglee as she slipped on her bathing suit. She would never admit it, but she loved the way it looked. It showed off her curves, and though she would have preferred a bit more coverage, her chest peeked slightly above her top. She pulled it up a little, still trying to hide her cleavage, before turning to Omoi.

”Omoi-san,” she began, a faint blush coming to her cheeks. ”Did you…plan this? I mean, did you plan a trip to the hot springs on purpose?” Minori was more than nervous about being so…sparsely clothed in front of Hiraku.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:11 pm

The kunoichi was humming a lively tune as they went about the changing room. She couldn't help it; there was something about this place that always got Omoi in a good mood. Maybe it was the atmosphere, maybe it was the prospect of soothing the aches and pains of the active lifestyle she led, or maybe it was because being in this place brought fond memories to mind. She couldn't tell at the moment, and frankly, she didn't care. She was here to enjoy herself and the company of her friends, and that's exactly what she planned on doing.

Omoi shook her head as she slipped into her own deep blue two piece bathing suit. "Not really, Minori-san... though I do find it kinda funny. Maru-kun and I had our first date here," she commented, a tiny blush coming to her own cheeks as she recalled the events of that day.

She put her hand on Minori's shoulder in an effort to console her and allay her fears. "Don't worry, Minori-san. Even if he does get a bit... distracted, Hiraku-san will focus on what's truly important here: a chance to spend time with you. It's the same way with Maru-kun and I whenever we come here," she reassured the young waitress. "Come on. Let's not keep him waiting."

With that, Omoi led Minori out into the bathing area. Omoi had to admit, even she was a bit tense as to what would happen.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:44 pm

Minori still had her doubt, but she allowed fears to slightly assuage. She and Hiraku had already been on a few dates in the last few weeks, but they hadn’t been anywhere like a hot spring. The two girls walked outside, Minori a bit nervous about seeing Hiraku in her current attire. However, when her eyes landed on Hiraku, she froze, her legs suddenly not able to move forward.

She had never seen Hiraku without his jacket, so that fact alone was a bit of a shock. What she saw instead, however, came as even more of a pleasant surprise. She could never tell beneath the loose fabric of his jacket, but beneath his clothes, Hiraku was hiding a secret: he was beautifully muscular.

He was in no way a body builder; he wouldn’t allow himself to go to that extreme. He did, however, obviously keep himself toned. His biceps bulged gloriously as he uncrossed his arms, his chest rippling a bit as he began to move forward with a smile spreading across his face as he saw her. ’Kami…how long has he been hiding those…those…’ Even within her mind, Minori was at a loss for words.

Hiraku, on the other hand, had thoughts reeling in his head at breakneck speed. ’Holy shit, her breasts are magnificent! How come I’ve never noticed?! And she’s really beautiful! Like, ridiculously so. If I was just meeting her, I’d probably run in the other direction.’

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:06 pm

For a moment, Omoi had wondered why Minori had stopped so abruptly. When she turned to look, she grinned as she found the answer. Both were speechless, though Hiraku looked to be taking just a tad bit more initiative than Minori, who's eyes were glued to Hiraku's modestly chiseled physique. It seemed that the chuunin was definitely enjoying what he was seeing as well, considering the impassioned gaze that he held upon the young waitress in front of him.

Still, such a standstill was unfitting of such a wonderfully matched couple. 'All she needs is a little push,' Omoi thought, placing her hand on the small of Minori's back and ever so gently nudging her forward. Twas not a harsh push, no; it wouldn't even put her at risk of falling. What it would do, however, was force the young brunette to take a couple of steps forward... straight into Hiraku's waiting arms.

"Sorry, Minori-san," she apologized, passing off her intentional setup as an innocent accident. Her work done, Omoi skipped past the two lovebirds with a smile as big as the village and sunk slowly into the hot springs behind them. She certainly hoped her "assistance" had proven useful. After taking a bit of time to situate herself, she turned, her striking green eyes big and beady in anticipation for what would come next.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:33 pm

Poor girl didn’t know what hit her. Not at first, anyway. She yelped as she fell forward, taking several stumbling steps forward. Hiraku moved automatically, his arms outstretched in front of him. Of course she fell directly into his arms, saving her from toppling over onto the ground.

They hardly noticed that Omoi had walked away, as they were enjoying their first (semi)embrace. He gently helped her stand, pushing a loose strand from her face. ”You okay?” He raised an eyebrow, not sure exactly what had happened. She had just been standing there, and suddenly she was falling over in front of him.

”Sorry, Hiraku-san. I must have…tripped?” How was she supposed to explain tripping while she was standing perfectly still? She cut her eyes to Omoi’s retreating figure. I knew it… She didn’t know whether to be angry or happy that Omoi was working so hard to bring the two of them together. Still, she would have to have a talk with the genin later.

Once he was satisfied that he was okay, he let her go, turning around to head for the hot springs. The actual springs wasn’t very crowded. Along with the four men Hiraku saw earlier, there were only two other people there, and the spring was rather large. Hiraku led them to an unoccupied area of the springs and stepped back so the ladies could step in first.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:55 pm

Though Hiraku and Minori probably wouldn't be able to understand what the genin was thinking, her brow seemed to frown as she dunked part of her face beneath the water and began to spew bubbles childishly in irritation. Her plan had worked, yes, but it hadn't had the desired effect. If there was one thing that frustrated Omoi, it was when things didn't work according to plan. Still, working as a medical nin taught her to be flexible; she knew that for now, the best course of action was to sit nearby and simply wait for the next opportunity to arise.

She leaned back against the edge of the pool with a pleasant sigh, enjoying the warm spring waters that caressed her curvaceous figure. "I don't care how many times I come here; I never get tired of this feeling. It's just so... refreshing, isn't it, guys?" she asked as she basked in the relaxing heat of the onsen.

Inside the deeper confines of her mind, she was already plotting a few potential plans to assist in the matchmaking. 'Be patient, Omoi. For now, you should wait,' she told herself, quelling the premature excitement that threatened to burst from within her.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 7:53 pm

Minori bowed a little to Hiraku, still hardly able to take her eyes off his surprising physique. Once she was submerged, Hiraku quickly followed, positioning himself on the opposite side of her. Minori sighed, immediately sinking until the water level was up to her neck. Hiraku, on the other hand, was having a harder time adjusting to the water temperature. 'HOT!!!!' He had to resist the urge to recoil out of the water.

With an almost pained look on his face, he sunk into the steaming water waist-deep. ”Y-yeah, Omoi this is…this is wonderful.” Minori looked up towards him, wondering about his trembling voice. She was about to comment when she saw the strange scar on his shoulder. Four long, purple jagged lines ran from his left ear down to his shoulder. Her eyes widened, worried that he got into some horrible battle; she discretely looked closer and sighed with relief: it was a tattoo.

Minori was surprised; Hiraku didn’t seem like the type to get tattoos. Of course, she had no idea he had it, considering she’d never seen more than the skin on his face and arms prior to today. She decided not to mention right away, though she couldn’t help gazing at it.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Sat Aug 07, 2010 10:39 pm

Omoi giggled slightly at Hiraku's discomfort. "Well, well... That was certainly interesting to watch," she commented. With as tough as he tried to make himself out to be sometimes, who would've known Hiraku had an aversion to the heat?

She swam towards Minori. "Regardless, I'm sure Minori-san appreciates your tolerance of the elements, Hiraku-san," she playfully reassured him. For someone to not enjoy sinking into the hot bubbly depths of the onsen was something completely foreign to Omoi's mind; for her, it was the most relaxing sensation in the world. Seeing something of the contrary honestly confused her.

"Really, though... thank you both for coming," she told the couple as she leaned back. "Onsen is so much better when you have someone to relax with you."

Omoi had spied the tattoo on Hiraku as well, but she decided to leave it alone for now. Something told her that Minori would want to ask him about it later, and she figured she'd simply wait for that moment to arise.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 7:21 am

Hiraku had tears in his eyes as he lowered his shoulders into the water. There was a reason he usually took cold showers. His face began to flush in the heat, and his hair began to lose its body and hung in wet strings around his face. He pushed it out of his eyes and looked over to Omoi. "It's fine, Omoi. I'm, uh...enjoying myself..." He trailed off, obviously not liking the heat of the springs.

Minori, on the other hand, was wading around as if the spring was a pool. She ventured out towards the middle of the springs, then turned around and headed back to the two. Minori returned to his left side, still eying his tattoo. "Hiraku-san, what does your tattoo mean?" She was obviously getting more comfortable around him, asking him about his body art outright.

Hiraku didn't seem to notice her question; he was looking around, watching the other bathers closely. He was always observant, especially when he was feeling uncomfortable. His eyes were darting to the four men on the opposite side of the spring. They seemed harmless enough, but groups of large men generally made Hiraku nervous and a bit paranoid. He suddenly snapped back to attention, looking at Minori with a confused look on his face. "I'm sorry, what dear?"

The girl's face immediately flushed in embarrassment. Dear? She smiled despite herself, turned her head away slightly. It might not have meant much, but it certainly made her blush.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:38 am

Oddly enough, Omoi stood silent as she watched events unfold. Although she was eager (probably inappropriately so) to see Hiraku and Minori joined at the hip, she knew when to keep her mouth shut and let the natural chemistry of two people work its magic. Instead of speaking, she simply lifted her hand from the water and made a dainty point towards his tattoo. Though she wouldn't admit it, Omoi was curious about it as well.

'What is the story behind that?' she asked herself, all to intrigued by the inked body art.

Three dark figures held a hushed conversation in a back alley, not very far at all from the hot springs. Hidden from the eyes of the citizens of Iwagakure, they reviewed their planned course of action, and considering the whispers that were traded between them, it wasn't anything pleasant.

The first man spoke, his voice gruff and rugged. "So, why're we nabbin' this chick, anywhos? I mean, yeah, she's smokin' hot, but what good is she for besides a fling in the sheets?" the first shadow asked. Even as a mass of black, his form was hulking, and the inflections in his speech didn't say much about his intellect.

A second voice broke through the darkness, his voice icy and calculating with a lanky and crouched figure to match. "You moron. Is that all you ever think about? ...Actually, scratch that. Of course that's all you think about; you're too stupid to allow for any intelligent thought."

Needless to say, the large figure didn't like the lanky man's cutting insults. "Hey! You wanna go, pal?! I got all day!"

Snickering insued. "Ha! How many times must I humiliate you before you realize that I am your better? Remember what happened last time you tried to fight me? That's right: I owned your sorry ass!"

"You..." He took a step forward.

A refined yet harsh bark cut through the silence as the third figure spoke, his figure suggesting he dressed in relatively high class attire. "Enough!"

This short reprimand was all it took to earn the complete silence from the two arguing shadows. After a momentary quiet, the third man chided the lanky figure. "Han'nya, that's a fair question. By outside appearances, our target is nothing more than a waitress. Perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to berate Hyotoko."

An irritated grumble was the only response. The third man continued. "This young woman has given herself an incredibly low profile, even by a normal citizen's standards. However, the reason she's our target is this: her father. Her father happens to be incredibly wealthy. In fact, he's one of the wealthiest men in Iwagakure and possibly in the entire Rock Country."

The lanky man sighed, scratching his head in confusion. "Well, that makes no sense whatsoever. If her daddy's so loaded, why is she waitressing at some back alley restaurant?"

The bulky man nodded. "Not that I like him or anything, but Han'nya's got a point. What gives?"

The third man chuckled; he was pleased that he had thought to ask. "Another very prudent question. As it turns out, the young woman and her father had a... falling out, one might say, specifically dealing with her mother. I won't get into details; frankly, they're not important. What is important, is that her father still cares for her very deeply, despite his daughter's less than amiable opinion of him."

A grin slowly crept onto Han'nya's face, as he put two and two together in his head. "Ransom, eh? I like it."

"Good one, boss," Hyotoko added.

The third man simply shrugged in response. "Well, sometimes old tricks are the best ones to use. You have your assignment. Carry it out."

With a nod, the two men sank deeper into the shadows, disappearing completely. The third man simply grinned and stepped out into the street, unaware that a fourth person had been listening in...

The young boy slipped away silently, following the two lackeys.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Sun Aug 22, 2010 9:01 pm

Shrugging, he turned to face Omoi and Minori. "It's...a momento, if you will. I got the first one," he motioned towards the longest tattooed scratch, "when I was sixteen, and I keep getting them, usually around my birthday or something. I have plenty of scars and scratches on my body, but the deepest wounds, the most lasting wounds, are usually the ones that can't be seen."

As he talked, Minori lowered her eyes. She felt as if she had touched a deeply personal subject, and was thankful Hiraku didn't retreat into his shell. She usually avoided talking about his personal life, and he seemed to appreciate her efforts to not pry. Her hesitation was obvious in the way her eyes darted from Hiraku to the rippling, steaming water around her. "Doesn't..does it hurt?"

Hiraku was uncertain if she was talking about his tattoos or the reason behind them. Minori was good at beating around the bush. "Yeah, it hurt. Change can hurt a lot. But it's the way we deal with these changes that determines who we are." She was still looking down to avoid his gaze. Slightly hurt, the chuunin reached over, gently lifting her head by her chin. "I don't ever want you to be afraid to look at me."

Oddly, Minori's face was free of her trademark blush...until she remembered Omoi was closely watching them. She jerked away, completely embarrassed, stuttering apologies to the girl. Hiraku simply smiled, enjoying the time spent with his friends.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 6:46 am

Omoi simply giggled at Minori's profuse apologies. "Relax, Minori-san. You're dating, remember?" she reassured her, brimming with her childlike optimism. Swimming forward, the genin took her hand and Hiraku's hand, joining them together. "You should be happy. Don't worry so much about what other people might think. This is your moment, not theirs."

Omoi knew very well that she was being incredibly obvious. She didn't really care; seeing two people who were so good together reminded her of herself and Maru, and she'd love nothing more than to see Hiraku and Minori have that kind of relationship... despite how naive such a notion might seem.

Hyotoko and Han'nya had parted ways, the burly brute having returned to stand guard at their hideout. Meanwhile, the more lithe of the two made a few seals and with a poof of smoke, turned into a slender, ebony haired woman in a magenta silk kimono. Paying his fare, Han'nya made his way into one of the booths in the dressing room and closed the door, waiting for his quarry. Unbeknown to the three youngsters, Han'nya had come in earlier that week to observe the target. He didn't need sight to know when she came; all he would need was the sound of her voice. Then, like a hawk, he'd swoop in and spirit her away.

Riches and fortunes untold awaited them. Han'nya grinned; he could hardly wait.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 11:05 am

OOC:
ACK! I double-posted!! >_<

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Tue Aug 24, 2010 11:07 am

He waved Omoi's comment away, though his gaze remained on Minori. "It's fine, really; I like modesty.' Finally the two pulled their gazes away from each other. Hiraku stood to his feet, stretching his arms above his head. "It's getting a bit late. I'll walk you both home, hm?"

"Yes, Hiraku-san." With a shy smile, she allowed him to take her hand and help her up. The man then reached his hand out to Omoi. "I think I will walk you home first, if you don't mind." He waited for Omoi before leading them both towards the dressing rooms. "See you in a bit, hm?" He gave Minori's hand a little squeeze before excusing himself to the men's dressing room.

He quickly found his clothes, tucked in the same spot he left them. He pulled his wet shorts off and folded them up. Not sure what to do with them, he stood there awkwardly -without clothes- before he tossed them into the waste bin. He felt more than a bit wasteful, but he had more at home.

Meanwhile, Minori was still blushing. She hadn't thought she and Hiraku were actually dating. Sure, he made the effort to see her nearly every day, take her out when he wasn't performing missions and when she wasn't working. But nothing had been made official yet; Hiraku had only been pursuing her for a few weeks. Now that Omoi had brought up the word "dating," she couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't officially asked her to be his girlfriend yet.

"Omoi-san, when did Maru-san ask you to be his...his girlfriend?"

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Thu Aug 26, 2010 8:49 am

Han'nya's ears perked up as Minori spoke. Finally, his target was here. He was almost ready to strike when he heard a second voice: Omoi's. Shrinking back down, he began to listen passively at first, but when the mention of a boyfriend came up, his head snapped to attention. 'If her boyfriend's a shinobi... there could be an issue,' he realized as the two young women spoke.

Omoi's features softened as she remembered the day where she and Maru first kissed. "To be honest... we never really asked each other," she admitted, blushing at the memory. "I don't really know how it happened. It just... did. All I can tell you is that you'll know when it's the right time... and though sometimes it'll be hard, but having a connection with someone like that is one of the greatest things you can have."

Han'nya was not known for his patience, and this girl's pathetic ramblings of romance was quickly getting on his nerves. He decided it was now or never; with a deft toss, he flicked a smoke bomb between the two girls legs. The bomb instantly spewed it's pitch black gas, and sweeping in from the stall, grabbed Minori by the waist while forcing a chloroform soaked cloth over the young waitress's mouth.

"Hiraku-san!" Omoi shouted, her voice panicked and cracked.

In mere moments, Han'nya and Minori were gone.

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Mon Sep 06, 2010 6:49 pm

Hiraku hummed lightly as he walked out of the changing room, feeling a bit refreshed and ready to spend the rest of his night with Minori. Maybe he'd take her back to his place and cook her a nice dinner. Smiling, he pushed the door open and walked outside.

Hiraku-san!"

What? Shit! In a burst of speed, he ran to the other side near the women's changing room. "What's going on?" His vision was clogged from the smoke bomb; he grabbed Omoi, pulling her out of the smoke. "Minori! Minori, where are you? Damn it!" As the smoke cleared, he frantically searched for auburn hair, for frightened green eyes. He saw nothing.

He looked down at Omoi's helpless expression, his own face paling in response. "Omoi-san," His face hardened, though his mind was writhing in panic. "Where is she?" 'Omoi-san,' he had called her. His voice was suddenly sharp and demanding as he sunk into his shinobi state of mind. Suddenly serious, he cursed himself for leaving his weapons at home.

Yasashikaze Seiken · Post by **Yasashikaze Seiken** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:44 pm

A tough yank pulled Omoi from the billowing smoke, but it had done some damage; the smog had been thick and had gotten itself into the kunoichi's lungs, forcing a coughing fit. She was still trying to make heads and tails of the entire ordeal when Hiraku's voice hit her ears. Any sort of amiablity was gone, replaced by a volatile compound of anger and dread. Somehow managing to suppress the desire to expel the smoke from her lungs, she spat out, "Came... from the stall... couldn't see... where they went..."

Almost as if on cue, the smoked settled to reveal a mid-sized silver ferret carrying a small note in its mouth entering from the poolside. The note read as such:

Note:
Follow the ferret and you'll find Minori.

The ferret would wait, almost as if it were looking for some sort of visual cue...

Kao · Post by **Kao** » Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:11 pm

He erupted in a bark of humorless laughter as he crumpled up the letter in his hand. Rage bubbled in his chest, an infuriated beast clawing its way up until a growl reverberated from his throat. Hiraku glared down at the animal before him, the sudden urge to trample it beneath his feet tugging at his gut. With a loud, frustrated growl, he turned to the ferret: "Take me to her. If I get so much as a minute inkling that you're pulling something else, I'm not above wringing the life from a furry creature's neck."

He inclined his head towards Omoi. He wasn't angry with her; he was angry at himself for not arriving in time, and angry for whoever took her. "If there's anything nearby that can be used as a weapon, then let me know. Otherwise, we're going."