Reciprocation

[zory_alechiv]

Taking a courier mission to Kumo was easy. Deliving scroll to Kumo was easier. Finding Hikari's whereabouts might have been one of the easiest things he'd ever done. Walking inside the shrine she was in to speak to her was terrifying, considering he hadn't come to see her. He'd been lucky that she was in the city at all and hadn't 'gone out of his way' to see her or she might have been suspicious.

This time, he was without a mask, his goatee covering up most of the scars on his face. He still wore gloves, and this time, his dark green jacket bore the Nara symbol. Pants and a mesh armor shirt roundedHe'd been escorted to the shrine by a chuunin who stood at his side, giving him an odd look when he froze on the steps.

"Nara-san, Hikari-chan is inside." Ahh, so the chuunin knew her well. that made this worse.

"Right, right," Jash nods but still doesn't move. After another sigh from the chuunin he takes a step, and then another. At the very least he can thank Hikari for her help and then leave.

Walking in, he looked at the statue of Amaterasu. She was beautiful in all of her golden glory, a good tribute to the goddess of the sun. Looking around, he didn't see the purple-haired medic either but just before he decided to head home, the chuunin beside him yelled out.

"Hika-chan! Someone here to see you!" Jash flinched as a loud thump came from upstairs before footsteps could be heard thundering down towards them. For a shinobi, she sure was loud and it took all of two seconds before the woman recognized him and threw herself into his arms. She was several inchest taller than him and outweighed him and he barely kept his balance as she squealed in delight and hugged him tightly.

"Jashin-kun! It's so good to see you! I thought you forgot about me, you know?" His chuckle was strained as he got a mouthful of purple hair and an overeager hug. When they broke apart, he rubbed his neck awkwardly even as his eyes drifted upstairs briefly to see if she had company. When he looked back to her, her eyes narrowed at him.

"Well," he cleared his throat. I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd thank you personally, for all that you did for me." Her eyes narrowed even more and he felt like a mouse caught in the trap. "Well, I should be going now." Troublesome woman. Troublesome blonds that are no where to be found. This was such a bad idea, why are you an idiot? He chastised himself and turned to the chuunin to tell him he was going for the gates instead, but Hikari's next words stopped him dead in his tracks.

"If you came all this way to see Raiko-kun and didn't actually see him, you might break his heart." She grinned delightedly at the twitch of his shoulders. Bingo! She thought before reaching out and grabbing his wrist. "I got this, Kenji. Go back to work." The chunin looked to object but she quickly waved him off, dragging Jash behind her (unwillingly) paying no attention to his objections.

"You're not going to see Rai because he's not here. He's at home." Jash wasn't sure if he was relieved Rai wasn't in Hikari's bed or terrified that he was about to go knock on another clan's door.

"Look, Hikari. I'm sure he's busy. I can stop by another time!" He rambles, balking at the way they walk through the gates with barely a wave. The Arashiyama they did pass seemed merely amused at the purple-haired kunoichi. He had no clue what that meant. Was she that familiar with this place they just let her in? was Rai this familiar with her? His mind started spiraling, wondering if he had made a big mistake. No one came into the Nara Compound unless escorted by a Nara, so why would this be any different.

All too fast they were stopped outside a normal door and Hikari was knocking loudly. "Rai, open up! I got something for you!" Oh Kami, everyone was going to hear her.

"No, Hikari, it's fine," he pleaded but she matched his strength and he couldn't free his wrist. Yea, he could have fought her, but he didn't actually want to hurt her. She humphed in amusement as the door opened before she shoved a distracted Jashin into the blond that was there.

The Nara yelped as he stumbled forward, crashing into the broad man and was vaguely aware that Hikari had followed him inside far more graceful than he had.

"Your lost stray came to my doorstep looking for you, Rai. Figured I'd deliver him," she grinned.