[Graded]The Forest's Green Haze

[Ein]

Konoha was enduring the heat, the sun was bright and mercilessly hot on the village. The clouds were fleeting; a few straggling, thin wisps of clouds scattered here and there offering little chance of cool weather. Konoha was at the mercy of a brutal heat.

Sprinting through the village and out the gates, Chikako clutched tightly at the bouquet of flowers. Leap after leap, she felt sticky sweat on her forehead, her aching thighs burning, and her heart beating so hard she felt every pump.

Jumping into the forest, the girl was immediately embraced into a light, cool green haze. The high, proud trees shielding the forest from the sun's hot, harsh rays; only a gentle, serene light shone inwards.

Running into the deep, sheltering forest, Chikako never bothered to slow her pace and seemed to be absorbed in her own thoughts.

[Hakuro]

Hashiro was sitting under a large tree. It was brown with tiny green leaves that were swinging back and forth , the slight breeze that blew by in this location blocked out the heat that was clutching over the village.

The sound of footsteps drew near and near, it was only a matter of time that the person would reach him. Hashiro was already anticipating a visit here, so it was not a surprise for him. He was expecting his newly found Hyuuga friend to show up where they were supposed to meet.

[Ein]

Chikako sprinted through the forest, before catching sight of a boy, sitting lazily along a tree. Widening her eyes shortly, Chikako stopped short and almost tumbled over her own two feet.

"Hashiro . . . what are you doing here?" She asked, a little bewildered that he was sitting here at such a crucial weekly ceremony of hers. "I-I mean, it's not a bad thing, but it's just, y'know, a surprise . . ."

Her feet ached, and her heart started to slow down. Her limbs felt a little like heavy, stiff blocks of wood. Flopping down on the grass and sighing out in exhaustion, she smiled towards Hashiro. "Y'know, you always spot me when I'm all icky and sweaty." She paused, playfully grinning, "Or do you just like girls like this?"

[Hakuro]

Hashiro was a dazzled when Chikako spoke, it wasn't the first time she had forgotten something important. "Yo Chikako, hehe , we just discussed this five minutes ago. Remember? You told me to meet you in the forest?" Hashiro slowly moved towards Chikako, he wanted to get a closer look at what she was holding. She was carrying a large bouquet of flowers.

"Y'know, you always spot me when I'm all icky and sweaty."

Yea, I guess it would seem that way, but really, your the one that keeps bumping into me.You don't even look bad at all actually, and if you look this good at your worst , I'm guessing that at your best, I would'nt be comfortable standing around with such a exquisite person." He said, with a bright grin on his face.

Hashiro wasn't experiencing the suns affects as much as Chikako has been, He was feeling quite relaxed in this comfortable area of his."So ... Chikako , I've been wondering about those flowers your holding, who might they be for ?" Hashiro said, slightly smiling at Chikako , with his cheeks completely turned red.

[Ein]

Chikako smiled coyly at Hashiro, playing it off that she forgot. "Ah . . . I guess I did then, didn't I?" Comfortably laying about in the grass, Chikako half-mused on Hashiro's compliments. Chikako was already well-versed in how to respond.

She would glance away, playing off her red cheeks as a blush, rather than a flushed face from running in the hot sun. Giggling just a little bit, Chikako smiled at Hashiro, making eye contact and slowly saying the words, "Thank you."

This was a practiced, well-versed reaction to when receiving compliments drilled into her by Oba-Chan. Boys seemed to like the response, and Chikako did so out of habit. Standing as he asked, Chikako looked on, seeing a clear, flat field close in view. "Come on, I'll show you," she said glancing at him, or rather through him, and beginning to walk towards the field.

[Meraxa]

Meraxa was still following Chikako - and subsequently Hashiro - as they went deeper and deeper into the forest. It was also becoming more apparent that the Hyuuga girl didn't care all too much about her appearance in front of other people. Though the questions about the kind of girl Hashiro liked kinda made it obvious about how accurate Meraxa's original 'lovebirds' comment had been.
Still, with the flowers she was holding, combined with the fact she hadn't handed them over to Hashiro as some gift, he had a reasonable suspicion as to where she was going with them.
The flat field the forest opened up into made the explanation all that more clear.
"Who would've thought..."

[Hakuro]

Hashiro had slowly began following behind Chikako into the open field nearby until he suddenly stopped. He heard a voice. Hashiro was expecting Chikako and only her, if there was someone else here, it meant they were being followed.

He brought his left hand down to his ankle pouch , slowly pulling out a sharp kunai. "Chikako wait ! I think were being followed." He turned and began speaking in between the field of countless trees. "If your not an enemy, show yourself now." Now holding a very tight grip on his weapon.

[Ein]

Chikako stopped shortly, giving Hashiro an exasperated look. "Come on! It's just that guy from the ramen shop. He's been following us since forever!" Stopping, she'd close her eyes, and open them again, her pupil sharpened and the subsequent veins surrounding her eyes become more apparent; the Byakugan.

Without glancing around, she pointed into the trees, gesturing towards what looked to her as a human chakra network. "There. He's right there. If that makes you feel better. Now I'm late!" The girl might be a bit of a ditz, but she wasn't so much of a lousy ninja that she couldn't figure out Meraxa's pursuit of them.

Ignoring Meraxa completely, Chikako sprinted back into the clearing, panting a little as she stopped in front of a large, onyx stone, shimmering in the green-like light. Names so small and barely noticeable were etched in; one would have to have sharp eyes to read them clearly.

Chikako stopped; placed the bouquet of flowers on the memorial, and her Byakugan faded away, her eyes much more gentle. She stood silently for a moment, pressing her hands together and seeming to pray.

[Meraxa]

Meraxa was confused, hadn't Hashiro known that Meraxa had been following the entire time? Either he was being overly cautious, are still had a lot of things to learn when it came to being a ninja. At least Chikako had some perception about her, though did she really need the Byakugan of all things to spot him?
"You don't need the fancy eye trick y'know, I'm a fourteen year old wearing a bright red jacket in a tree - not that hard to spot." Meraxa pointed out his own failing in choice of clothing as a ninja - he was just waiting on that green Chuunin jacket to take the place of his red one.

"You can put the kunai away Hashiro, its kinda disrespectful anyways, in front of a monument to the dead that is." Meraxa walked up to the fellow genin and watched as Chikako placed the bouquet of flowers in front of the stone, praying for a bit after.
"I'd ask who she's paying her respects to, but I know she'd probably just unleash her rage upon me for asking about something so private." He sat down, and decided to make some prayers of his own, even if the ones he was praying for would never find their names on that stone.

[Hakuro]

Hashiro was a little embarassed. Chikako had already known that Meraxa was following them, then there was her Byakugan, it was an amazing thing to see. She could actually see the persons chakra flow and who knows how much more power it holds.

Hashiro definitely needed to train hard in order to keep up with her. "You can put the kunai away Hashiro, its kinda disrespectful anyways, in front of a monument to the dead that is." Hashiro Placed his Kunai back in his pouch.

He didn't say a word to Maxera, too embarassed for not sensing his presence, Hashiro kept his mouth shut and watched as he walked by.

Hashiro cleared his mind of the thoughts that were flowing threw him and walked over to join the two in prayer. He didn't want to ask any questions until everyone was more relaxed. So he just stood there in silence waiting patiently until their prayer was over.

[Ein]

Stood silently for a moment, absorbed in the prayer. Letting her hands fall to the side, she let out a breath, bowed deeply and respectfully to the memorial, and walked towards Hashiro and Meraxa.

Giving Hashiro a casual smile, she'd give Meraxa a little bit of a look. "So, what are you doing following me?" She asked, not particularly venomous are harsh; just slightly annoyed. "I mean, that's what we call stalking, right?" Teasing him a little, she'd glance towards Hashiro.

"What's the matter, Hashiro-chan? You look so depressed!" Punching him playfully on his arm, she'd stretch out her arms and yawn relaxed. "So, come on, you gotta do anything, Hashiro?"

[Meraxa]

Meraxa stopped praying a little after Chikako did, just before she asked him a question.
"So, what are you doing following me?" The tone in her voice meant she was slightly high strung about the whole thing.
"I mean, that's what we call stalking, right?"
"Stalking? If thats what you wanna call it, then fine by me. I was just curious is all, afterall, we're gonna be working together - or has the council not given you the notice?" He said pulling out a small parchment, detailing his recent squad assignment.

[Hakuro]

Hashiro couldn't help but smile , Chikako was worried about him, even though he didn't want her to be so concerned about how he felt, it gave him a warm feeling inside when she spoke to him. "I'm fine Chikako-chan, I just had a little thought, nothing to worry about."

Hashiro turned away from Chikako to take a look at the note Meraxa was holding up. It said,

Konoha High Council

"Congratulations young gennin, you have been assigned
to your first official Konoha squad. The following names listed
below are the other gennins you will be working with.

-Chikako Hyuuga............

The rest of the note went on speaking about squad meeting dates and etc. But what had struck Hashiro even deeper than the hint of disappointment he had felt before, was the fact that his name was not mentioned on the list.

He tried his best not to show any sad emotions as he looked away from the note. He looked into Chikako's eyes , she was still reading the note. Hashiro didn't want this to be a bad moment for her, so he tried his best to sound as cheerful as possible.

"It's true you know, you've been assigned to your squad now and you've already gotten to know one of your squad members." Hashiro turned to the side, trying not to look her directly into her eyes anymore.

"Meraxa, she's going to be kinda troublesome for you, hehe... You two should work more on getting along now, teamwork is the key to a successful squad you know. Hashiro turned once again, this time walking over to a nearby tree, sitting down to acknowledge both Chkako and Marexa.

[Ein]

((OOC: WOW, sorry guys. RL was busy for a while.))

Chikako glanced at the paper, glanced back at Hashiro, and gave a sort of look of curiosity towards Meraxa. "Uh, okay . . . so, we're going to be comrades, I see. That's cool and all, but stalking is still stalking, or," playfully, she'd wink, "were you just admiring?" Chikako took notice of Hashiro's leaving the little circle and felt a pang of guilt for excluding him. "Uh, anyway, Meraxa, looking forward to working with you!"

Sheesh, annoying guy number one for my squad. Hopefully my other squad mate won't be such a nutcase like that Juuma kid from the academy.

She'd walk over to where Hashiro slumped, gave him a bemused smile, and sat down against the same tree, sitting fairly close to him. "Y'know, just cause we're on different squads, doesn't mean we can't do missions together, Hashiro-chan. And it definitely doesn't mean we can't hang out more."

Glancing towards Meraxa, Chikako made a point of speaking a little loudly,

"And why exactly would you ditch me to hang out with a STALKER?!"

Pouting at Hashiro, Chikako made a bit of an exaggerated show to try to cheer the kid up.

"You are so going to have to make this up to me!"

[Meraxa]

Meraxa was fine with Hashiro confirming what the parchment said, partly why he pulled it out in the first place.
"Meraxa, she's going to be kinda troublesome for you, hehe... You two should work more on getting along now, teamwork is the key to a successful squad you know."
"Yeah, I know. But she's not exactly the most willing now is she? At least not to me, unlike you."
"Uh, okay . . . so, we're going to be comrades, I see. That's cool and all, but stalking is still stalking, or, were you just admiring?" Meraxa blushed slightly, but it wasn't noticeable. Jeez, if she was gonna act like this to every guy she met, she'd end up with some real stalkers, and that was probably the last thing she wanted.
"Uh, anyway, Meraxa, looking forward to working with you!" And off she went to her beloved Hashiro, though truthfully the guy did seem to feel a little bummed out after learning that his name wasn't on the notice.

"Y'know, just cause we're on different squads, doesn't mean we can't do missions together, Hashiro-chan. And it definitely doesn't mean we can't hang out more."
"She's right there Hash, if this 'Geno' guy is unavailable, you'll be the first to know - promise."
"And why exactly would you ditch me to hang out with a STALKER?!" Oh for the love of-
"Oh yeah, blame a guy for learning what his new squad mate was like. And isn't that ever so funny, 1 second you're saying you look forward to working with me, the next you're still calling me names. Like I said - fine by me, not like I haven't been called worse for half my life."

[Hakuro]

The clouds began moving slowly over the village, it blocked out the sun's light making the village darker.The wind began picking up, scattering the fallen leaves all over, some blowing threw the air and some spinning on the ground. Hashiro's hair began to brush threw his face repeatedly, he noticed the same happened to Chikako's hair.

The wind was picking up, and although it did ease some of the tension that was in Hashiro's head, it was the least of his concern at the moment.

A loud burst came echoing down from the sky shortly after, it sounded like a huge explosion in the clouds. This meant that konoha was expecting a thunder storm, it wasn't safe for the kids to be out here any longer.

Hashiro didn't want to spoil their moment, but it was just something that couldn't be helped. Hashiro leaned forward and took a deep breath, then slowly he somehow made the right words come out, " Chikako, I didn't want to have to depart from here so early, but it seems the weather has other plans for me.

So I guess I'll see you around some other time..... when ever that may be. You might be busy with your new squad etc, but I'm sure we'll bump into each other again." Hashiro didn't face her while he spoke, suddenly he slowly lifted his head and caught Meraxa's gaze.

Hashiro smiled at him, trying not to alarm the boy,"Meraxa, I'm leaving you in charge of her, try your best to bring her back from missions/training in one piece. Also watch out , she can forget things often, and you already know how much she is irritated when you say something totally un called for, so please try to get along. I guess, I'll also be seeing you around as well, and the next time we meet, I'll make sure I can sense your presence before I jump to conclusions."

he gave Chikako one last look, then whispered something to her,"I ---- w---i-------h -y---u l----- m-- h--y---a." but before she could say anything he used body flicker and vanished.

[Ein]

Chikako felt disheartened, had he not listened to a word she'd said? Why was he leaving? Just cause of some RAIN? He . . . he is such an . . . IDIOT!

Biting her lower lip and feeling her body get drenched in the rain, Chikako felt genuinely . . . UGH! She told him they could hang out and do missions and still be friends, and he still wants to sulk?!

He's a rat! No, he's the flea on the rat! No, he's the dirt on the flea on the rat!

Despite all this frustration at Hashiro, Chikako could say nothing, and let him walk away. You are so . . . FRUSTRATING!

Glancing up at the stormy weather and wondering how such a sunny day went so dark so suddenly, the young Hyuuga felt a little sad that she made her new friend sad just because she's in a different squad . . .

[Meraxa]

Meraxa looked up at the sound of a loud boom, which coincided with earlier bursts of wind - thunder clouds were rolling in, just great. Normally on this level of land it wouldn't be too much of a worry, but the thing was that Konoha had some really tall trees surrounding it, and all those trees were tightly interlaced, if one caught fire or fell, it wouldn't take much for the rest to follow.
"Meraxa, I'm leaving you in charge of her, try your best to bring her back from missions/training in one piece. Also watch out , she can forget things often, and you already know how much she is irritated when you say something totally un called for, so please try to get along. I guess, I'll also be seeing you around as well, and the next time we meet, I'll make sure I can sense your presence before I jump to conclusions."

"Don't worry about it, as long as you don't care what that 'one piece' looks like - girls like her are stubborn afterall. Good thing thats what helps a ninja survive." He gave a small two finger salute to Hashiro as he whispered something into Chikako's ear, but it was indiscernable from here. Hashiro then disappeared in a good old flicker, with the rain pouring down shortly after, the occasional boom of thunder following short flashes of lightning. He pulled his katana from its scabbard, and sliced off two large, thin sheets of bark from a nearby tree, then sheathed the blade once more. He picked up the two pieces of bark, and held one above his head to block out the rain, holding the other in his free hand at his side. He walked over to Ein, and placed the second sheet of bark over her head, stopping the rain for her too.
"C'mon, we'd best head home. Or do you like catching pneumonia?"

[Ein]

Standing in the rain for a moment, Chikako felt . . . just, well . . . not angry or sad . . . or bitter even, just sort of tired of trying to convince Hashiro there was no reason to sulk.

Why even bother, Chikako thought briefly, it's just too much effort for an casual stranger.

Glancing towards Meraxa, Chikako nodded and walked out of the shelter of the shielding bark. "I don't feel like using that right now." She started to walk slowly, taking deep breaths, before running into a sprint through the rain.

The thunder boomed, lightning flashed, and the rain poured out onto the forest that was, only a short while ago, absorbed in a green warmth. Now, the trees were drenched, the dirt was mixing with water and muddy grass had begun to form clumps here and there as Chikako sprinted through an entirely different forest from the one she'd prayed in only a few minutes ago.

How did this storm sneak up on us?

((OOC: Social over, I'm assuming?))

[Meraxa]

(OOC: I'd say so)