It's Definitely Not a Tryst

[zory_alechiv]

A heavy mist blanketed the streets, but when did it not? No matter, for Jouchaku Mizuki, navigating the fog was almost second nature. He grew up here, lived his life within the Mist and he didn't plan on that changing anytime soon. His golden eyes shimmered despite the lack of light as they pierced through the mist knowingly. He was on a mission. A self-imposed mission, but a mission all the same. Mizuki liked serving Kirigakure. Serving his village, and his clan, gave him a grand sense of pride and duty. It was the only thing he was loyal to.

At 5'4'', his small stature merely added to his cherub-like appeal. His porcelain skin would have made him seem doll-like if not for the myriad of freckles that adorned his cheeks and the scar across the bridge of his nose. His bright red hair had grown out from its fade but it didn't hinder his sight or get in his way. Due to his Kekkai Genkai, his hair stuck up in every direction. A kitana sat on his right him, braced for the moment by his palm as he nearly skipped down the street towards the tea shop near his compound.

It was his favorite because it was the only place that served steamed manju to perfection in his opinion and he had a few hours before he was needed on any duties. He wanted to treat himself. As he stepped in, there were several people already there but he paid them no mind as he made his way up towards the counter.

"Pan-san," he greets respectfully and with a slight bow of his head. "May I have two of your steamed Manju and a cup of Sencha please?" Mizuki was still polite, even as the man seemed to grimace.

"I'm sorry, we are out of steamed Manju. Perhaps you would like our baked ones?"

Like a switch, his temper threatened to explode but he merely closed his eyes and clenched his teeth together as he spoke. "If I wanted baked Manju, I would have asked for baked manju. Is there nothing you can do?"

[Kaida]

It was a normal day in Kiri, the mist hung heavy in the air like a thick fog as she strolled to one of her favorite bakeries, craving something sweet. She bounded through the streets smiling to herself as her excitement grew at the thought of a treat soon being in hand. Her wavy red locks swaying behind her as she walked, dressed more moderately than usual. A pair of snug dark denim jeans with wedged heels, a fitted royal purple short sleeved blouse and a black shawl adorned her body. Her katana and tanto slung across her left hip.

Entering Keiko’s Kitchen, she hummed a gentle tune under her breath. The smell of the establishment granting her comfort and making her feel warm inside at the change in atmosphere. She was perusing the encased shelves, the hum of the crowd like a wonderful white noise to her ears. ‘So many choices...’ She’d been having odd cravings lately, probably due to being off work for so long. Her peace was disturbed as she picked up on the young man ahead of her snapping at the woman behind the counter, obviously disgruntled at his own treat being out of stock.

“Ah the Kiri way alive and well as always.” Her tone was gently chastising as she took in the young man. Wild red golden hair sat atop his head like a crooked crown, his golden eyes fierce and his attire painting him as a shinobi. She walked her way up to the counter and flashed a disarming smile at the young lady manning the front. “I think, what this young man means to say, is it might be worth the wait if you’re able to make some more?” Her eyes twinkled under the dim lights, her friendly energy helping to ease to woman’s nerves.

“I - I would love to but our b-baker went home for the day.” Miyuki wanted to reach around and pat her head, provide her with some comfort at the very least. But she knew better than to impose like that. With a sigh she looked around the store, thinking of a way to make everyone happy and calm the situation. “Hm, well I suppose I could give you a hand.” She clapped her hands together and went behind the counter, not giving the woman a chance to refuse. She looked back at the young man, an expectant look on her face. “Well? The least you could do is help to make up for your lack of manners.”

[zory_alechiv]

Mizuki's eyes narrowed in on the woman who stepped in. Her bright red hair made him wonder if she was family before he quickly put that aside. No way her hair would be as neat as it was if she was in his family. It wasn't frizzy enough. Besides, her pale skin was unmarred by freckles like his was and if that wasn't good enough, he had no clue who she was.

"I was rather polite. I said please and everything," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He understood his cherub like features made him seem younger than he really was but they had to be close in age. "And puh-lease, you can't be that much older than me. Don't patronize me, woman." He crossed his arms and closed his eyes before cracking one open to watch her.

Her kanto on her hip suggested she was also a shinobi and he doubted she was a genin. So either chunin or jounin and it wouldn't be smart to piss her off without knowing more. Of course, if she was weaker, he'd teach her some manners, but he understood that he could also get his ass kicked.

"If I wanted to make my own Manju, I would have. I'm not stepping foot in the that kitchen," he sniffs with derision, holding his chin up higher. "This is the work of someone...well, not in my class. If they don't need the coin then I guess I'll find a new bakery."

[Kaida]

Miyuki raised an eyebrow at the young man’s insolence. It didn’t surprise her that he wasn’t aware that how he presented his “manners” mattered just as much as using them. It did surprise her though at his blatant disrespect of someone older than him, and more than likely higher rank as well given the fact that he looked to be a young teenager. “You are a fiery little thing aren’t you?” She teased him as much as she was reprimanding him.

“Though you said please, it was not with respect. And though this fine young woman is here to do her job, it is not within your right to be so blatantly rude at the cost of a sweet treat.” Her hands were on her hips now as she lectured him from behind the counter. Honestly, she knew Kiri was rough, had been here her whole life, but the audacity of the generation coming up behind her was truly boggling.

“So, if I’m correct, you’re refusing the direction of another Kiri shinobi. A jounin at that, in case you were unaware. All because you think this is below you and your perceived class despite the slight you’ve made in this establishment as an assumed paying customer? And when given the opportunity to make it right, you instead sass your superior?” Her words were sharp, daring the child to further put his foot in his mouth when he should be focused on taking accountability and acting in the required manner that his shinobi status dictated of him.

[zory_alechiv]

You are a fiery little thing aren’t you?

Though you said please, it was not with respect. And though this fine young woman is here to do her job, it is not within your right to be so blatantly rude at the cost of a sweet treat.

So, if I’m correct, you’re refusing the direction of another Kiri shinobi. A jounin at that, in case you were unaware. All because you think this is below you and your perceived class despite the slight you’ve made in this establishment as an assumed paying customer? And when given the oportunity to make it right, you instead sass your superior?”

Mizuki was torn between letting his temper rise and allowing himself to feel proper guilt for everything she was saying, even if she was wrong. He'd been polite, even offered a smile, and his irritation wasn't even directed at the clerk, it was the fact that he had a short time before he was going to get back to work. He needed to train, he needed to get better for Kiri and his clan and this proved that a small indulgence was not a part of his itinerary. what a way to put things back into perspective.

"Ahh, forgive me Jounin-san," He says, his tone switching from petulant to respectful in the blink of an eye. "I was not aware that it was an order from a superior or I might have been more inclined to adhere to your request." He didn't think she was lying about her rank and by now he was feeling thoroughly chastised in a way he hadn't since he was a child. Instead of the cursory glance he'd given her before, he looked deeper now. Blue eyes, red hair, toned body, he'd think she was a Jouchaku if not for the lack of freckles and frizzy hair. Besides, he recognized most of his clan, and the others on site, but he didn't recognize her clan attributes if she had one.

Oh well, a jounin was a jounin and if he wanted to survive, he had to play by the rules.

"Though I would love to help." Not. "I am certain that both of us have a lot more to do than play baker on this beautiful, dreary day. Even a lowly chunin like myself has duties I must attend to so if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way and I'll be sure to be more polite next time. In fact," he smiled ever so sweetly and turned to the woman behind the counter. "I do apologize for causing any grief. My ire was not directed towards you. I hope you'll accept my apology, shopkeeper-san."

[Kaida]

Miyuki giggled to herself, watching the young man's eyes flare as he realized who he was speaking to. She let him have his moment, feeling like he had gotten the point of what she was trying to say, even if he didn't agree. Kiri was both wonderful and horrible that way. Though he was obviously a Jouchaku clan member, making him higher up than she was, she outranked him. Meaning, he had no choice if she ordered him about. The whole system was dumb in her mind, but she understood it played a purpose; her years in infiltration and intel making her cynical to Kiri's way of life.

She watched as made his apology, it was acceptable enough, and then he made a move to leave. A thought occurred to her then, she still had time off and she was bored. What better way to fill in the gap other than by pestering a young shinobi with an obvious attitude problem. As the bell above the door rang out, signaling his exit, she turned to the shopkeeper and bowed respectfully. "I hope I didn't embarrass you or cause any trouble. I'll be out of your hair now. Thanks!" Without waiting for a response, she skipped off after the young man, curious to see what would happen next.

Catching up to him easily, she came around from behind and tapped his shoulder. "Yo! So question, Jouchaku-san. Why do sweet treats, or lack thereof, make you grumpy? Is it a childhood thing, not that that was that long ago I'm guessing, or is it a clan superiority thing?" She smiled innocently as she spoke, her tone pitched slightly higher to convey curiosity as opposed to mischievous teasing.

[zory_alechiv]

Mizuki was still disappointed in not getting his Manchu, but getting scolded by a clanless jounin had put a bitter taste in his mouth. It wasn’t out of respect that he apologized, at least not genuine respect. It was out of self preservation and forced acknowledgement that Miyuki was strong enough to survive. He should respect her, but he knew one day he’d surpass her. He had dreams to become one of the swordsmen. Instead of a sweet treat, now he was going to train. Maybe it was a sign.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t hear her catching up to him, not until she tapped on his shoulder. He side eyes her for a moment, his honey gaze flashing briefly before he focuses back forward and sped up. Why had she followed him? Hadn’t she embarrassed him enough?

“It’s not a lack of sweet treats that makes me grumpy. It’s more that it was one day I wanted to treat myself and I had time to enjoy it, but it didn’t work out. And I was disappointed,” he glanced at her, sniffing petulantly. “Not grumpy.”

He continued walking towards the training ground but when she stayed by his side, his eye twitched.

“And why are you not there, enjoying the bakery you so admirably defended?” He drawled.

[Kaida]

Miyuki chuckled at the young man beside her, his petulant manner reminding her more of a small kid than what looked to be a teenager. She also found it amusing to wreak mayhem among the clans, their superiority complexes held together by such fine lines. It made it easier to toy with them and shed light on the cracks of their facades. Though she had no clan, she could do just as much damage and didn't need any clan esteem to back her success. It was all a rather interesting game to her, one that she kept quiet about out of respect and service to Kiri.

"I'm not at the bakery because my source of entertainment left in a huff. I was genuinely trying to help you back there, whether you understand that is up to you." She bumped her shoulder with his own, further pressing the visible button of annoyance he wore like an armor. Maybe she followed after him because he reminded her of her old teammate Kyoto. He was also a sourpuss, and he thoroughly despised Miyuki. Outside of their tryst that is.

She did miss their certain brand of camaraderie though, not the sex. But the annoyed fondness that pushed them harder. Even if his version was spiteful and out of disdain. More and more Miyuki had found herself trying to make more connections in Kiri after her encounter with Shinji. He had unlocked something inside of her that was begging to be let out, that feeling of bitter loneliness getting harder and harder to quell.

"I take it, since you backed off so easily after hearing my rank that you are...I want to say a chunin. If that's the case, and you definitely seem grumpy, how about I make it up to you and help you train? If you manage to land a hit on me, it might make you feel better. I'll even treat you to ice cream if you win." She smirked at her challenge to the Jouchako, throwing in a week for good measure to rile him up further. That was the dangerous part about letting her masks slip, she became almost impulsive in wanting to seal them back up or appease them.

[zory_alechiv]

"And I was genuinely being nice back there, but whether you understand that is up to you. If my irritation was focused on the shop keeper, it would have been more obvious, Jounin-san." His tone was flat, yet void of sarcasm. For the most part, it seemed he was mostly emotionless aside from the respect that was demanded of his stature. His skin crawled with his self-preservation instinct and it was a thin line to find balance between strength and respect. If he failed, it would be disrespectful and weak.

"As for your source of entertainment? I suppose I am glad to have some use to you this morning, Jounin-san." He continued walking towards the training ground, but maintained an even pace. Though she could no doubt out run him and do more than keep up, he did not want to make it seem like he was running away, because he wasn't. He had a purpose to this direction and he was going to follow it.

FInally, her words brought something out other than dutiful respect and blandness. For once in his life, he hated his cherubic looks and that had to be why she was patronizing him. "I am not a---" he trailed off as the rest of her words were processed. She was offering to spar with him, to train, and fighting a jounin would certainly make him stronger. Perhaps she would underestimate him if he maintained his childlike façade. "I am not grumpy," he put on a pout to help aid his earlier statement. "I merely wanted that treat. And now I can't have it. Anyone would be upset."

His mind was already switching to analytical and strategic as the waterlogged training ground came into view. He liked this one. With the pond in the center, the mist seemed thicker here and it would camouflage his steam. She already knew he was a Jouchaku by his hair and attitude, so she'd be on the lookout for it. He'd need the advantage.

At the very least, maybe he could con her into training in the future so he could get stronger.

[Kaida]

She continued walking alongside the Jouchaku, finding his underlying disdain for her amusing. It wasn’t unsual of course, she was clanless and not from one of the noble houses. Though she was getting annoyed at being referred to as Jounin-san. “Miyuki please, if we’re going to train together you can atleast use my name instead of some forced formality.” Her tone was sharper than she had intended it to be, and though she had pulled rank on him earlier, she detested being referred to by her rank. Just another reminder that Kiri owned her and her time.

“As for your...lack of grumpiness then, I suppose I can relate to being disappointed in something. Life is often not fair and puts us in difficult positions. It’s how we move forward that really defines us, regardless of the level of disappointment we suffer.” Her delivery was softer this time, remembering the transgressions of youth and all the disappointment she still experienced into her adult life. She still believed he was grumpy, but pushing that button was less entertaining the more he pushed it off. There was only so much you could say about someone’s exterior demeanor before it became a headache.

She recognized where they were as they entered the swampy training grounds, this one was less used by the public. Primarily because it was a hazard to genins and trouble for jounins to get them out of it. She had sparred here often with Kyoto as children, he found it equaling amusing to have her be in impossible situations. “Well, my offer still stands. If you beat me, I’ll buy you ice cream. Or even make you that manchu you so desperately wanted.”

She walked 5 meters ahead of him, keeping her back to him until she reached her marker; a large boulder budding out of the ground. Turning around to face him, she squared her body with her feet shoulder width apart. Her left hand on the scabbard of her katana and her right hand on its handle. She took a deep breath as she centered herself, she had been off kilter lately, the only thing bringing her any form solace was training.

[zory_alechiv]

"Hn," he grunted, his lips twisting upwards into a smirk at her obvious irritability in the honorific he kept using on her. Certainly an odd Kiri, especially if she was going to pull rank on him then get angry when he called her by that rank. Still, the smirk was on his face as he tilted his head to look at her, even as she moved on ahead. "Funny that. I am Mizuki. Should be easy to remember who punches you later," he quipped, though he didn't rush to keep up with her. Instead, he let her maintain that 5m of distance and was already making plans.

The training field was one he was familiar with and the rock was obviously her starting point. He didn't slow, instead, he kept the 5m of distance until she came within a meter of the rock. It was there he moved. Gloved hands quickly shifted together in front of his chest, forming a single seal to center his chakra. He could feel it build within him, expanding and heating as it rose through his throat before he expelled a thick, steam cloud that enveloped him and her.

He was excited for this, his attitude immediately changing to one of concentration and control rather than petulance and disappointment. As soon as the steam cloud covered him, he moved his hands quickly again. Beside him, the steam started to take form. Red hair, freckles, brown robes and yellow eyes that matched him completely appeared and he leapt away to hide inside a nearby tree with 10 speed. Instead, it was the steam clone that spoke.

"If you're offering, Miyuki-san, I'd love to watch you make me Machu," he taunted, his voice more sinister than joking. In an attempt to continue to distract her so he could observe her movements, the clone went through another handsign, channeling the chakra so it formed in his chest and mouth again before expelling a ball of steam directly at her 10 control.

Jutsu Used in OrderShow

~Yugeton • Dense Cloud
D-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals, the user puffs their chest before expelling steam from their mouth. This causes a seven-meter radius around them to become shrouded in a thick veil of steam that lasts for five posts, partially obscuring the user and making it hard to see any details within the cloud. Due to the stream being stretched however, it does not have enough heat or power to cause any burns.

~Yugeton • Steam Profile
C-Rank Ninjutsu
After performing the correct hand seals, steam will flow forth from the back of the user, forming from a whisp into an exact copy of them. The clone is capable of performing Yugeton ninjutsu.

~Yugeton • Half-Off Cannon
D-Rank Ninjutsu
By performing the correct hand seals, the user puffs their chest than fires a basketball sized dense ball of steam up to 10 meters away at [Control] Speed and Strength