C'est Magnifique!

Tekato smirked at Hikari's remark but didn't linger on it as he normally did when someone mentions his punctuality. He turned his attention to the final addition to team kuro. Riku Tadami, a genin. That is all he knew about him. The village was running low on chuunin and jounin so it didn't surprise Tekato that another genin was chosen to be the fourth member of the team. However it did bring up the question of if there would be a leader. Assuming the new guy got along with them hey could probably make due with out but did however recognize that having a leader did have its perks, usually organization was the more prominent. Tekato was less of a planner and more of an improv guy, but that was out of preference since he was effective at both. Part of him preferred no captain, but wondered what the others thought about it. He liked going by ear but leadership could make or break a team. Perhaps the new guy had orders from the higher-ups for who would be in charge, though it seemed unlikely.

Tekato took a second to scan over Riku, he wore a short sword visibly on his person, much darker skin than his friends, but most notably he was a good 7-8 inches taller than Tekato, he looked like he could have been an adult. He must have hit his growth spurt early, really early, and really hard. "I'm Tekato shimura, it is nice to meet you officially." He gave a friendly smile.

It had been a couple months since team kuro was together, he didn't notice a big change in Raikaru or Hikari, though could see in both their faces a bit of wisdom that could have ony come with training that was not there before. If one were to look at Tekato he probably would show the same thing, but perhaps if you looked hard his muscles would be more well toned from his shunshin training that he suffered through. Suffer would be the right adjective since the training was like nothing he had ever experienced before, even worse than Gyakusatsu with his father. It pushed him past his physical limits, but rewarded him in such, and was now a much better taijutsu fighter and could control his chakra even more effectively.

Tekato smiled a little when he saw Raikaru was all ready interrogating Riku. He silently agreed that they should head out though. Tekato looked at the world map he brought with him, "They are all in completely opposite directions... so it would be more of a matter of preference where we go first... but i think we should go to the land of bird first so we can travel by land for the first two stops and then do the final haul by sea to get to Kaminari no kuni. " Tekato lifted his head to look at the others. "What do you think?"

(ooc: no need to rush haha im expecting this mission will take a while, im just gonna enjoy the ride.)

Hikari brought up the idea of splitting up. Raikaru mentioned it would be more dangerous but agreed anyway and suggested teams. He suggested Raikaru go with him, and Hikari and Riku would go together. He was unsure about the idea, he hardly knew Riku, and did not know his abilities. Raikaru made some assumptions about Riku based on his hands, which was logical, and most likely true, but it was not his skill that Tekato was skeptical of, it was his trustworthiness. It was not that he did or did not trust him, it was that he simply did not know Riku. He decided to think logically first then factor in whether it was a good idea to split in that way.

He thought about the logic behind seperating the Raiton users. He knew Raikaru well, and knew he was training in Raiton while Tekato was off training with his new master on Shunshin. So saying he was a pure lightning manipulator was probably true, and off the assumption Riku was the same way Splitting up the two was a good idea. He knew Raikaru and himself would work well together as a team, however he trusted Raikaru completely. He preferred Raikaru go with Hikari and he would go with Riku, though he did have a point about the fire. Though as a ninja he would expect Raikaru could fend for himself with out the use of fire techniques. He figured no matter what it was best to head out together. "I may agree that we should split up, but how about we head to the land of lightning together, and split up from there, then meet up in the land of fire after?" Tekato drew his fingers from konoha to lightning, and then drew them to bird and sea to show that a team would go in separate directions from there. "This way we can get to know each other now on the way to lightning, and make an even more accurate decision one we are there."

(ooc: I put the part about not trusting riku as more of an after thought, it is not showing on his face or anything, it was just kind of a consideration, proceed based more on what he said than what he thought since it can be really easy to meta-game someone's thoughts)

(sorry forgot to say what he was wearing because of the winter)

Tekato was wearing a white cloak with a hood over the rest of his clothes for warmth, which for the most part were his normal attire except he had thin black gloves on.

Tekato chuckled to himself at Raikaru who was trying to get the team to get moving by taking a few steps forwards. He smirked at Raikaru's usual excitement to get started on the mission. "We've got a long trip ahead of us Rai, we have about 2,500 miles to Kaminari no Kuni and then we have to figure out exactly where in Kaminari no Kuni these cloud berries grow." Tekato patted Raikaru on the shoulder as he walked past him. "Let's just enjoy the journey since we have to make it regardless." He looked back and smiled at Raikaru, almost mockingly.

Every so often he enjoyed subtly poking at Raikaru's personality. He was a get down to business, no games, serious shinobi, one with a bit a of a superiority complex as well. Perhaps coming from his life of nearly always being the best at what he does. On top of having an unfortunate life after losing his clan, Tekato guessed it was probably easy for him to look down on others who one can assume can't imagine the life he has had. He was probably judging or at least inquiring Riku by now, wondering if he could stand up to Raikaru in a lightning fight since respect from Raikaru was best earned through fighting.

Raikaru asked Riku to introduce himself more thoroughly. Tekato already knew that Riku was a lightning, fire and wind user, these were all elements Tekato was proficient in. He wondered which ones came naturally to Riku, and if he knew any more beyond that. Tekato himself had an ironic affinity for fire and lightning which were the two most destructive and deadly of the 5 elements by nature. This was balanced out when Tekato learned he could learn to control wind which was graceful and forgiving through training, but it didn't come quite so easily to him. This personified in reality the sides of Tekato, he was one who loved Life and would give anything to protect it. Yet he was so potent at taking it away, but not so much at protecting it. It was almost like a humorous joke played on him by God, to give him a the skills of fire, lightning, and one of the most deadly sword styles Gyakusatsu so easily. One day Tekato surely would be tempted to use them despite his moral code. These thoughts popped up in the back of his head, and it brought him back to the A ranked mission in the land of rain when he talked to the old man. He told Tekato one day he would have to face the choice of whether or not to take a life, and it would be a necessity to do so. That was months ago but it still bothered Tekato.

Tekato's mind drifted away in these thoughts as it often did, and in turn a bit away from the conversation at hand. He did still however maintain a pocket of space in the back of his mind to take in what was being said in the conversation since he knew it was important. Tekato looked down at the ground as he walked, his face was semi-emotionless, perhaps indifferent about reality around him, however this could not be viewed since he was in front of Raikaru who was in front of everyone else.

Riku saw Tekato and Raikaru head out the gates. He followed almost immediately."Now Riku, tell us about yourself. Once you go we can all introduce ourselves to you.", said Raikaru as they were going out of their village. "Well as you all already know, I'm Riku Tadami. I have few hates and many likes. The things I hate are very few but my hate for them is great. I...." Riku paused because he saw Raikaru starting up a raiton attack. It seemed that he was looking at Tekato when the raiton seemed to disappear as fast as it started. Raikaru's facial expression looked very scared and confused. Riku was wondering what was happening and if Team Kuro knew something that Riku didn't. Riku veiwed Raikaru observe Hikari for a few moments then he looked at Riku. "Hey bro, is something wrong?"

Tekato's smile vanished, his lips and face instantly relaxed to a state that showed no emotion. He stopped walking and looked back at Raikaru who was staring into Tekato. Tekato stared back. There was a certain bond that had formed between Tekato and Raikaru since the tragedy of their families. Tekato could at times feel and understand what Raikaru was feeling. This, was one of those times. His mind suddenly began processing thoughts far more quickly than it usually did, perhaps adrenaline kicked in, time was moving extremely slow for him at this moment. Tekato looked into Raikaru's eyes, he saw three distinct callings. First there was the calling of Revenge. Raikaru was being summoned or perhaps at this point it was worse, he was being enticed by it. If this continued the enticement would surely lead to enslavement, however Tekato only knew this in the back of his mind and could not articulate it well. All he knew was that it was a bad road that Raikaru was taking. It was not something Tekato fully understood, revence, after all Tekato himself felt the call, but was less strangled by it. He could thank his dream about his family being happy for that. Tekato was at vengence's threshold of no return, Raikaru was far past it. The second calling was for his friends, he needed them to help guide him, support and relieve him of his burdens that were far to heavy for him to carry. The third calling was for Tekato, this one bothered Tekato the most. He needed someone to stop him.

Tekato's near emotionless stare was due to his displacement from reality, he was focusing on nothing but the thoughts and ideas in his head, he wanted to do something, anything to help his friend at that moment. The importance of what he would communicate back to Raikaru was enormous. No wisdom came to Tekato's mind. Nothing at all... he simply was not wise enough to truly understand what was best for Raikaru, all he gave Raikaru was a reassuring look that told him that he got the message and understood that he would do what he needed to do if Raikaru lost himself.

The second went by and Tekato took his stare away from Raikaru, and the moment went by as if it was nothing. Like Tekato had looked back at Raikaru just to see who shocked him and then looked back and continued walking. A few moments later Riku asked Raikaru if something was up. Riku was in the dark about the things Raikaru was dealing with. Tekato stopped walking once again and looked back at Riku. "He's just scared i might shock him back." Tekato said jokingly to cover for Raikaru, hopefully Raikaru would just reply sarcastically and then Riku probably wouldn't pry any longer. Hikari was inquiring if she missed anything. "Nah, we're just kidding around." Tekato said with a smile to Hikari. "So Riku as you were saying?" He changed the subject.

Tekato couldn't help but think that Riku and Hikari should understand what happened that night when their families were slaughtered, so they know whats going on in Raikaru's mind. Tekato decided he would tell them when Raikaru wasn't around so that Raikaru didn't feel on the spot. He would probably leave out that his family was murdered, Tekato didn't like the idea of pity, and he was coming to terms with their passing as it was. Though he was going to make it clear Raikaru requires no pity, only support and friendship.

When Riku asked if Raikaru was alright it seemed that Hikari missed it. "Hm? Something I miss?" "Nah, we're just kidding around." , answered Tekato. Riku knew that there was surely something happening. He planned to interrogate Tekato on it later. Right after Tekato answered Raikaru nodded in agreement."SoRiku as you were saying?" "I was telling you guys about myself. I have many likes and few hates. The things I hate are few, but my hate for them is great. I love food in general and will eat basically anything you give me except some things.... I have a younger sibling named Samaki. She is a pretty confident shinobi although she is a bit annoying. Don't think i hate her though.", said Riku. He didn't notice Raikaru in front of the group until he saw him up there. Riku paused for a sexonde then asked, "Why don't you guys let me about yourselves? Hikari, you should start." , after seeing a playful shove Raikaru did to her. Riku was now having mixed feelings about his team.