Thanks for Kaoru!

[The Roar of the Falls]

The travel to Chuunin's had been eventful, rushed, but eventful and int hat time she had no chance to really spend time with her partner in arms. The Land of Moon was one of vacational areas and warm seasonal waters despite the name, even holding resorts and travel guides for other various activities. Kaoru and Isabella spend so much time wound up, it hardly seemed fair they would come to such a relaxing place...and not relax.

Skipping out into the sand, Isabella wore her two piece, a blue and white striped top with matching bottoms, her bright skin nearly translucent int he sunlight. Her hair was tied back in a ponytail though her front bang hung loose over her eyes. She turned around, hands out, laughing and smiling bright as she waited for Kaoru. "Cmon silly, let's at least have some fun before we head back to those dreaded exams." She winked as she slowed her walk, her smile turning to a mocking pout with matching bright blue eyes. "Pwease??"

[Deleted]

[/b] She encouraged, and at least while she spoke I felt justified in looking towards her. Not many other people were present, and they were all quite a ways off anyhow. They wouldn't even be able to hear us over the slight rush of the surging waves and other ambient noise.

"Pwease?" Why was she so adorable again?

"Alright, alright, I'm here." I would say, almost drawing level with her before stopping. I had to examine my surroundings, a little bit - nice occupation of the eyes, it was - with a hand on my hip in probably the most feminine pose I would ever assume, intentional or no. Yes, okay, the scene was pretty nice, all sparkling and bright and picturesque. I knew that the fiery red of my hair was even more powerful under the sun - a stray lock of it blew across my face, and I drew it away. I looked towards her, and I wanted to say she looked beautiful, because she did (even just her face - those eyes were the brightest thing of all) but hah I couldn't, plus it might have been a little creepy in the circumstances. That's what I told myself.

I looked back up again. This was fun, right? I had to examine myself internally. Sure: Happy, relatively satisfied, relieved. "Fun. Sure." I confirmed, sort of... mildly, and smiled at her again.[/ul][/justify]

[|Ayame Unbound|]

Kaizu
Some shiny wheels upon the ground... holy jeez it's Horn Regalia. Grab them and run!

Isley
No way its a four leaf clover on the ground...lucky. Good fortunes are sure to come

[The Roar of the Falls]

When she stepped out finally to follow after, Isabella jumped forward a few steps and grabbed both her hands, spinning on a hell to stand side by side. With a signature hip bump that always left hr th loser of the outcome, she righted herself and shook her head, blonde strands of her bangs washing over her eyes back and forth. "You sure don't sound convincing, seems i'll have to drag it out of you." She turned to look up at her massive friend, a devilish smile on her lips as she took Kaoru's hand and pulled her futilely towards the wetter alf of the sand.

"Think about all the possibilities?" She spewed in an excited manner, head a blur of motion as she looked back from the shoreline to the shops. "e're probably the only nin out here, we could make sand castles, bury each other, OOOHH we could play in the ocean!" She hadn't traveled much and finally having a chance with no duties on their shoulders, she intended to make Kaoru have fun, even against her will.

"Alright, we'll start with the sand castles." She hooked a finger in her bikini bottoms and adjusted them slightly, frowning at a pair of guy who passed, making no attempt to hide their prowling eyes. "Take a picture, it's all you'll get." she sneered, tugging Kaoru's arm once more. "God, you're so sloooooooooow!" She was teasing, but a part of her wanted to take advantage of this free time like no other.

[Deleted]

[/b]

She had sidled up to me and taken my hand again - it was a little more uncomfortable than usual considering the situation, but I'd take it. She looked to be really enjoying herself - I couldn't bring her down. I'd have to try and indulge as well. Just for a bit. Nothing heavy weighing on my conscience, no dark or dreary thoughts, just... an afternoon with her.

That was actually an elating thought.

She tried to drag me, and even though I could have resisted, I obliged her, following. A couple of buff-looking guys were on a collision course with our path towards the water's edge, and I kept track of them as we moved and Isabella gushed. I had to step around some wheeled contraption on the ground - part of me wanted to examine it, but she dragged me onwards. I'd look into it later.

We'd bypassed the dudes' path, but now they were behind us. I'd learned to be very cautious of muscular males, and I gritted my teeth as I knew they were somewhere behind me. It didn't help that I felt vulnerable with my current outfit - or lack thereof - either, and I realized that I was also feeling rather protective of Isabella.

Sand castles, okay. We knelt down in the sand across from each other, and I saw Isabella move a hand to her hip. Mildly, I'd look away, but this happened to be when the two dudes passed, and they most certainly were not doing as I was. Instinctively, I snarled like an animal. Two little words - 'Fuck off' - lingered on the tip of my tongue, but it was not my place to say them. It was Isabella's, though, and she had noticed. I was glad when she told them off, and I watched them pass, only half abated. Eventually, I looked back down to Isabella.

"Shh, I'm not slow," I retaliated. "Just sorta... absent. I'm sorry." I smiled at her, and then looked down to the moistened sand beneath us. "We don't have any sort of equipment, but..." I trailed off, and reached over to paw at the edge of the water, where it lapped the sand at intervals. Scooping a handful of the sodden stuff up, I would experimentally let some dribble from my hand, forming a small tower out of the droplets.

I chuckled as I watched the little thing form. "I always made them like this. Just with my hands. It's er... meticulous, or if you just make chunks with your hand it's all... messy, but yanno..." I looked up at her. "Fuck buckets and spades, I guess," And then chuckled again.[/ul][/justify]

SPOILER: Click to show

1x Horn Regalia

[Tieren]

Isley - I look into your future and see... A crystal ball. No, really, there's a crystal ball. It's about to appear in front of you. Ahh there it is!

Kaizu - Here it is! Your shiny new Sextuple Knife Holster Type 2! Sex. Hehe.

[The Roar of the Falls]

[+1 Crystalball]

Seemed Kaoru was ready to explode on the two guys who wisely kept their retreat, smothering her anger with what Isabella hoped was simply a less hostile emotion. When she finally started speaking again, she nodded knowingly, not blaming her at all for the suddenness of their situation. "I never made sand castles before, or been to the ocean...heck, I dont remember ever leaving the borders of Taki." She kept her face bright but knew the sadness was there in the vocals, she may be a master of sound, but even she could not over power emotion.

In silence she clumped together chunks of sand, using the sides of her fingers to shave off the rougher ends and set them back in with the source. The happiness of the moment was gone for that brief moment as she looked back over just how mundane the lived os most ninja must have been growing up, losing parents in the line of duty, to murderers, taking up the mantle in revenge. "You know Kaoru...I don't think i've ever told you how much I appreciate everything you've done for me. Ever."

She looked up form her little piles of wet sand, her eyes attentive and wide, vulnerable. The walls of the would be judicator of Taki finally falling again, a stronghold that had been erected when her supposed adoptive family sister went out on a mission and never returned. Many thought she had fallen, but Isabella knew better, and blamed it one herself. Always. "You're literally all I have in this world, your friendship and more, and everything you've done for me...I promise I never take it for granted. " She gave her a small but passionate smile, a true smile in the cloud of bad memories.

[Deleted]

[/b]

The little story had been idle and quiet; something to fill the gap as I mounded up a bit of sand next to what Isabella had created, but when I looked up I saw that she looked far more forlorn than I had judged from her voice. She had been so happy, though! "Isabella, wh-"

"You know Kaoru...I don't think I've ever told you how much I appreciate everything you've done for me. Ever."

I was stunned. I just sat there, mouth ever so slightly open, taking in what I was hearing rather slowly. She stared at me with her beautiful blue eyes and said... all the things that I felt, aswell. "You're literally all I have in this world, your friendship and more, and everything you've done for me...I promise I'll never take it for granted."

I couldn't... I couldn't speak. I mean I looked sort of vaguely happy through my awe at least but... but what she had said, that was... that was what I felt as well. The same thing. And...

Your friendship and more.

Had I heard that right? Was I choosing this one moment to be stupidly optimistic? Probably, but... a feeling of warmth swelled inside of me, and it was egging me on. She had said... just a fun day, just a time to relax but I couldn't; there were emotions that had stewed inside of me for so long, first unnoticed but long since had they been recognized, and they had clawed at my being and plagued my head, never resting, never allowing me pause or relief or any sort of distraction - not that I had really wanted one, but... Oh and it also didn't help that she was wearing almost nothing.

If I had to produce an excuse later, I'd use that.

...Well, with the circumstances, I doubt it'd get me off the hook, if a hook presented itself. I hoped there was no hook.

Hook or no hook, my body pretty much moved of its own accord.

Akin to the slight wobble of a feline's crouch before it pounced, I hastily dusted some of the sand off of my hands and then just dived for her - well, not quite, but I did move forward to take her face in my slightly-less-sandy-but-still-probably-a-bit-sandy hands and I just straight up kissed her in what was probably the bravest thing I've ever done.

Like I've faced monsters the size of apartment buildings but that didn't seem like shit in comparison.

I think she was one of the only people I could be truly gentle toward, and I held true to that; after only a moment I drew back to look her in the eye. Already there was a cold panic building in my gut and it threatened to override the warm feeling fuck had I gone and fucked up EVERYTHING now no surely please oh my god.

But still, through all that anxiety and terror - like what if I was alone in this feeling and I'd just overstepped a huge boundary - I whispered to her three words that I had wanted to tell her for so very long.

"I love you, Isabella." Said I, into those same eyes that I could stare into for the rest of forever. Hell, I'd dug the pit this deep: "You're the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and I just hope you know that. The best friend I've ever had. You changed me and you gave me something worthwhile. I have never loved anyone more than you."

It was true. I never had. Least of all myself... but... I was happy with her. I reached up and brushed a stray lock of her blonde hair away from her face.

"You are so beautiful." I marveled.

For the first time, I had felt the freedom to say it. [/ul][/justify]

SPOILER: Click to show

1x Horn Regalia

[Tieren]

Kaizu - A bright shining light draws your attention. It's a Sun Shield.

Isley - You've found 5 slots of zipties. Kinky.

[The Roar of the Falls]

Things seemed to shift noticeably but she was no stranger to weird atmosphere's, however, when the subtle crunch of sand between Kaoru's fingers reached the sound masters ears, it was too late. She looked up, caught between two hands that led her into a sensation that made the world drop away, leaving a flailing Isabella in it's wake. Despite her large stature, Kaoru's grasp was rather gentle, though the kiss held more intensity than probably most of the punches she had witnessed the tai master deal out.

Eyes wide, the shock of the moment took her breath away and sent her heart fluttering, beating rapidly as her eyes activated out of mere shock. Glowing bright red and bright, the abrupt end took away what little breath she had been able to catch as she fell forward on a hand, looking up as Kaoru pretty much spilled everything. Had she always been this oblivious? Midst all their journey's, spiders, gangs, prisons and Kaoru had faced them all with her without a second thought, or one she had noticed.

A panting, breathless mess of hair, Isabella launched herself at her partner, whether or not failing to knock her over was irrelevant, simply having space between them was not an option anymore. She threw both arms around her neck and pressed heir foreheads together, smiling more than she had ever before. "You have no idea how long i've wanted to more than just your friend, more than your teammate." She rubbed noses as her fingers played through the short strands of Kaoru's red hair, absently noting the ties buried int he sand next to a crystal ball.

"You have followed me through all my stupid decisions, saved me from those gang members, always been a pil;ar for me when I thought things wouldn't pan out. What more could I ever asked for in a partner in a.....---" She blushed hotly, her Dojutsu fading away, the bright crystal blue of her eyes coming back into focus. "Just promise me...this wont change anything,we'll still be a team?" She sounded almost pleading and she hated it, but it had to be asked. Nothing was wore than a team becoming involved and splitting over differences. "We'll be the greatest thing Taki has ever seen!"

[+5 zipties]

[Deleted]

[OOC: #rollsareforpussies]

[/i]. Red was an angry color. She also seemed visibly distressed, gasping for breath as she was - oh god, what had I done, what did I -

No, she launched herself at me, not needing to care how much force she put behind the tackle. I myself had been so absorbed and vulnerable that she toppled me easily. She had hugged me around the neck by the time my back hit the sand. She was burying me in what I attributed to be affection and that was just fine.

Her eyes were so close to mine - her face was all I could see - also fine; the warmth of her body was pressing down upon me - what usually would have felt indecent also felt fine. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to be more than just your friend, more than your teammate." She gushed to me and I had to ask of myself, was I dreaming? Nah actually I'm pretty sure dreams couldn't be this vivid, couldn't swell me with as much relief and happiness, could not produce in such clarity the feel of her nose brushing against mine, the feel of her fingers twining through stray strands of my hair.

A partner, she said - but had that word taken on new meaning? By the way, did I mentioned how fucking happy I was? All that time we'd spent together, all the things we had experienced together, had achieved and done, and she had felt for me just as I had? I didn't care what she did or did not have on as I hugged her back, feeling more relief than I think I ever had.

"Well... I dunno... we are both..." Ah, fuck it, that needn't be said, apparently it was irrelevant. I trailed off and I just smiled. "Just promise me... this won't change anything, we'll still be a team?" She asked of me. "We'll be the greatest thing Taki has ever seen!"

Her enthusiasm was both inspiring and amusing, and I chuckled. Since I had been far too tentative to make our first kiss last more than a few short seconds, I kissed her again in answer and through all my toughened exterior - both mental and physical - I found that I was able to be truly soft and warm. The taste of her lips was far too sweet to pass up, as I had been for so long.

"We will." I then assured her, smiling.

It managed to occur to me that, were those two dudes to look back - couldn't see them as I was, didn't care - they would have gained more than they had bargained for, and I had to force myself not to laugh.[/ul][/justify]

SPOILER: Click to show

1x Horn Regalia
1x Sextuple Knife Holster Type 2
1x Sun Shield

[~Emi~]

Isley

You've stumbled across a large gourd filled with water. I don't know how it's helpful...

Kaizu

You stumble across a Field Pack (Medium). There's nothing in it but its free!

Rolls

[The Roar of the Falls]

Another kiss, and this one sent a wave of warm fuzzies all through the system, dull Isabella' normally sharp senses. If happiness had a sound, it was her heartbeat right then. She sat up after practically melting, swooning as she waved her hand, seemingly speechless as she took a deep breath. "Phew, I think this be not the time nor place for too much PDA, Kaoru." She snuck a impish grin in behind delicate hands that moved the shroud her own mouth. Perhaps this would go even better than she presumed and they would reach a long term goal they both could invest themselves in fully.

Setting up abruptly, she looked down at Kaoru, a face full of business and serious meaning. Clearing her throat and pushing aside the annoying bangs, she leaned in close again, her smaller more delicate hands cupping the brawlers face as she whispered to her, still away sh was essentially straddling her in the middle of a public beach. "We're going to be Sannin, hear me?" It was honestly a statement, but she wanted to make sure there was no room for error. This was something bigger than just her, and she wanted something to immortalise the two of them forever.

"We will both go back Chuunin, take out Jonin exan, and pass with flying colors. Together we have no limits." She was stern in her words but she wanted to relay the urgency to her...more than friend, friend. Eyes almost glowing, she noticed a large container wash in from sea, its center filled to the brim with water.

[+1 Large Gourd]

[Deleted]

[/i] because, despite my usual modesty, I didn't - as far as I was concerned, she was the only person in the world at this moment, but I understood if she had a bit more presence of mind. I found it weird that it was she that seemed so much more flustered, when it was I who was usually so sensitive and anxious about this sort of thing. "Sorry." I said, thus. She was still sitting on top of me though, and it took her only a brief pause before she leaned in towards me again and took my face in her hands in turn.

This was rapture to me. I took in every word she spoke with some effort (I was having some difficulty concentrating).

"We're going to be Sannin, hear me?" Yes, yes I had heard that. "We will both go back Chuunin, take out Jonin exam, and pass with flying colors. Together we have no limits."

I had to through this step by step. Step one: Process information. Sannin? I... that was a hefty goal, and my eyes fluttered a little bit as I tussled with it. Two of the three greatest shinobi of our land? That was... insane! Did she really have so much confidence in herself? In me?

...I didn't object. Ever so slightly, there lying on the sand - shit was irritating my shoulders, but to hell with it - I frowned, but it was less of a disapproving one, and more one of imagination. To be such a conqueror, a god among men, with nobody to step on or abuse me any longer - with the power to protect the people I loved - and all that by her side?

So down.

Step two: Don't kiss her again. I sort of wished I'd chosen a more private setting now, in the way that I really really really really did. I felt like now that I could, that I had not shown her how much I really loved her - not even in the tiniest fraction, and it was not helpful that she was lying on top of me and wearing only a bikini like I REALLY fucked up the timing of this oh my god.

But I succeeded step two as well, though the battle had been an agonizing one. Well, honestly, it would have been more accurate to call it a campaign. Was this a tactical retreat?

...Now I was confusing myself.

Step three: Reply. Yes, I did have to take this one step at a time given the circumstances. I gulped at the prospect of the journey she had paved before us, but lying there, under the sun, with the angel of my life held so very close, finally in mutual understanding, in an equilibrium... what could we not achieve together?

"To be one of the strongest people in the world with you... Isabella, I can't imagine anything better." Campaign still in progress. "No limits." I agreed happily, still maybe somewhat visibly struggling with not kissing her.

"...Also I now have no idea how I managed not to kiss you for so long."

...

Well.

...

That had not been a thing that I'd meant to say.[/ul][/justify]

[|Ayame Unbound|]

Kaizu You've found the Flame of God! Eight of them are sitting in some strange candelabra...

Isley You stumbled across a full set of Animal Re-Creation books. Wow; what are you doing to do with them?

[The Roar of the Falls]

So they were in public, the time for modesty had long passed apparently and in these moment there was living proof that; love is a gender-less emotion. The affection she felt towards Kaoru could only be described as love, one of the many forms it comes in. Her proclamation and call to something greater than simply being in servitude to their village. "I want to do it not for power, but for justice. To be a symbol people can rally behind when world pushes us to our limits." She stood up finally, thinking maybe, just maybe, they she had spent enough time mounting another person in public.

With her significantly smaller frame, she still offered a hand to Kaoru, giggling some as she smiled another genuine curve of the lips. "I can only do this if you're with me, by my side. I wouldn't have it any other way." Giving her a reprieve from the statement of kissing, she didnt poke fun or tease, simply shaking her head with a sarcastic but playful roll of the eyes. "You should have known awhile back, never to hold anythign back. The passion we feel everyday drives us forward, to smother it is to deny yourself possibilities."

The sand was marred with their small tussle, her skin baring the left over sand from the embrace as well as the coarse grit that had rubbed at her knees. She was by no means blessed with a curvaceous body but she was happy to not have boobs for sand to get between. That sounded like a nightmare. "I think the sand castle can wait a moment. I'd rather just....sit...and talk.." She looked around for a drier place for their to sit, noting the scattered books left abandoned one someones beach towel. "I want to know the Kaoru, that no one else gets to see."

SPOILER: Click to show

full set of Animal Re-Creation books

[Deleted]

[/i] turn to blush after letting that remark slip; I invisibly smothered my disappointment when she got up and took the hand she offered me. "You should have known awhile back, never to hold anything back. The passion we feel everyday drives us forward, to smother it is to deny yourself possibilities." She advised me, once I was again towering over her. There were a lot of things I could have said to do that, most of which included the whole homosexuality aspect - which, honestly, I hadn't really noticed in myself before her anyway - but I just just smiled sheepishly. Maybe the whole deal had been obvious the entire time and I had just been being completely stupid.

'Twas likely.

The poor little makings of our sandcastle had been crushed, but it had paved the way to greater things. Silently, I honored its sacrifice. Sit where, though? I had to ask. "We should've brought towels or something..." I said under my breath. Dumb mistake.

"I want to know the Kaoru, that no one else gets to see."

I contemplated her with gentle eyes. "You do, though." I answered, taking her hands in my own and smiling slightly. "You've never seen the lonely me at all. I dunno if you picked it up somewhere along the way, but I'm usually kind of an angry bitch." The sarcasm was strong, if without any sting (...that was another point). "Very few things before you could ever make me anything but. I'm ashamed to think of what I was like before I met you.

"...Well, I guess you sort of saw it one time. With the whole... the gang and I... they were going to hurt you and I just got so angry... anyway..." I cleared my throat. "Point being: What you know of me... what I just did... that's it. The me that nobody else gets to see. The me that I reserve for you." Very gently, I squeezed her little hands.

"But... well... if you want to ask anything specific I... I can answer. You'd be the first person to ask. The first person to even seem to care."[/ul][/justify]

[👺 Usiel]

Isley
12 Solider Pills walk into a bar... No idea where I'm going with this, but feel free to take the pills while I think of a joke!

Kaizu
A slot of goo pouches... Ewwww why is it sticky....

[The Roar of the Falls]

"I see...well this is the full me. All Five feet five inches!" The had spent quite the time here and Moon. Concluded their exams, it was about time to get back. When she stood sand fell from her legs and thighs, her pale skin covered in the grit, and she looked off towards the area their exam had been.

"I think we should head out Kaoru, we have been gone from Taki for awhile, almost a year, exams and all. I think the Kage would be glad to have us come back." She gave a small smile and turned on her heel, snaking a kiss on Kaoru's chin. "Lets head to the docks." With a turn she headed towards the boating dock and brushed the grit and grain form her bottom, sides and legs, happy to be grabbing her clothes and such before heading back.

[Exit]

[Deleted]

[/b] I agreed simply, and with a warmed heart did I move to follow her.[/ul][/div]

[Exit]