Sand Village Embassy

[kitsumi]

Meanwhile, while Kitsumi was reading over their note of instructions, if they could be called such, Zurai had returned from his Refreshening, and also took a quick peak at the line. She smirked at his comment, and tossed the slip of paper into the garbage bin next to the desk they stood next to. Zurai noticed another note on the table, in which Kitsumi walked over this time to check, even though the boy had read it out.

"Hmm...I think that was left by that Girl that just walked out, I saw her leaving through the window. I'll keep an eye on anyone if their inside though, who know's how many others could be staying inside a place as big as this...As for the keys, maybe in the desk..."

Kitsumi said, shrugging as she sat in the squishy chair. It was one of those office Chairs, the kind with a soft cushion, wheels on the bottom, and could spin around. It was tempting to push against the desk, and go sliding across the floor to be honest...but somehow the kunoichi refrained despite the fact only Zurui was around. Although obviously older, she didn't feel obliged to act much of a senior or be a "Role model."

With another crack of her bubblegum, she opened one of the drawers in the desk, revealing Staplers, staples, Paper Clips, thumb Tacks, stickers, rubber bands, and all that kind of office supplies. The Drawer under that contained blank paper and envelopes of various sizes. As for the other side of the desk, there was various forms, for those leaving, those entering, for merchants and traders and all sorts of business imaginable. The final Drawer was essentially reference books, important people, dates for meetings, reservations for Rooms. Sighing, Kitsumi leaned back into the chair, rocking A bit.

"Guess not, just a bunch of boring stuff we'll have to use when someone comes...I wonder how busy it gets here. Judging by the lack of staff, I don't think we'll be swarmed or anything, you know?"

She said, a tone of hope in her voice as she leaned on the table with an elbow, supporting her head. She missed the center Drawer, which sure enough housed various key rings and notes about the Mansion, were things were located and such.

[Short post, I'm sorry, I suffered from Writers block...]

[--Theo Hart--]

"Hmm," Kitsumi paused in though, "I think that was left by that Girl that just walked out--I saw her leaving through the window. I'll keep an eye on anyone if they're inside though; who knows how many others could be staying inside a place as big as this...?" she said, letting the question hang in the air, "As for the keys, maybe in the desk..." Kitsumi sat in the comfortable looking office chair, sinking into it slightly, and began shuffling through the contents of the desk, revealing everything they could possibly not be looking for. Sighing, the purple haired girl leaned back in the chair, gently rocking back and forth.

Zurui's gaze was slightly detached from his mind, trying his best to act natural, as if he hadn't noticed anything. The splotches he had noticed in training. There were right there. Little creases on her hands. Sending the desk drawers a neutral expression.

"Guess not, just a bunch of boring stuff we'll have to use when someone comes," she paused again, looking around the building, "I wonder how busy it gets here. Judging by the lack of staff, I don't think we'll be swarmed or anything, you know?"

Zurui simply nodded in comprehension of her words, not bothering or caring to interpret them at all.

There were mouths on her hands.

She had found the drawer with the keys and a complete floorplan. That was great. It would save them hours worth of searching.

There were mouths on her hands.

Zurui nearly crossed his eyes in concentration--trying to approach the subject without seeming like an idiot. It was, obviously, that bloodlimit from Earth Country; he had read a few chapters about it during his recent time at the Academy. It was supposed to be incredibly useful, the ability to create improvised, hidden, weapons while on the field, but, still, that was in a textbook. It was actually quite shocking in person.

"How should one breech the subject of having mouths for hands..."

"Um, Kitsumi-san, forgive my unobservance, but I just noticed your Kekkai Genkai. Are you proficient with it?"

((OOC: About time he noticed. XD The short posts are alright--school's starting with me, so I'll try to be more condensed in the future.))

[kitsumi]

As the girl leaned into the desk with her elbow, she couldn't help but to notice Zurui was seeming a bit off. After all, as an Artist she was very perceptive. She shrugged it off at first, but when she spoke again, and he only nodded she noticed he still was looking a bit uncomfortable. "What's up with him? He better not start acting all weird when we still have a long way to go." She told herself, giving him a quick look as if to say "Knock it off." One of the many things that irritated her was people acting weird around her. As she naturally acted herself at almost all times, she tended to expect the same of others, although she hadn't realized this herself yet.

She picked up one of the key rings, and shook it, causing the group of keys to rattle together as if to catch Zurui's attention. Zurui spoke up, sounding rather unsure of himself and asked about her Blood Limit. "Ah, that explains it, He must have noticed my hands...Are they that weird?"[/color] She realized as she eyed her hand with the keys, it's mouth hiding behind the various key's. True, she at first was worried about them, and even wore gloves at first to hide them.

She quickly accepted them though once she realized they allowed her to use chakra more easily. Still, there were many who see them as VERY unusual to put it lightly, especially if they weren't aware of the Toujitakumi clan's existence. Still, the various looks she'd get by many in the Sand Village annoyed her to no end. Although the overly-proud and loud Kitsumi wouldn't admit it, she still was rather self conscious about her hands. After all, she was a Healthy Teenage Girl, of course her appearance in the eye's of other's mattered to her, even if she'd say otherwise.

"Oh, my Hands? Well, It's my Strongest...my only strength actually. I'm not that good at controlling my chakra yet despite my age, but with my Bloodline I'm able to use a easier form of art. So far, I think I've almost mastered the Basics, but that's pretty much it though. I'm only able to use the first steps in my art out of four, The C1. I'm surprised you knew my hands were a bloodline and not a mutation or something like others do, How much do you know about it? And do you find my hands...disturbing?"

She said as she glanced down at her hands once more, then back to Zurui. He probably did, she'd seen all sorts of reactions to her hands over the past few months, more than likely she'd be able to tell just by his next reaction. Even if he did though, she wouldn't care. No matter what others would think of her hands or herself, they were gifts. They gave her access to the most beautiful art of all, Explosions. Maybe she'd give him a demonstration...

[Lol, no worries. I also Am back and school, i don't mind if our posts were more easy and relaxed][/size]

[--Theo Hart--]

"Oh, my Hands? Well, It's my strongest--my only strength, actually. I'm not that good at controlling my chakra yet, despite my age, but with my Bloodline, I'm able to use an easier form of art. So far, I think I've almost mastered the Basics, but that's pretty much it, though. I'm only able to use the first step in my art out of four--The C1.

"I'm surprised you knew my hands were a bloodline and not a mutation or something, like others do. How much do you know about it? And do you find my hands," she paused, glancing at her hands, "disturbing?" She looked back at him.

Zurui cradled his chin in his hand, with slightly narrowed eyes, pondering. He would give a straight answer. One that he proceeded to deliver in as professional a tone as possible.

"No, I definitely wouldn't say, 'disturbing.' Shocking? Yes. Scary? Maybe. I mean, you have mouths in your hands," Zurui shrugged, "It isn't something you expect to see."

Zurui smiled.

"But, we're ninja. If the opponent is scared of you, or freaks out, or stutters in his response to you because of your hands, that is an asset. And, as for allies--speaking for myself, it won't be an issue, now that I've seen them.

"I mean, honestly, when you really look at it," he put his hands in his pockets, "We're in a world full of demi-gods. Human beings should not have the natural capabilities that any ninja possess. So, really, when you think about it," Zurui chuckled, "we're all pretty messed up. Freaky things, like your hands, down to the simplest elemental jutsu, just come with the territory.

"Heck, look at me even," he patted his flute's holster on his backside, "My entire career is going to be dedicated to making my enemies go insane by playing a flute, and learning how to scream so loud that their ears bleed."

Zurui blinked a few times, and then laughed.

"Alright, that last one sounded a little bit off, but yeah--I really can't say that your hands aren't shocking, but welcome to the club. We're all freaks in one way or another, so, in a manner of speaking, none of us are.

"As for what I know about your bloodlimit, all I can remember from the Academy is that you use your hands to imbued chakra into clay and then cause it to explode. That's all I can really remember; the Kekkai Genkai unit was a few years ago."

((Ugh. Not as good as I would have hoped, but, oh well, I managed to make it in before the IIC limit! XD Sorry for the late reply. I was planning to write it earlier in the day, but an old family friend was passing through, so that took up my entire evening.))

[kitsumi]

The Sankuchi Girl lowered her hands back to the desk infront of her, turning them over so that the palms faced down. She eyed Zurui, intently watching to see how he would react. She expected him to say something childlike, to be obviously put off. However, when he spoke, he was surprisingly Mature, especially for his age. He didn't noticeably lie or say something he would Assume Kitumi wanted to hear.

Instead, he calmly told her his own opinion. Kitsumi smirked, Zurui was quiet mature, it was a bit amusing. his explanation on how in the overall scheme of things there were lots of "freaky" things. It did make sense, but overall mouth hands get a bit more attention than A Jutsu when it comes to being "Odd." Oh well, Kitsumi would get used to it, she already was. If someone ever went beyond a look and said something to her though, heh, Try it!

She blew another pink bubble, blowing it up actually pretty large considering she only had one piece worth of gum, And snapped the bubble apart with another motion of her lips, creating another obnoxiously loud pop. Zurui continued his explanation, telling her about how his own skill revolving around a flute and screaming; Sound Jutsu. "Sound Jutsu? Interesting..."[/i] Kitsumi was intrigued, the subject of Ninjutsu was one of her Favorite, behind Art and Pyromania. Sound Jutsu was one of the higher releases she was interested in. She herself only understood the basics, although had no skill in it. She never played instruments, although she appreciated those who could master that art. Her Eye's fell to the holster for his Flute, and she began to piece two and two together.

"Yeah, I guess your right, I wasn't expecting a kid like you to be smart to be honest...So you plan on studying Sound Jutsu with your Flute? Hmm...Were you by chance training yesterday? i think I may have seen you. Can you wrap that cloth on your shoulders around your head for a second?"

She said, indirectly yet unintentionally referring to him as dumb. She studied him a bit more, envisioning the boy with his headwrap on. similar size, yet there were many kids with his body type around. He also was much more hygienic than that boy from yesterday...but still, there weren't too many people walking around playing flutes for their Jutsu.

[Sorry, my excuse is I was mainly out with my friends for Friday and Saturday >_<][/size]

[--Theo Hart--]

((That's fine--I did the same exact thing.))

During his monologue, Zurui noted Kitsumi's relaxing body posture and general loss of tension. By the end of it, she seemed perfectly at ease. That pleased him greatly. No need to make anyone uncomfortable, much less a girl.

After a particularly loud pop from her gumball, she peeked around at his flute's holster and, only momentarily, her eyes widened by a slight margin.

Zurui cringed and prayed to Kami that she didn't conclude what he would have, if he were in her position.

"Yeah, I guess you're right, I wasn't expecting a kid like you to be smart," she paused momentarily, still eying his flute. Zurui's eye twitched slightly in annoyance, compounded by the pressure of her probable assumption. Kitsumi looked back at him, "So, you plan on studying Sound Jutsu with your Flute?" she hummed in thought, "Were you by chance training yesterday?"

Zurui face-faulted at this. There wasn't a good reason to lie. His honor wouldn't permit it.

"I think I may have seen you."

Twitch.

"Can you wrap that cloth on your shoulders around your head for a second?"

Zurui twitched one last time, then sighed in defeat. He swiftly wrapped his keffiyeh around his head, in its proper protective position.

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice me; I looked like a mongrel," said Zurui, his voice muffled slightly by the cloth, "It's a keffiyeh, by the way--not that I'm suggesting you call it by its name, as pronouncing it could cripple your tongue if you say it too fast."

[kitsumi]

Kitsumi Grinned by the various reactions from Zurui. So it WAS him! Wow, she had a completely different view on him between yesterday and today. Yesterday, he appeared like a Homeless kid since he slept outside and and obviously smelled enough like the wildlife for a rabbit to find him suitable to sleep on. Today, he was cleaner though. Furthermore, he was smart and not immature as well.

He replaced his "Keffiyeh" around his face, and she recognized him, Well, as good as someone could recognize someone who had there head and face covered. Now that she had found out that he had been the boy training yesterday, she was intriqued about it, just how was playing that note on his flute helping his training? How exactly did sound jutsu work without any hand seals? It was hard enough to channel chakra with Hand seals, but without it? "Well, My art doesn't use hand signs except for Katsu, and it's easier for me, but thats because my hands cn channel more chakra inside them than I could around them. Hmm...she was interested.

"A keffiyeh...You don't get hot wearing that all the time? Heh, your completely different than what I imagined from seeing you yesterday. Are you good with Rabbits, or animals in General? Heehee"

She Giggled, winking at Zurai as she reminded him of awakening with a Rabbit on top of him. Hopefully, he hadn't been to tired to forget, because it was actually pretty humorous remembering about it.

"Anyways, That flute and Sound Jutsu, How do you use it? What Kind of Sound do you use, the Ninjutsu type or the Genjutsu Type? Sound can be very tricky I think, because It has lots of capabilities, is it your favorite?"

She asked, wondering. There were people everywhere, and Lots of them used Sand or Wind Ninjutsu, although she hadn't run into anyone particularly skilled. Kitsumi herself like Ninjutsu, it fascinated her far more than Taijutsu or Genjutsu, and of the Releases, fire was the one she had been studying up on the most.

[--Theo Hart--]

"Anyways, That flute and Sound Jutsu, How do you use it? What Kind of Sound do you use, the Ninjutsu type or the Genjutsu Type? Sound can be very tricky I think, because It has lots of capabilities, is it your favorite?"

Zurui chuckled, scratching the hair underneath his keffiyeh, looking away from Kitsumi, but then returned to her eyes and smiled slightly.

"First, yes, I am excellent with rabbits, and only rabbits, apparently. Hawks, mongooses, and snakes now track me down on a regular basis, due to my smell," said Zurui, deadpanning the line, "As for my flute, and Sound Jutsu in general, I'm going into Nin and Genjutsu, but I..." he looked off to the side momentarily before returning, "I haven't learned much, yet. I discovered Sound just a little while after I graduated from the Academy, just over a month ago, and trained relentlessly to get the Release. So, I have a long road ahead of me.

"From what I've read and from my little bit of experience, you have to feel Sound," Zurui sighed, "It's a very abstract principle before you actually do it.

"Basically, every tone in existence has a chakra capability, only able to be unlocked by those who go into the Sound Release. Those tones, notes, to Sound users, are equivalent to handseals--one note to each handseal, I've heard -- I haven't matched them up quite yet. As I said, I'm just starting out.

"Is it my favorite?"

Zurui shrugged.

"I don't really think I could say that it's my, 'favorite,' quite yet. On paper, it seems to have the most potential out of any Release, except for, maybe, Lightning. You can't really escape from sound, unless you plug your ears with your fingers, in which case you can't use handseals," Zurui smiled, "Which works out pretty good for me."

So, Zurui and Kitsumi talked about Jutsu, their respective arts--Zurui a little bit surprised by Kitsumi's enthusiasm for explosions--and Genin life in general.

They stopped at about 10 p.m., and, after Zurui left a room key and a small note of apology and direction for the woman who left earlier, left the rest to the ANBU, who would wake them if anything needed their attention.

Zurui walked down the hallway to his room, turned to wish Kitsumi a goodnight, and entered his room. He quickly stripped, then, after finding some complimentary white cotton PJs with the Kazekage's seal embroidered on the back, soaked his usual clothing in the sink and hung them to dry out on the patio's banister.

Once that was all done, he flopped upon his too-large bed, bouncing a bit, and thought about the day.

Kitsumi. She seemed nice. A little bit obsessive with her explosives, but that wasn't really a problem--as long as she didn't set him on fire. Very bubbly personality.

He hoped they would be able to do a mission again, after this one.

With that final thought, Zurui went to sleep.

-----

After Zurui woke up, he searched about the Embassy for some philo dough, which, to his dismay, wasn't in the building. Even the ANBU, mildly amused at his frantic request for baking materials, couldn't find it. What kind of Wind Village outpost doesn't stock philo dough? He wrote a post-it note concerning the issue and stuck it to the front desk, behind the counter, so one could only see it if they were behind the desk.

As the day before, Zurui and Kitsumi talked about various subjects with a light and jovial tone, and held the fort with little-to-no intrusion. They closed up shop, leaving the night to the ANBU, and went to bed.

-----

Zurui opened groggy eyes, revealing a blinking clock reading 7:00. The Third Day.

If it weren't for Kitsumi, and the whole "jutsu" thing, he probably would have considered reneging his shinobi status. Actually, that was a bit overly melodramatic, but, still, the mission objective was mind-numbingly boring.

Zurui looked over at his blank notepad, which was supposed to be filled with the names of visitors and merchants. No one had visited them. The Embassy of Wind Country. No one.

Not that he wasn't thankful no S-ranked Missing Nin had decided to attack them as of late, but one couldn't deny that the mission was quite dull. Taking care of a nearly empty building with a skeleton staff while the manager was out on business. You'd think that being the Liaison for Wind Country would be a bit more exciting than sitting around at a desk, shooting the breeze with a beautiful girl.

Wait.

Well. Actually, it wasn't all that bad.

He got up out of bed, opened the patio door to the outside banister to get his dried clothing from the previous day and, after switching between his borrowed PJs and his usual outfit, opened the door and sauntered down the hallway to the inordinately large pantry. After choosing some pancake mix, he returned to his room, gathered the necessary ingredients from the mini-fridge, and, after making some batter, began preparing pancakes on the stove.

In the one-minute thirty-second time frame between wet batter and a flippable cake, Zurui rushed out the door and rapped on Kitsumi's door.

"Hey, Kitsumi-san, I'm making pancakes in my room, if you want some!"

He then rushed back through his door, leaving it open, and flipped the first pancake.

((Lol time skip.))

[kento]

[also, Kento has ninja training from an academy... it's just that his injury prevented him from proceeding to Genin in that village. Now, he's searching for a place that will give him a chance rather than turn its back on him.]

Kento entered the building. The sudden coolness of the building was a happy relief from the otherwise unbearable heat outside. After days of walking, he had reached the Kaze no Kuni's Capital of Hitofuki. Weary from travel, Kento wanted to sit in one of the chairs that lined the interior of the room, however, was set to deprive himself of that luxury until he had a meeting with the Kazekage set up... Either that, or successfully enlisted himself as a Sand Ninja.

Kento walked across the room, his purple Kimono fluttering as he walked. He pulled off the straw hat he was wearing, uncovering his brown hair and green eyes. A single katana on his left hip, a pipe flute, and fifteen scrolls he was carrying in a pouch on his hip were his only possessions. His lean, muscular body was tanned already from being in the sun for so long, in fact, he had developed a rather bad sunburn on his open sandled feet which were dusty with the sand he had been walking on this whole time. His cloths would suggest 'noble birth', perhaps to a Lord of some far off country... or perhaps he had stolen them from the first man he had come across, however, one thing could be said for him... he wasn't your average noble. Having walked across the dessert to get to the city all by himself was already a journey not many people embarked on, seeing as there were many bandit infested roads along the way. Only one who was either brave or a fool would travel alone, and only a ninja or one with like experiance would be able to make it here in one peice.

The boy stopped as he reached the counter. "Hel-?" He caughed as his voice cracked, dry from the journey. He swollowed, trying to wet his vocal cords before attempting to speak again. "Hello? Can I speak with someone?" He asked, wondering if anyone was there to begin with that could help him...

[kitsumi]

Kitsumi giggled abit when Zurui mentioned Rabbits liking him, while other animals tracked him due to thinking he was rabbit by his smell. More interestingly though, was when he said sound based Ninjutsu and Genjutsu would be his focus, and that just getting the release was a struggle. Still, getting a release at his age was quiet the achievement in Kitsumi's opinion, although Releasing your Element and Training it were two different things. Of course He, and she as well, had a long way ahead of them if they wished to become adept in either of their Arts.

He also spoke of how their was an abstract element to utilizing sound, how each musical note had the potential to channel chakra in a way similar to handseals. "Interesting...the fact that he even found some of the Similarities between notes and seals is pretty neat." She wouldn't be able to use a flute, at least not yet. She could imagine it being extremely difficult compared to handseals.

They talked about Jutsu for quiet awhile, Kitsumi explaining the explosive powers of her Bloodline Enthusiastically, although she didn't give a demonstration in a place like the embassy. Essentially, they had no work the first day and spent the time talking since they had no visitors to attend to. Time seemed to actually pass by quickly, Kitsumi didn't even get a chance to open her notebook and draw!

Eventually, they each went to their rooms after telling each other Goodnight, Leaving the empty embassy to the Anbu who kept t himself the whole time. For such a large place to be so empty, so quiet, It was a pretty creepy feeling. As such, she didn't have any particular urge to walk around instead of remaining in her room. Instead, she sat in the bathtub, taking a cool refreshing bath. Afterwords, she sat outside of the small balcony in her room, combing her long Indigo Blue hair while staring out into the empty Dessert. It looked better a nigh, she had to admit, and it was much more colder as well without the sun.

"Zurai-Kun...He's pretty decent. He's smart, and not an annoyance like alot of people in Sand. Heh, Too bad he's not a few year or two older..."

She told herself as she finished combing her hair through, then she too went to bed for the night...

**************

Morning came quickly, and despite her window being open and allowing the sun to shine into the room, the Kunoichi was pretty sound asleep, sprawled out on the large bed with her blanket wrapped comfortably over and around her. It wasn't until she heard a monotonous knocking on her door that she began to stir. She groggily rolled to her side, yawning upon awakening to Zurui's invitation. Pancakes sounded good to be honest, and it would save her of needing to make herself Breakfast. It wasn't everyday she was offered breakfast.

"*Yawn* Huh? Oh! Yeah, Sure, I'll Be there in a few minutes, Thanks Zurui-Kun!"

She said to the direction of the door, sliding out of bed and removing her Pajama's for her other Clothing. After which she grabbed a Brush to once again brush her hair, which was a bit fuzzy after awakening. Her hair actually required alot of attention to keep it looking nice. She walked out of her room, combing her hair while walking towards Zurui's nearby room, until she heard a voice nearly drowned out by the size of the building. Was here someone there?

"Sorry for the wait Zurui-Kun, but I think there might be someone here, I'm gonna check the main room, I'll be back."

Having said that, she walked down the hallway and around the corner to once again enter the main room, and immediately noticed a young man at the front of the hall, next to the main reception Counter were she had sat yesterday. He was tall, Really tall and had a whole foot over the Kunoichi. His hair was Short and Brown, and kinda made his purple Kimono stand out. He appeared worn and tired, as many no doubt did upon arriving to the embassy. He did not appear to have any possesions, aside from a Flute, a bag, and more interestingly a Katana on his hip.

She took a few steps closer before saying anything, glancing around the room to see if there were any other people. "Noone Else is here...did this guy come alone, with no supplies? I wouldn't imagined that for someone who wasn't from the Village, maybe he's here to take over the mission?"[/i] She wondered. No, She doubted any Resident of Sunagakure, hitofuki or anyone in the wind Country in general would wear a Kimono when traveling through the Desert.

"Hello, Can I help you?"

Kitsumi said as she continued brushing her hair.[/size]

[kento]

The boy sighed. Of all times to arrive, why did it have to be in the morning? Of course they weren't going to be here! They had to sleep and eat and who knows when they were actually going to be open? Kento was about to walk out when he heard footsteps. He looked over to see a girl come from the depths of the building.

She was very tiny, adding a look of fragility and softness to the already beutiful girl. However, the headband on her forehead would suggest otherwise. She was a Sand Shinobi, perhaps on a mission that required her to be here. Her long, violet hair fell to around her theighs. Kento was a bit taken aback by the strange hair color, however, even more so by her matching eyes. The clothes she wore complimented her unique features. Kento looked away for a moment, reminding himself why he was here in the first place, and it wasn't to meet girls! Though, that was a benefit!

Kento started with a ridged, shallow bow, his back not allowing him to bend too far over. "I am Kento and I have traveled from the Land of Water. I am a vegabond; a traveler. I have been looking for residence and have moved from village to village and my search has led me out here. And in exchange for food and shelter, I will enlist as a Shinobi of your village to repay my debt for your kindness." Kento bowed again. usually, this part went smoothly. It was when he was taken in for physical examination that was the problem... ever since the accident... Kento banished the memory as it threatened to replay once again.

"I am not sure how you go about accepting new ninja into your village, however, I would like to speak with the Kazekage if that is at all possible. I believe I could be an active asset to your community."

[👺 Usiel]

(This one is short, doesn't deal with you guys though. By the way I will be changing the actual mission so heads up, remember your days alright.)

A falcon suddenly flew to the Mansion of the embassy as it waited for the one that first sent him. There was a note attached that was simple and easy to understand.

Nidaime Kazekage is not in right now, but with everything that you have done within the past year, and showing and proving yourself we can arrange something soon enough. Our condolences goes out to your family.

[--Theo Hart--]

((Heero--"Changing the actual mission"? Are we going to be paid more, perchance, as we are holding down the fort? *eye-waggle*))

Zurui had already bolted back to his room before Kitsumi replied, but, just as he walked through the threshold, he had managed to make out, "... Sure... few... Thanks...!" giving the general idea that she had accepted his offer of grilled cakes.

As he flipped one of the two cakes, a very muffled male voice made its way from, he assumed, the Courtyard. His eyebrows rose while he instinctively looked over his shoulder.

"A visitor?"

A moment later, Kitsumi confirmed the fact, speaking through the open doorway.

"Sorry for the wait, Zurui-kun, but I think there might be someone here. I'm gonna check the main room; I'll be back."

Zurui chuckled. "It figures that the one visitor we get comes in while I'm making breakfast." His mind flashed through the hours of waiting by the front desk and meandering conversations with Kitsumi.

Wait.

Zurui blinked.

"Zurui-kun?"

After blinking for a little bit, he just shrugged the affectionate suffix off as a part of her personality. After all, Kitsumi was quite friendly. And he was making her pancakes.

With that, his mind transitioned back to the preparing of foodstuffs, discovering that the two he was making had finished, and had turned out quite well, lightly tanned and fluffy. Smiling lightly with satisfaction, he put the two of them on a large porcelain plate he had procured earlier, then plopped another dollop of batter for each of the two blistering pans set upon the stove.

Zurui, in a moment of third-person insight, laughed at his domesticity. He was a ninja. Making pancakes.

Darn good pancakes.

[kitsumi]

[My internet Expired Wednesday, and It just got paid yesterday, Sorry For keeping everyone waiting. Oh and Zurui, It means every three days this counts as another mission completed ^_^]

Kitsumi's indigo Eye's watched, as the lone and curious traveler turned to her and bowed, although his gesture seemed a bit odd, a bit...forced? Restraint? She was no Medic or anything, so she didn't spot or see it as the problems the man had in his back, although that didn't mean she couldn't see something was wrong.

Continuing brushing her long hair, The Kunoichi listened to the tall man speak, and thought over what he said and requested. "So he wants to become a ninja? Yeah, He'll have to meet the Kazekage for that. Let's see, now were was that paper..."[/color] Kitsumi thought as she stopped brushing her hair, and walked over and behind the main desk. She opened the drawer on the left, and pulled out an application she had seen yesterday, as well as a pen. She placed the brush down on the desk, and turned to face Kento.

"Speaking to the Kazekage shouldn't be a problem, well maybe...You see, believe it or not, this embassy is pretty shorthanded despite how fancy it looks. Aside from the guard, I'm one out of the two people here, and We were only here for a mission. So yeah, While getting to meet the Kage wouldn't be a problem by itself, there's not anyone here to be your guide to the village."

She told the guy, but already was thinking up a solution. This guy looked tired, and whether he wanted to or not, could definitely use some rest after crossing through the desert, apparently Alone. So it wouldn't be a problem, She and Zurui-kun would be done tomorrow and would return to the village, this guy could tag along and meet the Kazekage. nothing complicated. Although first came the paper work, and kitsumi tapped the paper with the pen as if to direct his attention.

"But more on that later, first, I have to fill out this paper, after that I have an idea to help you. Anyways, Kento was it? What's your Full name? I need to know your name, All the villages you've been to, if you ever were a ninja in any of them, you already told me your reason for coming, so that would only leave what you have with you."

She was about to just pass him the pen and let him fill out the form, although for some reason she decided against it started filling out the things he already said herself. [/size]

[kento]

[xD I want some of those pancakes right now!]

Kento relaxed a little as the girl told him it wouldn't be a problem seeing the Kazekage. This wasn't to say the Kazekage couldn't reject him... but at least he was being looked at! Well... not that he hadn't been looked at before... The young man wasn't sure whether to feel happy or nervous... so he felt both! The girl reached down and picked up a sheet of paper.

"But more on that later, first, I have to fill out this paper, after that I have an idea to help you." Kento felt his stomach tighten. A paper? He had to fill out a paper with everything on it? His background, his age... his birth? He was starting to feel a little more nervous about this process. usually, the other villages did the physical exam first... "Anyways, Kento was it? What's your Full name? I need to know your name, All the villages you've been to, if you ever were a ninja in any of them, you already told me your reason for coming, so that would only leave what you have with you."

Kento, keeping a straight face nodded his head, understanding that even though he didn't like it, it had to be done.

"My full name is Ishin, Kento... I am eighteen and... son of Ishin, Sora," A slight vehoment tone could be heard when he said the name. "dono of Mizu no Kuni. My father is a famous assassin of the Hidden Mist Village and one of the lords ruling in Mizu no Kuni as a retired shinobi. My mother..." he glanced away from the girl, not wanting to go into too much detail. "she wasn't around much." He quickly moved on, hoping that was good enough. "I have trained at the Mizu no Kuni's Hidden Mist Village... and was..." Kento struggled for the words. "Handicaped... at the age of twelve, just as I was about to graduate as a genin. After being denied entrance to the village, I trained under Master Usaka Tsunahara of the Hidden Mist Village. She was going to train me in the art of Kenjutsu. However, she leared about my handicap... She expelled me as a student before I got into any real training. I didn't accept my first denial and looked for another Master. I found him, Ren Ichaicha, Master of the Tsuinken style. He, too, quikly found out of my disability and expelled me." Kenshin sighed, remembering how the two masters had talked to one another about him... and both came to the conclusion he would only hurt himself if he had continued... that his was a foolish dream that would end up killing him...

"Not wanting to stay in a village that wouldn't train me, I traveled to the Land of Thunder and trained under Master Mai Miyazaki of the Hidden Cloud Village in the art of Senkou Kensei Kenshiki. She too learned of my handicap, however, she took me in and taught me to face it without fear and without hatered." His voice became a little softer as he continued. "I excelled under her training and after a year I became a Sandan of the Kaze Ryuu Hiden disipline. She dismissed me to train under another master to grow and excel under his watch... I was told that he was in the Hidden Sand Village... Master Kyo Kazume. I origionally came here to train under him... but... also want to complete my dream of becoming a great Shinobi..."

The boy sighed shakily, his nerves still acting up even after all he had said. He had just told someone his complete history! He usually would have hidden his birth and status... but the love of his dream of becoming a shinobi outweighed his fear of being discovered.

"Is there... anything else about me you need to know?"

[--Theo Hart--]

(("...this guy could tag along and meet the Kazekage..."

ARGHABBLEGARFNONONO.

We would be killed, Kitsumi! XD

We're not supposed to bring anyone to Suna, that is, until they are approved. Otherwise, we would be giving away the position of the village. Even then, IC, I doubt Zurui would go along with escorting a foreigner into the village, especially since he wouldn't be able to confirm his power level. (X > 9000 Lawl.)

Kento needs to write an entrance request, like with the other person, and one of us will send it to the Kazekage's office on a falcon. He'll need to stay at the Embassy until the reply comes back and an ANBU can give it to him, I guess, if the Caretaker isn't back by that time. *shrugs*

Your idea of a form is good, though.))

Zurui coked his head over his shoulder, trying to make out anything the male voice was saying. Nothing substantial. He could only hear mumbling, the visitor's words muffled by the walls, and, after concentrating for a bit, noted a sad undertone. Perhaps even bitter. Huh.

ANBU should keep an eye on that guy.

Zurui, finished the last of the pancakes, while, unbenounced to him, Kento was finishing his narrative. Six golden brown pipin' hot pancakes, three for each of them, set upon a pair of sparkling clean porcelain plates. All ready to eat. Oh, wait. No--the syrup.

Zurui strolled out of his room, in no real hurry, into the hallway. He looked to his right, down the hall and into the courtyard, where Kitsumi was with a large man wearing a worn purple kimono. Odd. He obviously wore that thing while traveling through the open desert. A kimono. In the open desert.

Odd.

Shrugging it off, Zurui turned back down the hall, further into the building, where the overly-large pantry and his syrup awaited him. After retrieving the items and returning to his room, he set the two plates of pancakes on the kitchen counter-top, then pulled over two chairs for he and Kitsumi to sit upon. He had considered bringing breakfast out to her, but, considering a, probably, very hungry guest was out there with her, one whom he didn't prepare anything for, Zurui, not wanting to be a bad host, thought it would be best to simply wait.

The man would be able to order food from the kitchen anyway. There were a few chefs back there.

After "setting the table" with some utensils, Zurui grabbed the unused notepad and its pen, walked out of his room, leaving the steaming pancakes on the counter, and approached Kitsumi and the seemingly odd man in the purple kimono.

"Hello, Kitsumi-san. Is this a guest we have, here?"

((I misplaced my Laptop, so I can't do anything too long--I'm currently using my parent's computer, and Dad needs his Facebook fix. XD))

[kitsumi]

[I forgot about the letter, Kitsu would have gotten Everyone Killed >_< Zurui to the rescue
I don't know how you could Misplace a Laptop, I'd chain it to my wrist if I had one...But don't worry about not being able to post long, no big deal.]

The man Nodded, agreeing with the indigo haired Genin, and begun telling her his information. 18 years old, two older than herself. His father was a high-Ranking shinobi in kirigakure, that was more than alittle surprising. "Really? That would explain his clothes...but why would he be alone, and why wouldn't he be in the Mist?" She wrote down his name and Age, and the information about the Hidden mist while she listened intently, an interest in the subject growing in her. It wasn't everyday someone came claiming to be the son of a noble.

Kento Struggled at the next part of his story, finding it difficult to speak about how he had been injured just prior to becoming a Genin. His injury prevented him from joining the Ranks of Kiri's Shinobi's and continued to deny him training in the Art of Kenjutsu from several master's. Disability? He looked fine in her Eye's, and if he made it through the desert, in a Kimono no less, He must have some skill, lots of endurance, and good Health.

Next in Kento's Story was about how he had left to find a Master in another Village, the land of thunder. He was successful, and although his master knew of his handicap, she still trained him. His training was good, and he excelled until his master had instructed him to train under another Sensei, and thus his reason for requesting to be in the village. However, he still wished about being a Shinobi, his dream.

Kitsumi had remained quiet, her pen scribbling the basic information he had told her onto the paper, and she had written in his Flute, a bag of supplies, and A sword as his only possessions despite checking anything. She was pretty lax on rules, especially if no one was around to watch her. Anyways, she was filling out his past villages and reason for being here when she began to think about being a Shinobi. "I never really thought about just becoming a genin, I sort of took it for granted, but there a people like Kento who being even a Genin means so much..." She hoped his journey here wouldn't be in vain.

She continued Filling in the paper, and realized just how hungry she was getting. Hopefully, she wouldn't keep Zurui waiting to long. Hot pancakes sounded more appealing than cold ones after all. Once finished filling out the basic form, she wondered what exactly his disability was. It might be personal, but it was pretty important, especially if he planned on trying to become a shinobi.

"That was...pretty interesting, Hopefully everything will go smoothly for you. Although, I'll have to include your disability in the form, It's kinda important, you know? So if you tell me, it doesn't have to be anything specific, no Medical term or anything, just the general concept."

She said to Kento, knowing that sooner or later He'll be checked in order to become a Genin. If he was able to use a sword though, wouldn't that be enough? Then there was always ninjutsu, you didn't have to be very physical when it came to Ninjutsu, or genjutsu for that matter. Although if Kenjutsu was Truly the Art he wished to pursue...Kitsumi hadn't noticed Zurui enter the room, and start walking towards the two. She was lucky, for Zurui would have to be around when Kitsu revealed her idea on bringing in Kento into the Village.

"Hey Zurui-Kun, Yeah, we finally got work to do. Anyways, this is Kento-san, He came from Kamimari no Kunai to get training in Kenjutsu. He wants to Meet Kazekage-sama, and I was planning on letting him come with us when we leave tomorrow back to Suna since I'm sure you've noticed there doesn't seem anyone else around willing to do it..."

She said to Zurui and Kento, completely forgetting one of the most basic Shinobi rules of revealing the location of the village. The kunoichi wasn't used to speaking to people who were outside the village, and as such the rule never really came to her mind.

[kento]

[What? Over 9000?!? Impossible!!!! XD]

Kento saw something move and his eyes flew to the spot where another shinobi appeared, he was carrying a paper and pen. As the Shinobi opened the door, a smell wafted into the room. It was delicious! How long had it been since he had eaten anything besides rice and beans? Mai hadn't been one of the best cooks, so they had usually eaten rice and beans she had bought at the store with her meager wages. Kento helped by running around and doing errands for the villagers, but didn't get that much himself. He went on 'missions' as his teacher had called them, trying to make him feel better about his position, still trying to live up to his family's name even while under such disabilities. He had turned 'bounty hunter' catching petty criminals with small rewards on their return. One of them had been a swordsman as well, earning Kento a scar on his left eyebrow, however, his brown hair usually covered it up pretty well.

"Hey Zurui-Kun, Yeah, we finally got work to do. Anyway, this is Kento-san, He came from Kamimari no Kuni to get training in Kenjutsu. He wants to Meet Kazekage-sama, and I was planning on letting him come with us when we leave tomorrow back to Suna since I'm sure you've noticed there doesn't seem anyone else around willing to do it..."

Kento was more than a little relieved that she seemed to forget all about his disability due to the distraction. However... was it really that simple to get into the village? It was hidden after all... Not to mention, Mist had proceedures outsiders had to go through to get into Mist at all. He had been expecting a more drawn out process than just walking in and getting to go to their village. But... perhaps they were more lax? Kento couldn't bring himself to believe it, but maybe that was the way they were.

Kento turned to the young shinobi that had entered and bowed awkwardly to him, his back not allowing him to bend too far. "Zurui-san was it? It is a pleasure to meet you. As Kitsumi-san said, I am Kento." The young man memorized the names, foregoing proper introductions.

[--Theo Hart--]

"Hey, Zurui-kun--yeah, we finally got work to do. Anyways, this is Kento-san. He came from Kamimari no Kuna to get training in Kenjutsu. He wants to meet Kazekage-sama, and I was planning on letting him come with us," Zurui's eyes widened slightly at this, but he quickly reined in his reaction, "when we leave tomorrow for Suna, since I'm sure you've noticed there doesn't seem anyone else around willing to do it..."

Over the past three days, he had never been annoyed by Kitsumi's naturally open, friendly, and occasionally overenthusiastic, nature. It made her a good friend and companion. But it didn't make her a very aware ninja off the battlefield, apparently, and Zurui was trying his best to contain his frustration.

She shouldn't have even mentioned the possibility of a personal escort to Suna to this oddly dressed foreigner--Kento. Now, he would be expecting a service Zurui wouldn't dare provide.

If things took a turn for the worst, they would be killed for it. It would be a spectacle. Zurui's diminutive head would become an ornament for the front gates. A rotting, organic, morose object lesson for all absent minded genin. That is, until it fully decomposed.

Kitsumi-chan's head would share the same fate--to be nothing more than a bloody head on a pike.

Zurui glanced at Kitsumi, involuntarily focusing at her appearance from the neckline up. He shuddered.

Jarred back into reality, Zurui noted Kento's awkward bow to him, revealing sizable strain upon his back. His mind cycled mechanically through the more likely possibilities. Mild Muscular Dystrophy? Scoliosis? General nerve damage? Local paralyzation?

"Zurui-san was it? It is a pleasure to meet you. As Kitsumi-san said, I am Kento."

Zurui gave a quick bow in return, maintaining eye contact with him all the while.

"Welcome to the Wind Country Embassy, Kento-san. Why do you wish to receive training in Kenjutsu?"

[kitsumi]

After telling Zurui her plan on Escorting Kento, She noticed his looked of surprise through his eye's, yet hadn't realized what she had done or why he would be shocked. As perceptive as she was, it was in her nature to be more than a little aloof and carefree. Especially with her dislike of strict rules, it was only natural she'd forget such a tiny Detail, right?

Meanwhile, Kento Had introduced himself to Zurui, and bowed once more. Again, she noticed how his bow was abit awkward, and now that she heard his story about being crippled, she was able to link it to his disability. Was it his spine? Or his whole general Back? Or some other bone or muscle that would cause it? If It was simply restricting him from bending too low, would that be enough to keep him from being a shinobi? No, It would be safe to say there ere other motions he wasn't able to perform.

Her eye's once again glanced back at the paper, Noticing that she had yet to fill out anything related to his disability other than in the short summary of his past with the other two villages. Zurui welcomed and questioned Kento, and Kitsumi was interested as well. Of the various Ninja Arts, why Kenjutsu? A disability wouldn't effect Ninjutsu much, or Genjutsu as far as she knew, although Genjutsu and Taijutsu had never been her interest. No, with her large chakra supply and quick handseals, she was ideal to devote her time into Ninjutsu, provided she could just learn to control her chakra properly, and that Art wouldn't cut into her time.

"Yeah, I'm also wondering that. Why Kenjutsu when you yourself said you had a disability. How exactly does your disability effect your training?"

Kitsumi had said, raising her eye's from the paper back to the Guest. She had indirectly asked to know his disability once more, it probably was the last thing she needed before he could be good to go, given a room to recuperate from the long journey and such before leaving once again when they were done. "Come to think of it, I'm not really sure how someone goes about meeting the Kage...I doubt it would be as easy as just walking in, is an appointment needed to be scheduled or something?"[/i] Hmm...she'd have to ask Zurui or risk looking through a set of guides or rules that were bound to be somewhere in that large desk. She was four years older than him give or take a few months, yet he seemed much more capable at remembering boring details, especially since he was still fresh out of the academy.

"Also, Zurui-kun? Do you know how to meet the Kage exactly? Did they teach you the right ways of contacting? It's been awhile since I was at the academy, and I'm not the best at formal things, but I don't think it's fine to just walk in..."

She said, giving a small chuckle from how obvious it was that it wouldn't be as simple as she thought to meet the strongest Shinobi in sand; The Kazekage on such short notice. [/size]