Greenhouse Meeting [P]

[tomoshibi]

Pushing open the door of a greenhouse he often visited the Kouba walked in. It was a nice, quiet location, mostly abandoned save for him as far as he knew. Opening up his flytrap a bit more, the crimson eyed being rubbed the foliage of a plant between two jet black fingers. It was like any other greenhouse, save the rows were much wider to accomidate his carapase, and the roof up higher. A smile brushed his lip, sharpened jaws revealing themselves, alone with his plants once more.

The botanical beauty about the area was a thign he enjoyed, for the company of many humans did not please him. So far there were none in which he truely enjoyed being with, he was a Kouba and solitary by nature. A harsh, throaty hum entered his voice as he retracted the hand, his vision blocked by the plant that contained him. Moving on the frail figure stopped at a rose bush, rubbing the petals of one of the roses between two purest white fingers now. Untying the ponytail that held back luxurious green tresses, the male shook his head, allowing his hair to flow freely, sometimes being alone got tiring though.

[Hyuuga Sadako]

It was one of those days. One of the days she would abandon training entirely and simply sit and sketch. With a blank pad and an excess of pencils tucked behind her ears and in her pockets the pink haired kunoichi would head to the greenhouse she called her own. Abandoned as far as she knew, she had thought of the place as a second home, though she rarely visited at this time of day. Her black shirt hugged her body tightly, her matching collar and sleeves itched and her stockings and skirt felt heavy in the warm weather, even her boots were annoying her today but her life would surely end if someone were to per chance see her in anything less. She had a reputation after all, though perhaps not a good one.

A giggle left her throat as she pushed open the door to the greenhouse and let the scents of flowers and plants overtake her. Something though, was off. In the dirt before her there were footprints that were unfamiliar. Had someone else found her haven? With her sketchbook in one hand she drew out a senbon in the other, Kami only knew what heathen had been in her sanctuary, or could still be there. “Hellooooo~” She called cheerfully, her senbon carefully hidden within her hand. “Anybody home~?” Her large pink eyes showed the expression of pure innocence, her glasses balanced precariously on her nose adding to the look.

[tomoshibi]

And thus the sounds drifted into the ears of Xer, the Kouba at work. The creak of the door indicated someone had entered this home away from home. Withdrawing the ivory flesh he once more closed his flytrap to its previous standards. With a black cloak drapign his body, the Kouba turned and walked toward the door. And then the call struck his ears, a female voice resounding throughout the area in a medlodius, cheerful tone. it was rather annoying, but he knew what they wanted, or so he though.

Before he forgot, the Kouba turned and plucked a rose, such was usually the cause for a disturbance. With it carefully tucked away and hidden along with most of his body he walked into view of the female. His hulking sillouhette gazed upon her, dwarfing the girl, with slightly glowing crimson orbs peering from his visage. "Why have you come here?" Such was his simple reply in a somewhat love rasping tone, as usual for such situations. The kunoichi with pink eyes and tresses before him did not look like the usual rose seeker, but it was still likely the case.

[Hyuuga Sadako]

Undaunted by the presence before her Miki placed a finger to her lips, one from the hand holding the sketchbook. “Because I can,” she said finally as she let her hand fall away from her mouth. Once more her tone projected innocence, but her eyes screamed for him to challenge her. “Why are you here? You’d best not be disturbing the plants, some of them are quite delicate and need a gentle touch!” Her reprimand, she knew, was most likely in vain. With the look of this male she could see he probably knew plants as well as her, if not better.

She smiled and looked at the plants around her. Despite the curious appearance of the male she looked at him as she would any person, without showing the slightest concern for any oddity he may have. She herself wasn’t exactly normal with her pink hair and eyes and milky white skin after all. She set her sketchbook on the ground to allow her hand to run lovingly down the surface of an obviously poisonous vine, her eyes never once left the male, but her hand still avoided any of the scattered spines alone the plant. “May I sketch you?” She asked suddenly, she herself was surprised by the randomness of the request but there was no turning back now.

[tomoshibi]

Crimson gazing never faultering from the kunoichi he listened, somewhat baffled by her lack of fear of him. Usually those in Kusa feared the presence of a Kouba such as himself, yet her eyes challenged him as their gazes remained locked. Her answer was worded very eloquently, quite another surprise for the Kouba. Yet her question and assault followed shortly after, nothing showing on his face differently from before.

"I am here because this place is the closest thing to a home I have, these plants are my family. Why should I yield such a haven to one who cannot care for them?" The words flowed from his lips, the last portion not directed at her, yet accepting the challenge of her pale pink eyes all the same. As Xero watched her stroke the venomous vine, he bore no fear of her poisoning herself, she had the look about her that told him such. That was when the most startling thing happened, he asked to draw him. Mouth falling open, he stared wide eyed for a moment, fangs gleaming very slightly.

Quickly recomposing himself he spoke once more, a simple phrase. "If that is your wish, but I must root." Without much thought and before he turned to walk out he pulled the rose into the open from hiding within his flytrap. With deft hands he would move to place it behinder the pink haired girls ear, positions so its throwns would brush the flesh, yet keep it unbroken. Once done he would turn to walkfrom the room and settle within one of the lanes, feet and, oddly enough, clothing would root into the ground, crimson orbs gazing on to see if the girl had followed.

[Hyuuga Sadako]

"I am here because this place is the closest thing to a home I have, these plants are my family. Why should I yield such a haven to one who cannot care for them?"

Miki’s hands came to rest on her hips as she glared at him over her glasses. “You sure as hell better not mean me Mister. Cuz I take darn good care of these plants, they’re not my family, but my life.” As she finished he stepped towards her, her body tensed as she gripped her senbon. As he pulled the flower forth she relaxed slightly and allowed him to tuck it behind her ear. She watched as her settled into one of the lanes and seemed to meld into the very ground.

The kunoichi sank to sit upon the ground, drawing her knees up to serve as a table for a sketch pad. She drew forth a pencil and eyed him curiously before beginning. Her hand moved deftly creating lines and shadows across the page, her eyes never leaving the male. “Do you have a name?” She asked without stopping her sketch, “I’ll assume for now that you’re part of a blood limit as opposed to some type of incredibly rare plant species.” Her words though rude, were said simply and without thought. If he took offense to it then she had no problem remaining silent for the remainder of the time it took to sketch.

[tomoshibi]

A soft, low chuckle eminated from the Kouba's throat at her comment upon his plant-like form. "I am Xero... Xero Kouba." He assumed that she would know of his Kekkei genkai from its origin within the lands of Kusa no Kuni and continued. "And who might you be?" The Kouba had the fainted ideal that he had seen the girll before, but could not place where she had been. As he sat and contemplated he wondered at this marvel of a girl, one who had not feared the presence of one of the brutal Kouba of old. Remaining still he looked upon the pink haired Kunoichi, attempting to get a thorough grasp upon the girl.

[Hyuuga Sadako]

“Miki Hanajima,” she said softly as she sketched. “I know the name but I can’t say I know much about the Kouba themselves, some connection with plants I’m assuming. It must go beyond that though because the Hanakora are also known for their connection with plants.” Miki explained calmly as she eyed his fangs, her pencil continued to move in quick strokes, her speed was surprising but years of practice did just that. In a matter of minutes she was putting the finishing details on her drawing.

Her pink eyes scanned the page as she frowned slightly. It was decent but not her best. “I’m afraid I haven’t done to well. I should get going now but would you perhaps allow me the chance to try again on a later date? I can be quite the perfectionist at times.” She smiled slightly, it was an odd expression for the kunoichi who was unused to being friendly.

[tomoshibi]

So the girl knew of the Kouba, yet not much. As the girl seemed ignorant of the Kouba, he would begin explaining about his traits of his blood. it was a rather long explination, yet it filled up the quiet that would have simply been filled by the pencil scratching. Though the jutsu were left out of the explination, Xero managed to cover the bloodline fairly well. In the end he would simply say, "I am different from most though, not plauged by some of the mental illnesses we suffer."

As she commented upon her rushed artistry the Kouba smiled briefly. As he uprooted himself he would speak in the same manner as before, though a touch of pleasure within his voice. "I'm sure the drawing is perfect, yet if you wish you may, hell, I rather enjoyed your company." Another chuckle of laughter would accompany the words, as he had only moments ago explained the solitary nature of Kouba and continued. "If you wish to find me I'll likely be in the fields of Kusa no Kuni... Maybe I'll even show you a side of the Kouba few live to see." Moving foreward as he spoke he would offer her a hand up as he spoke the cryptic words.

[Hyuuga Sadako]

She gripped his hand and nodded. "OH wait!" She said suddenly. She carefully ripped her drawing from the sketchbook and scribbled her signature across it. "This ones for you. I'll give you the better version to after I make a copy of it," she promised as she held the paper out for him to take.

[tomoshibi]

Blinking at her sudden remark and offer he took the picture gratefully. "Thank you, but I really couldn't accept such artistry free of charge." With a smile he removed 2500 Ryo from a pouch within his flytrap and spoke, offering her the money. "Here, take this." The offer was more a demand, for he would not allow her to leave without accepting payment.

[Hyuuga Sadako]

Miki stared for a moment then accepted the Ryo. "Very well, but I will find a way to pay you back because this is more than I truly deserve" she said simply before taking the Ryo and making her leave.

[Exit upon payment]

[Nira]

{Transaction complete}

[tomoshibi]

Nodding at her words as the Miki took the Ryo, Xero would follow her out of the greenhouse. he had done what he came to do and checked the plants and it was now time to practive his Kouba techniques.

[Exit]