Nurturing a Budding Spirit (Kumiko/Private)

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[ENTER with Unconscious Kumiko]

Katsu walked through the streets of Kumogakure. The cold spring air whipping against his clothing. It was sunny, although the sun didn't give much warmth. Katsu was heading for a park near his location, to rest and relax. He had a broken right arm, although it was mostly healed by this point, and Katsu was enjoying his time off from being a Shinobi (although he had done some physical training to keep himself in shape.) Now though he was itching to get back to his training, he had so many things he wanted to learn to do!

For now though, Katsu walkeddown the street towards a park, oh... and he awkwardly held an unconscious Kumiko in his arms, relying on the strength of the sling on his right arm to support her tiny weight. Poor girl, she was so timid and shy, yet kind and probably a very good person. Katsu felt for her, which was why he was taking her to a park. So that when she recovered from her stress-induced faint she would have no other stress to bother her. Katsu for his part still had his soul anchored to hers, creating a bond of trust and comfort between the two that should let her be able to speak to him a little more freely than normal.

The park! A quaint little place that was filled mostly with flowering bushes and trees with some wide open sections for picnics, along with a few trails to lose yourself amongst the nature. On a cold day in Spring the park was empty, the flowers unblooming and the wind chilling even amongst the trees. Katsu wandered into the area until he found a large cherry tree, it's branches heavy with new leaves, and he laid Kumiko at the base of it. Taking off his formal Kazeraikou Haori very carefully, Katsu laid it across Kumiko's form to keep the cold off. Katsu could ignore the cold easily enough, but most couldn't and he didn't want Kumiko to catch a cold.

With all that done Katsu sat down next to her and waited for her to awake, knowing she never really stayed out for long when she fainted. (She'd done it half a dozen times or so in Katsu's presence he thought.)

[Kumiko | Yuki]

The dazed Kumiko awoke to an... Uncomfortable arrangement. She found herself shaded by a beautiful cherry tree, and as she turned her dizzy little head, she spotted Katsu's eye searching into hers. Had she really fainted again? It was almost impossible for her to believe that so much drama had happened in such a short amount of time; just the thought of it made her head rush. "Well, at least it's Katsu and not some random stranger by my side" she thought to herself, but the knowledge of the two men, Kohaku and Hazukai still stayed with her. She worried what they could've of thought of both her and Katsu's entrance, not to mention their exit.

Eventually she decided to pass her thoughts and move onto more serious matters. After all, she felt dazed enough to talk with a slur and not a stutter.

"Where... Where are we? Katsu?" As his name touched her lips, it reassured her of what terrible things couldn't have happened while she lay in her deadened state. However, it was only then that she realized Katsu's arm sitting comfortably in a sling. She cupped her mouth at the reaction of a thousand scenarios tumbling in her head all at once. She also noticed the unfamiliar clothing spread across her body, and immediately turned to Katsu for guidance. Although she was at better terms with him than most, she most certainly didn't feel in any position to borrow his goods. Even as a gesture.

"I.. Is this yours?" A shred of confidence lay in her tone, which could possibly be distinguishable. Of course, you'd have to be familiar with her uncanny nervous tendencies to really tell any improvement that had been administered. She lay in wait for an answer, or some form of interaction now that she'd decided to start up a conversation. Kumiko was definitely not one for awkward silences.

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"Where... Where are we? Katsu?" Kumiko asked in a delicate voice, sounding nervous as usual, but at least lacking that fear in her aura that meant she was frightened of Katsu as she spoke. Of course it was at that moment that she noticed Katsu's arm in a sling, and her hands went to her mouth in horror.

Katsu couldn't help but give a gentle smile at Kumiko's reaction. She really was a kind and tender soul, and Katsu wanted to help her. "We're at the park I mentioned, about a dozen blocks from those two men's home." Katsu replied, still smiling gently at Kumiko as they sat next to each other under the cherry tree. It wasn't that bad of a day as long as you could put off the cold, Katsu thought. Shifting into a more comfortable position, using his left hand to steady himself, he turned to look at Kumiko more fully.

Right arm was raised a bit to draw attention to it, and Katsu's smile turned to a grin, “It's not as bad as it looks. It broke during the invasion of the Gale Empire, but it's almost all healed up now, just another week and I'll be ready to continue Shinobi duty. Would you like to write your name on the cast?” Holding his right arm out for inspection Katsu would let Kumiko notice the half a dozen names on the cast, each written in colorful inks and marker. Katsu pulled a marker from his pocket and offered it to Kumiko, inviting her to write her name if she wished.

“Oh, and about the Haori around you. Yeah it's mine, but I didn't want you to catch cold out here. Keep it as a gift. I insist.” Katsu grinned again, putting the marker away once Kumiko had either written her name or refused his offer.

“Anyway Kumiko, the reason I came to find you is I wanted to have... a talk with you. Nothing serious, I just wanted to talk.”

[Kumiko | Yuki]

Katsu seemed to coerce long line of spindly speech, which comforted her socially reluctant being. Unfortunately, due to Kumiko's instantaneous sleeping patterns, she felt too dreary to listen with full intent. She tried as best she could though, not wanting for Katsu to think of her as insensitive. His calm smile reminded the fragile girl's mind of Kaede's, bringing an unnerving amount of woe curving along her expression, but nevertheless she stationed herself for the long conversation ahead.

"We're at the park I mentioned, about a dozen blocks from those two men's home." She nodded in approval, trying her hardest to disguise her dreary persona at the time being. The scenic cherry tree helped to calm her spirit at least; acting as a metaphorical wall against other people trying to enter her fort.

“It's not as bad as it looks. It broke during the invasion of the Gale Empire, but it's almost all healed up now, just another week and I'll be ready to continue Shinobi duty. Would you like to write your name on the cast?” Reminding herself of her lack of a pen, she calmly nodded in his direction, but was instantly discouraged by his strong look, darting right into her eyes. He spoke of the so called Haori showering her body in warmth, at which she gave a grateful grin and her shy, but gracious thanks.

"Tha-thank you," She was still exploring the art of confidence - so far her progress hadn't led her far. Even so, Katsu hadnled the situation nicely enough to comfort the flimsy female. However it was then, that Katsu said something very intriguing to the sly little girl...

“Anyway Kumiko, the reason I came to find you is I wanted to have... a talk with you. Nothing serious, I just wanted to talk.” She hadn't really known Katsu for long, so she was honestly surprised when he phrased the question. Her mind whirred with ideas but she couldn't come up with even a singular clue. Finally, she gave up and rendered her own little queston.

What... about? Her tone was shaky, maybe more so than usual but as curious as ever. She wasn't sure if her heart was beating in anticipation or just sheer fear anymore; either could be a good answer.

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[OOC: Tiny post is tiny but can't think of anything else for now]

"What.. about?" Kumiko replied in her timid manner, and Katsu smiled gently again. He had to remember how timid she was, and fearful of others. He didn't want to scare her off, after all.

Very carefully, Katsu tried to phrase his next sentence in such a way so that it wasn't quite so alarming. "Well. You. I wanted to get to know you better Kumiko. Your likes and dislikes, your favorite color, anything you're willing to tell me. I want to be able to know about my friends, after all." Katsu kept his voice gentle and calm, trying to soothe Kumiko with it. Trying to hold a conversation was much like trying to keep a wild rabbit from fleeing from the sight of you. Very difficult and you had to worry about your target sprinting away at top speed if you messed up...

[Kumiko | Yuki]

"Well. You. I wanted to get to know you better Kumiko. Your likes and dislikes, your favorite color, anything you're willing to tell me. I want to be able to know about my friends, after all."The shining beauty filled to the brim with fire didn't dare to look into her companion's eyes, but she couldn't help but stare as he posed such an intrusive suggestion. Of course; to any normal person the suggestion was completely harmless, but to Kumiko's mind warped with slightest hint of what one might call pessimistic insanity, she soaked up as many doubts as she possibly could. She was happy that he'd called her his friend at least, although that friendly thought was scooped up by the regiment or torment she led.

Even so, Kumiko took the time to prepare an answer for him. Too bad that by the time she'd mustered the strength to serve him, the dish was already colder than ice.

"W-what... do, you... wanna know?" Her tone was so high, that not even a mouse could reach her pitch. She fumbled nervously, expressing her opinion of the current situation, even if she didn't really want Katsu to leave. After all, he had called her his friend.

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Katsu watched as emotions flooded Kumiko's aura, threatening to block her from Katsu's view completely as the swirling and shifting colors enshrouded her figure. Doubt. Fear. Shame. The negative emotions welled up in Kumiko, and for a long time she seemed paralyzed by their influence. Katsu waited, not out of patience but concern, unable to think of something he could do to relieve her stress without accidentally causing her even more and thus his own actions were paralyzed.

Finally Kumiko managed to overcome her emotions enough to finally respond to his previous question, "W-what... do, you... wanna know?"

"Well... I'd like to know why you're so scared of me all of a sudden Kumiko. You're radiating fear and doubt... I'm not going to hurt you, or make you do anything you don't want to do. Here, maybe this will make me seem less threatening..." Katsu spoke again in soothing tones, trying to keep Kumiko from being agitated any further. As he finished his sentence he released the Henge jutsu he had been maintaining, and he very suddenly shrunk from his six-foot-something height down to a mere five-foot-three height. Katsu had suddenly turned into a child of equal stature to Kumiko, and the haori that Kumiko had been wearing suddenly shrunk down, now fitting her form much more snugly like a coat sized for her would.

"Sorry, I forgot to mention I'm actually only thirteen right now, Kumiko. I was appearing as an adult because I didn't think you'd recognize me from the one meeting we had if I appeared different. I hope this makes me seem less threatening to you, Kumiko..."

[Kumiko | Yuki]

"Well... I'd like to know why you're so scared of me all of a sudden Kumiko. You're radiating fear and doubt... I'm not going to hurt you, or make you do anything you don't want to do. Here, maybe this will make me seem less threatening..." She honestly couldn't describe what made her feel so anxious. Once she had thought it was a curse some cruel mistress had set upon her, but she knew that could only be nonsense. The causation was anonymous, but the feeling most certainly made it clear.

She sighed at the thought, deciding that she would try her best to ignore all her worries in honour of her friend Katsu. She smiled sweetly at him, trying to cage all her fear and cowardice she always seemed to express. And hate herself for it. But as she was thinking this Katsu seemed to have been undergoing a very extraordinary experience. The tall golden headed man infront of her shrunk down into what looked like a 13 year old boy.

Kumiko jumped back a little response followed by a little gasp. She couldn't the phenomena she was witnessing. Never would she have guessed such a m mature man being younger than her.

"Sorry, I forgot to mention I'm actually only thirteen right now, Kumiko. I was appearing as an adult because I didn't think you'd recognize me from the one meeting we had if I appeared different. I hope this makes me seem less threatening to you, Kumiko..." She was touched by his knowledge of her pain. She even had enough gratitude to smile, trying to tell him that she found his gesture sweet.

No... no it's okay..."

[/colour] She laid her hands in her lap giving way to her hostility. They still hurt from the tango she'd had with Kaede and Katsumi, wincing at the memory. She wondered if Katsugan had been in contact with them since, and what had happened after such a queer event.[/font][/center]

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It didn't take long for Katsu to notice a small shift in Kumiko's aura. She was touched by his gesture, and Katsu continued to smile gently at her. Of course he also noticed the twinge of pain, and looking down at her hands then back to her head he realized that she was injured. He blinked once, looking over her petite form, thinking what could have happened to harm her, and he moved forward slightly, "You're hurt. How did that happen?" Katsu's hand ever so gently touched Kumiko's face, holding her still so that he could look at the injury on her head, "Are you alrig... nevermind, you don't have to tell me Kumiko. Just relax, I won't hurt you. You're safe with me."

Katsu gently wrapped his arms around Kumiko's frail form, pulling her into his lap. He knew she might be nervous of his contact but he also knew that she wouldn't resist earlier, and it was the only way Katsu could think of to try and get her used to his presence, to come to think of him as someone she could be herself around, and be comfortable around. Katsu would simply sit there with Kumiko in his arms, gently stroking her hair in silence, waiting patiently for her to calm down, then simply holding her in continued quiet. The air was cold but Katsu's Haori would keep the wind off, and between it and Katsu himself she would be plenty warm...

It would be several hours before Katsu would leave Kumiko's side, and only after he was fully assured of her well-being. But eventually he would leave, wishing Kumiko a good day.[/font]

[EXIT]