/Orange Over The Snow/...(Private)

[touketsu]

/Scene/

Touketsu Ren yawned, stretching out beneath the snow-laden pine tree. It had been a long day, of training, of duties, of filling out paperwork and of handling communications with the cranky daimyo of the Snow Country. His eyes were lazy, but sharp, idly taking in the whole of the village, stretched out below him, down the mountain, flurried under the constant pressure of the snowstorms that were perpetual in the village he called home. He sighed contentedly. It was called cold, inhospitable, a hopeless battle against the climate… Ren liked it. He felt warm, nuzzled in the snow beneath the tree. He was happy. Finally, he was starting to come to terms with being the leader of the village.

His eyes glanced upward, at the young ANBU assistant of his, his guardian. He still had yet to find out even the name of his protector with the scarlet mane, but he intended to find out. A girl who followed him constantly, protected him without question, even took it so far as to live in his house… Though she tried to hide, he had found her snoring one morning… Her face turned away. As he approached and went to look, she had awoken, and simply activated an invisibility ninjutsu. He sighed. The woman was in enigma… It was like having an insane older sister. Somewhat.

He yawned, looking out over the village. “Odd.” He said, frowning. It seemed… More active than usual. Which was saying something, considering he ran a nearly silent village, a near non-entity in the ninja world. He sighed, scratching his ear and readying himself. He would need to get up soon, and get back to the tower… “Eh.” He said dismissively. He’d get to it. For now, he was enjoying himself, nuzzled in his warm blanket of cold… Sunset was soon, but the illumination was still strong, with near a half an hour before the golden rays turned to burning orange illumination on the white snow. He yawned again.

“S’nice out here.” He murmured.

[Nishiko]

The young olive eyed medic found herself in the seclusion of the Snow Village once more. Cold air nipped at her exposed skin and pressed against her thin clothing, but was there a point in wearing more? After all it would just result in more blood stained clothing that was usually beyond saving. A sigh left her lips as she realized how much money she spent on clothes every month. Flames of red would lick against her hand as she pressed it to her chest, letting the warmth of heat seeker surrounded her as she walked.

The snow covered country was a sight to behold. Beautiful and pristine, like a Christmas card. But no picture could ever capture the true cold that the snow flurries and winds brought. Despite her dislike of the weather she could never imagine living elsewhere. This place was her home. With those thoughts her mind drifted back to the kitten she had recently taken in. The poor thing hated being left alone, but as a medic and a ninja she was unable to always be home.

Her journey continued, trudging through snow banks and beyond. She had no real destination, only a chance to get away from the confines of her home. She had found herself growing restless lately. For all that saving lives was important, she craved adventure. She winced at the thought. Adventure was what had brought her her most recent patient. A simple mission had turned into a battle that nearly lost the man his arm. And the blood loss and frost bite were horrendous. Blood still stained her sleeves from that healing, having left the hospital and not returning home to change. Pine trees grew closer as she walked and a dark figure was under one. Another animal in need of help? A patient perhaps? Her pace quickened as she went to make sure whoever or whatever was under the tree was alright.

[touketsu]

“Mmm?” The onyx eyes of the young Yukikage glancing upward. He felt the chakra of his guardian tense, something he’d learned to tune into as he’d spent more time in her presence. “It seems we have a visitor.” He raised his hand, deflecting the near motion of his protector, reassuring her. He instead nuzzled more securely into the blanket of coolness. He watched with a bored eye as this particular figure approached. As it resolved, he found that it was a feminine figure, one dressed in a rather impressive lack of clothing. Ren chuckled, turning back to the clouds the floated overhead. He’d seen this girl around before… He frowned lightly, trying to call up her name from his memories.

“Hatamoto Natsue, the Rising Genin of the Medical community.” He said allowed as she came within hearing range. “Haven’t had the opportunity to talk with you in quite some time.” He smiled, brushing the snow of his robes and standing up. With a frown, he removed the hat of the Yukikage, wrapping the ceremonial robe around his body more tightly. He rewrapped his scarf as well, brushing the snow from his form. He didn’t really mind it, but he supposed he had to look a bit more presentable for his ninja. He chuckled. His ninja. He didn’t even think about that odd turn of phrase anymore.

“So what brings you out here to see the lazy Yondaime?” He said, yawning beneath his robe and gently scratching his messy raven hair. It was indeed an odd place to be wandering, not on any of the known paths, north of the village, somewhat up the mountains, with a view of the village but a fair walk away. It was rather coincidental that she had happened to walk this path, and, somewhat suspect. His ANBU tensed lightly, but he shook his head slightly. He would take care of it himself if it was an attack. If it wasn’t, he surely wouldn’t mind pleasant conversation...

[Nishiko]

And thus the words would travel the distance, reaching the Medics ears and causing her to halt on top of the snow bank. Her head ducked in respect as she replied in a barely audible tone. “You’re too kind to remember me sir, though I doubt I deserve to be called a ‘rising genin’,” she said softly before looking up to him once more. She nervously twined her arms behind her back, not wanting the Yondaime to see her sporting blood stained clothes like the poor orphan that she was. She ventured a few steps closer, unsure how to react in such a situation. Over time she had little contact with this man, despite the fact that she held him in the highest respect.

And again he would speak. Natsue’s lips would fall into a gentle frown at the mention of lazy. “I hardly consider you lazy Yondaime-sama. Running a country and what not, one could definitely not be considered lazy with such a task,” She replied calmly as her olive eyes would skim the area. She really had ended up in the middle of nowhere. After her last healing she had simply began wandering, the site of so much pain had left her restless and in need of solitude to clear her thoughts, yet this is what she had stumbled upon, the Yukikage himself.

She remembered him vaguely from the academy; he was younger than her she knew. “It appears I’ve found the path less traveled. I’m sorry if I disturbed you Yondiame-sama, I was just… walking around after work. I should leave though; I wouldn’t want to be a bother.” The kunoichi mentally kicked herself for rambling. It was really best for her to go she thought. Barging in upon the Yukikage when he was probably enjoying some alone time, and then just ranting while attempting to hide her blood stained clothes, she couldn’t even imagine how foolish she must look. Most of the time she would have been talkative, or polite at the least, but this was no ninja or patient of hers, this was her leader, the man to whom she owed respect and her allegiance.

[touketsu]

“Oh, no. I think you fully deserve it. I keep track of my shinobi and kunoichi.” He said warmly, smiling from under his white scarf. “You’re one of the foremost medical students we have in this village.” His sharp, analytical eyes picked up her motion of her arms, and he chuckled. “And there’s really no need to hide those. I’m happy to see someone who works that hard.” It wasn’t an intentional manner of action. Ren was simply the type of person who caught everything in his sight, analyzed it, and addressed it, quite politely. He yawned lightly, still smiling at her. It was rare to see people of his age around the village. Most were either younger or much older.

“Mmm…” He hummed for a moment. “Call me Ren, please. Ren-sama if you really insist, but my name will do fine.” He stretched out slightly. “And what do you call a man, laying in the snow for the past hour, besides lazy?” He laughed lightly again. A little company had been just what he needed. He smirked, gently letting his finger stroke over Retsu’s scroll beneath his cloak. He could handle himself, regardless.

“No, no, no need to leave at all, Natsue-chan.” He said, waving his hands. “It’s fine, really. I’d enjoy some company right now. The life of the Yukikage is rather lonely.” He stretched out, his hands finding the clasp of his robe and drawing it off his body. “Though I think you could use this more than I could.” He said, carefully folding the robe of his leadership and offering it to girl beside him. “You must be cold in that rather… unique choice of attire.” Ren chose his words carefully, but not without a hint of mirth to them… Yes, a little companionship would be just perfect…

[Nishiko]

Her arms slowly unfolded from their position clasped behind her back. As she chose not to reply to his statements, being rather unsure how to. And thus he would speak again. Calling the Yukikage by his first name? Her breath caught for a moment as she thought over whether or not she could bring herself to call him anything but his official title. “Ren… Sama…” She murmured unsurely as she smiled slightly. “I’d probably say someone hardworking is taking a well deserved break to be honest,” she replied as her fingers laced through her rich brown curls, drawing the ribbon out of them and letting her hair fall freely across her shoulders.

A smile crossed her pale lips as he informed her that leaving was unnecessary. She watched with curiosity as he removed his robe and offered her the folded garment. “Oh, I couldn’t!” Natsue exclaimed as she showed him her arms, or more accurately her sleeves. “I’m sure the blood would stain it… I had a rather… messy healing this afternoon you see…” her voice trailed off as her mind drifted black to the bloody mess she had seen this afternoon. A shiver that had nothing to do with the cold moved through her body as her eyes drifted to the side. His other words reached her and she smiled down at her clothes. “I seem to get covered in blood no matter what I wear, this way I have less to wash,” she explained with a weary smile.

A moment of silence passed before she looked over at Ren. “Is it lonely, being Kage that is?” Her eyes would drift away once more. “It must be. Being a Medic is lonely too. I spend much more time with people on the brink of death than I do with any actual ninja…” she said softly. A small smile crossed her face as she looked back to him and ran a hand through her curls once more. “This is a rather depressing conversation I’m afraid,” she said with a small laugh.

[touketsu]

“Mmm…” He murmured to himself. “Well that’s impressive.” He watched as her hair tumbled free from an arrangement he already found attractive, falling in curls about her face. His eyebrows rose slightly. She was pretty darn good looking, if it came down to it. Especially with her hair down, he mused. He shrugged a particularly lecherous chain of thoughts from his mind before smirking at her words. “Well, I thank you for that.” He said. “Even though, technically, I’m still supposed to be on duty…” He chuckled. “Shadow Clones are a wonderful help for that.”

“Now, I must insist you take it.” He said, stepping a bit closer and, without accepting rejection as a possibility, opened the robe of the Yukikage and wrapped it around her shoulders. “The blood will come out easily enough, and I refuse to let a pretty girl go cold if I can do something about it.” With a quick twist of his feet he let his fingers glide gently slide down her shoulders before he let go and resumed his position. He rubbed his arms lightly from the lack of the encompassing heat of his robe, but continued smiling anyway. His smile faltered a bit at her words.

“Indeed, I imagine it is.” He said quietly, gently pulling his arms out of his pocket. He took a step forward, walking tight past her. He had known some medics before, some people very special to him as well. They had disappeared into the mists after the job became too much for them… He turned and face the glorious vista of Yukigakure no Sato once more, smiling wistfully. “Well.” He said, stepping up beside Natsue. He threw a friendly arm around her shoulders, in that ponderous manner of behavior he always exhibited, and smiled. “We can keep each other company then, ne?”

[Nishiko]

“So sneaky Ren-sama! Using Shadow Clones, I never would have imagined,” she said with a smile. Natsue watched as moved closer to her and wrapped the robe around her body. His hands ran down her shoulders and a blush tinted her face. Her olive eyes watched as he rubbed his arms. “Here,” she murmured as she called her chakra to her left hand. A red glow surrounded her hand as she reached towards his chest. “This is how I get by wearing what I do,” she admitted. If he made no move to stop her, her hand would press against his chest, letting the heat pass over him and keep him warm.

And finally his words would sink in, deepening her blush. “P-pretty?” She stammered as her hands clasped together, twining nervously. “That’s not true!” A hand would rise to drift through her rich brown locks. Being called pretty? That had never happened before… and from no one less than the Yukikage himself. It was a lot for the young medic to swallow. As his arm circled her shoulder she blushed again and looked away but made no move to step away. “Perhaps… Though I think we could find something more interesting than standing here freezing,” she admitted softly.

The picturesque view of Yuki no Kuni was always a site to behold. But something about being there and seeing the landscape with Ren… it was magical. Natsue looked up as large wet flakes began to drift downwards from the sky, decorating the country once more with their icy glory. A giggle left her mouth as she thought of times long past when she used to love nothing more than the snow. How she would always run outside to catch the flakes on her tongue. The happy times before her father had passed away.

[touketsu]

“I’m a sneaky kind of guy…” He chuckled, scratching the back of his head. “A bit of a drain on the chakra, though.” He smiled. She was a nice girl… He liked her. Of course, the young Yukikage enjoying the company of others, especially those of the female gender, was not uncommon. He enjoyed hanging out, and he enjoyed flirting. But this girl, he identified with. She had a manner about her person that seemed to remind him of himself, in a way. Plus, she was really cute. Spending time with cute girls was always a worthy endeavor.

He backed up slightly as her hand came towards him, charged with chakra, but allowed it to press into his chest. Instantly, a feeling of powerful warmth spread all over his body, and unwittingly he let out a sigh of relaxation as her hand rested on his chest. Giving a littler shiver of enjoyment, he looked at her with a smirk on his face. “I see… Quite sneaky yourself.” Her next words made him frown lightly. “Oh psh.” He said. “You are quite cute, no two ways about it.”

His eyebrow shot up next, causing him to move a little closer to him. “And what did you have in mind that can one-up something this beautiful?” He asked, his voice dropping into a slightly lower, more seductive brand of speech. He smiled at her, his obsidian eyes glittering with something indescribable. He smiled as a soft giggle escaped her lips. Perhaps something a lot more interesting could be found to do… He smirked lightly.

[Nishiko]

A shiver ran through her body as he spoke. His words were as innocent as the snow before them but his tone… it held something more. “Beautiful yes…” She said slowly, “But not necessarily interesting. Or warm,” she added with a small laugh as she drew his robes closer to her body for warmth. Her eyes flickered upwards to catch his. Their eyes held for a moment and her breath caught into her throat until she looked away. Her hands moved nervously through her brown locks once more as she silently cursed at herself. What had happened to the usually head strong Natsue who would have probably dumped this man in the snow by now? How did he have such a strong effect on her?

Banishing the thoughts she would take a step away from him before bending down to scoop a handful of snow. She straightened and turned before giving him a grin. She would bounce slowly pack the snow together, her eyes carefully watching Ren. And then she would lob it forth. Skipping away as she did so and laughing. She was curious to see what his response would be. Would he dodge or be hit? Counter with a snowball? Or be angry and counter with something much more serious. Her head poked out from behind the pine tree Ren had originally been resting beneath. The snow continued to fall but that wasn’t of importance now, all that mattered was the here and now. No worries about the future and no thoughts of tomorrow. Only this moment.

[Nishiko]

Suddenly the suns rays bounced across the snow, catching the kunoichi's attention. It was nearly sunset. "oh no.... I have to get home... I'll see you soon I Hope!" Natsue called as she an towards her home, only allowing herself one glance back towards Ren. All good things must come to an end after all.

|Exit|

[touketsu]

=Exit=