[M]emorial [Open]

[Uchiha Genma]

"I guess you don't age anymore.."

The Uchiha, clad in a black shirt that went just past his waist, held by a white belt stared down at the grave site with an emotionless gaze. His face betrayed no sadness as he looked upon a small stone that read: "Uchiha Ryo". Moving down to a sitting positon upon his own legs, he would reach into a bag and remove a small meal of rice and beef, placing it next to the stone. "I guess this makes me the older brother." he said as he placed a pair of chopsticks upon it and smiled a very unnoticable smile. "I brought this just for you. Just the way you'd have liked it." he said softly as he closed his eyes and felt the breeze upon his face.

For awhile he'd simply sit and listen, feeling the breeze and being close to his brother. For several hours he'd sit in peace, seemingly not even feeling anything. However a single tear escaped his eye, running down his cheek as he slowly opened them. "Why us, brother? Why me..?" he questioned quietly as his fists clenched tightly. His knuckles turned white as his anger flared. "One day I will rise to a level where no one can touch me. I'll carry our dream, achieve what we hoped for as children." he spoke softly as he ripped up a small patch of grass in his hand and scattered it upon the ground.

..several more hours rolled on as he sang quitely to himself at first, growing louder so that Ryo could "Hear". Soon he would be singing at the top of his lungs, old songs that his mother used to sing to them when they were young. It was amazing what a young mind could remember through out the ages, these things would never leave him. "Sometimes I envy you Ryo. You're all waiting for me on the other side, yet I am too cowardly to join you. Perhaps I'll meet my death out there someday." he spoke with a soft chuckle. "..but I'll live long enough to see our clans glory restored." and with that he'd stand, turning to scan the graveyard one last time.

Where do I go from here?

[hotaru]

With a delicate silk parasol perched gently on her shoulder, the Kusakage made her rounds around her village, making sure everything was undisturbed and no problems had arisen. After making her way through the business district, she came across the cemetery reserved for the shinobi of Kusagakure. With a sigh, a somber calm feeling came over her. Great men and women were buried here, and she would no doubt join them one day. The truth was, the prospect of death terrified the young woman. What lay beyond this life? There was only one way to find out, and Hotaru wasnt curious enough to try and solve the mystery.

It seemed that she wasnt alone in the graveyard. A familiar raven mane flowed in the wind in front of a tombstone. Strolling up behind the figure, an inquisitive alto floated on the breeze. "Genma?" Had the uchiha finally returned from his escapades beyond the land of grass?

[Uchiha Genma]

"Hm..?"

Just as he was about to leave, his name would be called out to him, drifting towards him on the breeze. At first he thought he was going crazy and something within the graveyard was talking to him, however on further inspection he'd notice a familiar form. For the first time in quite awhile, he was happy to see someone else besides the phantoms in his dreams, happy to see another Kusagakure Shinobi. Dusting his robes off with his hands, Genma made his way towards her slowly, his hair falling down over a single eye as it had become accustomed to now. "Good Morning, Hotaru-sama." he greeted softly with a nod, a thoughtful look would overtake his features for a moment before he decided it could wait a moment.

"How have things been since I've been gone? I heard that the Chuunin exams were held in my absence, I am sorry I could not attend for Kusa." a slight bow was made to Hotaru to show his apology, standing erect once more he would raise a brow at her as if examining her. "You look alot stronger then when I last left."

[hotaru]

A smile curled across her lips as her suspicions had been confirmed. Uchiha Genma had returned to Kusa. "Its good to see you again as well Genma-kun. I trust your travels went well?" With her free hand, the Kusakage swept a few loose tendrils behind her ear that had been tousled by the wind.

Answering his question, Hotaru gave a brief history of events since Genma's absence. "Well, we have had a few skirmishes here and there, but nothing we couldnt handle. However, our former Allies in Amegakure didnt take our friendship seriously and decided to attack. Ever since then, the rain village has become our proverbial bitch. In fact, as we speak one of our chuunin is in the process of stealing their scrolls.

With a giggle, her face contorted into a puzzled expression. "I'm not sure how I can look stronger, but thanks, i guess. I suppose all my hard work hasn't been for nothing after all." The Kusakage waited for the shinobi to retell the tale of his travels. No doubt thrilling adventures enthralled him otherwise he would have come home sooner.

[Uchiha Genma]

"My travels.. were bland and unexciting. Especially when I was attacked by one of our own Kusa Shinobi."

Genma seemed unphased by this now, were it several months ago he would still be angry. "What kind of grown woman removes a fifteen year old boys shirt eh?" he asked with a sort of shudder, moving on quickly from the subject. He smiled as he watched her move her hair out of her face, such things he'd missed when he was in the Mist. Their village was void of what seemed to be life so human contact was something he'd been starved of for the most part. Reaching back into his bag, Genma would russle around for a moment before smirking once he'd grabbed ahold of his gift.

"Along the way I got you a gift." Genma said with a coy smile as he removed a large scroll and a Mist Headband. "A momento of my boring journey, you can have them I'm done with them." he added as he reached out and basically forced her to take them. "I've lost my old forehead protector along the way though, I'm going to need a new one." he said with a chuckle. Exchanging a gift and laughing when he should feel completely sad, perhaps he was either uplifted by Hotaru's presence or he'd completely lost all feeling.

"Just don't try and return them, I didn't get a recipt."

[hotaru]

The newly returned shinobi sure was. . . vague. Nevertheless, Hotaru was glad her old sparring partner had returned. Watching curiously as he ruffled through his bag, the Hanakora was, to say the least, surprised when the Uchiha offered up a kirigakure headband as well as a large scroll which appeared to be the village secrets from the Mist village. Not knowing what to say, she simply took possession of the treasures as her oldest friend made a snide remark. "Just dont try and return them, I didn't get a receipt."

With a sarcastic smile of her own, the Kusakage launched a sarcastic jab of her own. "Well, I'm sure I could get store credit or something. You didnt buy on credit did you? Otherwise it'll just go back on your account."

"Well Genma, you've been gone for a while. Got any new tricks up your sleeve? You couldnt have learned nothing during your travels.

[Uchiha Genma]

"I could've learned nothing, but then what kind of Uchiha would I be?"

He asked with a dull, emotionless tone. He was of course joking, however he was pretty good at disguising it sometimes.. or perhaps he was really just that dull. Rubbing his chin for a moment he would smirk slowly. "Well I did learn quite a few new Katon techniques, yet I am still hesitant to enter the Uchiha clans abilities. I am afraid I'll hurt someone or something." he said slowly. His tone turned to a dead serious one at that, it had been the only thing truly holding him back from learning them and becoming a true Uchiha. "Perhaps if I learned to control my flames alot better, you'd become my training partner again?" his question asked as he shifted his stance.

"In a village like this, I could do more harm then good practicing them here. Too much foliage."

[hotaru]

"Wise decision. Why dont you seek out a proper location while I tie up a few loose ends in the village. There's still a few things i need to organize before I settle into a training session."

With a smile and a wave, the Kusakage quickly left the graveyard, en route for the Item Shop and the Mansion to help out a friend she thought was in trouble.

[Uchiha Genma]

"Hm.."

Genma would wander off to find a training spot.

---

Exit.