[ 藍染 惣右介.]

[kujira]

Inhospitable climes would greet my advent to the farthest reaches of Hi No Kuni's dominion. I had made record time on my home wards journey, glad to leave the battle fields of Kaminari No Kuni to return home to Kirigakure. Yes, a rest was in order after surviving the massacres and bloodshed that had engulfed so many erstwhile allies. When would the chaos ever end? Would I even live to see such a day? Or would I to be a mere ripple in the tumultuous current that consumed the continent.

Regardless, I would run a hand through my auburn mane, soft sigh 'pon my lips as sanquine optics looked on wistfully. Soon, all to soon, I could rest within the comfort of cushioned chair in front of the fireplace at my adopted family's estate.

Ah, such lofty and ambitious ideals I aspired to!

[hotaru]

WITH YOU RIGHT HERE I’M A ROCKETEER

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Let's fly[/color][/center]

❥

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With a leap through the trees embellished with a few flips and twirls, Fang merrily made her way through the forest. Her latest conquest (whatever it was) had been a success, filling her with a sense of accomplishment and joy. After bounding through the seemingly endless sea of towering foliage for at least an hour, she happened upon a lone (aparent) shinobi simply standing in the forest, playing with his hair.

Quite intrigued by what would bring someone out alone into the dense forest, she quickly lept to a low hanging branch about 10 meters from the ground and began to hang upside down from the branch. Her bright pink pigtails hung from her crown like painted icicles and an inquisitive voice rang out through the woods with no attempt to hide her position from anyone within a mile radius.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"

She questioned loudly, a slightly wider smile than most sane individuals found comfortable forming on her lips after she shouted.

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[kujira]

My sudden reverie would be interrupted by the advent of a rather peculiar stranger. Rose coloured pig tails would hang from her crown as she addressed me from the boughs of a nearby tree, her form hanging upside down like a monkey.

A quizzical eyebrow would be arched as my body suddenly tensed to alertness. Her outward appearance didn't inspire fear or dread within me, however, the confidence in her voice and posture hinted at something more. Smile still 'pon her features I would attempt to remain calm and collected. So close to home I could ill afford to be spotted and the authorities alerted; or perhaps even this girl could be a hunter-nin in some devious disguise. My-oh-my, my idyllic journey had just taken a quite a turn!

"I'm just someone who is trying to get home miss. Might I inquire as to who you are?"

What would she do?

[hotaru]

WITH YOU RIGHT HERE I’M A ROCKETEER

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Let's fly[/color][/center]

❥

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A bit disappointed by the man's answer to her question, she released the chakra adhesive currently holding her to the branch which allowed her to plummet back into gravity's clutches. Tucking her body into a ball, her form flipped one hundred and eighty degrees before she returned to a normal posture, her sandaled feet hitting the ground without knocking her off balance.

Completely ignoring the reciprocated inquisition, she folded her arms as her face contorted into a mask of disappointed.

"You're boring."

She exclaimed bluntly, cocking her head to a slight angle as she did so. Politeness and formalities did little to slake her curiosity, and the foreigner didn't understand that this statuesque yet ever so pedestrian man simply wanted to be on his way. No, she wouldn't be letting him off that easily. Suddenly, a barrage of questions were rapidly fired from the small statured girl.

"Home from where? Home to where? Are you a ninja? What village are you from? Whats your name? Why are your eyes red? Are you sleepy? Are you sick? Do you have pink eye? Do you do drugs? Is your hair naturally that color? Why arnt you answering me?"

As the relentless battery of questions was fired, her bored disposition never faded, and even as the last inquisition passed her lips, she waited impatiently for him to respond. After all, curiosity wasn't uncommon, was it?

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[kujira]

Nimbly the girl would flip to the ground, her countenance twisted with childish disappointment. Then, to my utter amazement, she would tell me I was boring. Truly I was taken aback by these words. Me? Boring? I was nothing of the sort! No sooner had this statement been made when she had followed it up with a veritable plethora of questions. Now, I prided myself on my patience, but this girl had triggered something within me that goaded my once placid nature into unbridled indignant anger.

"Nani!? I'm not boring! I'm the complete opposite of boring! I'll have you know I'm plenty of fun! Why at all the shinobi parties they always say " Oh, Oku! Your so crazy with your blue suede jacket and rip-off pants!" You have no right to call me boring! Okay!?

[hotaru]

WITH YOU RIGHT HERE I’M A ROCKETEER

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Let's fly[/color][/center]

❥

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A bit upset that her questions went unanswered, Fang's look of boredom twisted to confusion as her first comment sent the other shinobi into a miniature rampage. After the auburn haired ninja finished his rant, an uncomfortable 5 seconds passed before the kunoichi burst out into a fit of giggles. After a few moments of uncontrollable laughter, she smiled brightly at the stranger.

"Hehehe. I like you!"

Suddenly revitalized by encountering a kindred spirit within the forest, the girl suddenly took off, running back to her perch in the tree where she first laid eyes on her new friend. Jumping up and down on the wooden construct out of excitement, she giggled again before shouting down to the shinobi.

"Kay. You need to follow me now."

And with that, she was off, bounding through the trees at suppressed pace to allow her companion to follow her. In her mind, there was no chance that this new friend could be dangerous. Or even that he would refuse her request to blindly follow her through the woods. The only question was, did he feel the same about her?

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[kujira]

Incarnadine optics flashing with barely contained wrath I would await this girls answer. Silence would sit between us, where, to my utter amazement once more, she would burst into a fit of giggles before proclaiming that she "liked" me. Slack jawed I could only gape at her as she suddenly flitted into the same tree she had appeared. My jaw could only drop further as she stated that I should follow her. And with that, she was gone, vanishing into the tree's in a pink blur of movement.

My mind could barely comprehend the chaotic scene that had unfolded before me. Just who was this girl? What was her purpose here? If any? Ah! Yet a ecstatic trill leapt through my heart. Long had I been shackled by my adopted family to credo of a shinobi of Kirigakure. The hunger for adventure that had long lain dormant within me was suddenly awoken. And with that, I endeavored to follow this girl and see what she could show me.

"Wait for me!"

[hotaru]

WITH YOU RIGHT HERE I’M A ROCKETEER

[/color]
Let's fly[/color][/center]

❥

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The wind whipped through her rose colored tendrils as her feet carried her quickly through the trees. A single glance was given to the path she had already traveled to see if her companion was following her. To her utter delight, she saw a figuring following her. Slowing her pace just enough for him to come within speaking distance, a sudden thought popped into her mind. She realized that neither of them had properly introduced themselves. This, of course, lead her to ask a question.

“Do you have any food?”

Ranghe hadn't eaten since breakfast and all this traveling had caused her belly to begin to rumble. Formalities and introductions could be postponed, however, at this instant, Fang was famished. Onigiri, gyouza, and dango began to dance in her head, teasing and taunting her with their delicious flesh.

All the while, they traveled at speeds which put even horses to shame. In no time, they would pass into the Land of Rain.

[To Rain after v posts]

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[kujira]

The landscape of Hi No Kuni would pass in an alacritous blur, such was our rapid pace. Stray locks of hair whipping forth in the wind I could barely contain the exuberant grin that lay upon my features. Here I was, breaking the shackles placed upon me since birth, living my life to its fullest.

Booming laughter escaped my throat as I kept my pace with the rose hued blur that was my new found companion. Like some fey gods of the forest we ran and laughed, oh how quickly my quite listless existence had changed!

Suddenly my companions melodic voice would ring out, her tummy rumbling audibly.

"Ah haha sorry! I think all I have left are some military ration pills. Is there a place nearby where we can stop for a bite to eat? It'll be my treat!"

[loyal]

Moved.

[hotaru]

WITH YOU RIGHT HERE I’M A ROCKETEER

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Let's fly[/color][/center]

❥

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Bounding over the boarder into Ame no Kuni, Fang was now more motivated than ever to reach home at the prospect of free food. Her pace steadily increased and in no time they were just a few hundred meters away from the gate. Giggling to herself, she suddenly stopped on a tree branch and turned to her new companion.

"We're almost there!"

Most people would find it strange that neither of them asked questions, Ranghe was just excited to finally be returning home...and to get a free meal.

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[kujira]

T'would appear my question would go unanswered as we continued our trip. Of course, by now my body was sore and aching from the alacritous pace she set. Being born of the Onigami credo my body was less able to withstand the rigors of sustained physical exertion. None the less, I would do my best to keep up.

However, the terrain would suddenly change. The idyllic and lush setting of Hi No Kuni would give way to the permanently cloud ridden landscape of Ame No Kuni. My brow would slightly furrow, were we not close to the region where Amegakure was supposed to be hidden? What was the diplomatic status between Mizu and Ame? Ah! How naive I had been! Perhaps this seductress had been leading me into a trap! Yet, as soon as the words entered my mind I knew they could not be true. Had my intuition always led me along the right path? And this feeling of kinship with the girl, certainly that could not just be in my mind.

None the less, I would voice my concern.

" Ummmm, where exactly are we going Kawaii-chan? I'm not exactly familiar with Ame No Kuni, nor am I sure its the friendliest place to be given my current allegiance, ya know?"

[hotaru]

WITH YOU RIGHT HERE I’M A ROCKETEER

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Let's fly[/color][/center]

❥

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Turning to her companion, she would answer quite matter of fact-ly.

"Amegakure."

This question, in her mind, was silly, and she intended to tell her new friend why.

"Honestly, that question seems a bit unnecessary. You must have known where we were going as soon as we crossed the boarder. And you must not want to return to Kirigakure much if at all if you were willing to divert your return voyage to follow a stranger through the woods. I'm sure the Amekage would be glad to take you in since your heart no longer lays with the Mist Village."

This sudden moment of clarity was not uncommon for the young woman, however, most people who have witnessed it are suddenly taken aback by the glimmer of intelligence.

"And besides. I need to get home and you owe me food."

Sticking her tongue out, she raced forward, approaching the gate with her companion in tow. She couldn't wait for her meal!

[to the rain gate]

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[kujira]

Laughter bubbled forth from his lips as his question was met with a rather straight forward answer. It appeared as if the girl did indeed possess a fiendish intellect beneath her impish smile and coral locks. Apologetic smile 'pon my countenance I would cast azure optics downward as I sheepishly replied.

"Ah haha, you uh...really call it like it is Kawaii-chan. Regardless, I'd love to accompany you and meet the Amekage."

And with that they would continue on. A deep pang of guild throbbed in his heart, but as soon as it came it was gone. He had given the overwhelming majority of his life to live neath the shackles of Kirigakure and his adopted family. He had given them everything and they had never once thought of him as one of their one.

Now, he could finally begin to control his own destiny.

[ Exit to gates with Hotaru?