Summer (Open)

[Kaoru]

Kaoru pranced into the plaza, in her favorite blue sundress. The fountain water glistened in the summer sun. "What a beautiful day" the shy girl murmured to herself as she made her way to the ledge of the memorial. This was Kaoru's first day off in weeks, her young body obviously was feeling the relief of her mini vacation. She sat on the edge of the fountain staring out into the square. It was surprisingly empty for such a hot summer day.

All of a sudden a group of pigeons began to flock nearby a trash can. Kaoru grabbed the roll she had been holding in her hand and began to tear a part the bread. She hadn't even spread the crumbs on the floor before the ravenous birds crowded her feet. "Wow you little guys are hungry" she said with a smile, as she threw pieces of the bread onto the stone road.

 

[Kobe]

The sun was shining above the bustling district at the Harbingers Plaza. The daily two and fro of normal Kumogakurian life were continuing on without a hitch. This was, for all intents and purposes, a normal mid-morning for the civilians and shinobi living in the Village Hidden in the Clouds. On days like this, one could potentially see a Raikage courier zipping about, or a class of academy students out on a training mission, or perhaps even rarer the Raikage himself sipping a beverage in one of the local shops. Today wasn't that exciting but it was still fairly busy with normal everyday life.



Behind the rustle and bumble of the day's happening one particular man sat with his back up against a building in what was becoming one of his favorite spots. Koden Hiro is a creature of habit. This particular spot, on this particular day of the week, drinking this particular iced mint white tea blend, this particular Anbu had become accustomed to the age old custom of people watching. This was his subtle way of developing and improving his skills of observation. How many people could he keep track of at any given time? Was there an upper limit to his cognitive ability? Simply watching passersby as they came and went wouldn’t be a difficulty in and of itself. While he sat and watched he studied diligently: "A Codex on Ancient Language" a 1000 page text that he borrowed from the Anbu library. Over the course of the last year or so he had developed a fascination with ancient written language, it's root, its development, and usage. Little by little he had become somewhat of a pseudo expert on the subject. Sitting beside him was yet another book, this one had no text on the front, it was not neatly typed, or on one particular topic. Instead this was a private journal, a manifest that the young always carried with him. In it he wrote everything. Every mission, every encounter, everything of even marginal significance. That’s not to say he was a OCD about it, he didn’t notate every detail, only things he felt he would need to remember, or something that could benefit him in the future.



On this day Koden Hiro had been taking notes on linguistics in preparation for a personal project he had been planning. As he read, his eyes wandered about gazing at the civilians in his vicinity. That’s when he caught sight of a young woman in a bright blue dress. The young woman scampered about before coming to a rest feeding a flock of squawking pigeons. Hiro immediate frowned at this fact, thinking about being bombed by excrement in a few minutes, after the mangy pheasants digested and took flight. "Are you sure that’s a good idea?" said the dark haired man. Hiro looked up from his seated position. The Off-Duty Anbu was showing no external signs that he was part of the elite unit, instead today he was dressed in short sleeved white buttoned up shirt, black long shorts and getas.

[MFT]

 

[Hashashin Tensai]

The heat of the summer day wouldn't be reason enough for the foreign descendant to change attire, contrary, the desert-like clothing provided all the needed shade and comfort. The young man with such questionable lineage and ironically appropriate clothing was young and just mid-way through his thirteenth year of life. Mentally, he was far ahead of his peers and in some cases even his elders.

He was only a student, one that possessed neither exceptional strength nor genetic gifts. Despite lack of those two promising qualities, he more than made up for it elsewhere. He was intelligent, creative, and quick-witted. Three basic and almost mundane qualities woven together in a manner that created something worthwhile still. Studying the vast quantities of old books and scrutinizing similarly old artifacts from within his domicile proved a hobby long before puberty had hit.

Tensai walked through the plaza leisurely, the soft patter of his sandals remained uninspired and expected to the ears of any nearby. The long drabe which covered his body almost entirely lightly brushed the ground as his moved, matching in style and design as the keffiyeh atop his head to keep the sun at bay. He had left the protection of the Hashashin clan's little block in search of maps, no map in particular, but to find at least a couple of varying designs to compare.

Ashen haired and amber-eyed on this day, he had found himself staring off into space while allowing an elderly man crossing passage before continuing his journey. Tensai's thoughts had run away with him like they did every so often, lost within his mind wondering about this or that. Before he realized it though, the walkway was clear and had been for quite some time. Exhaling just a bit in disappointment with himself he'd shrug and make a move to continue his travels, but froze mid-step. The mad frenzied fluttering of feathered wings would grab the attention of anyone.

It seemed as if the little avian pack had found themselves in the presence of humanity's rare generosity. Setting his foot down gently he watched for a moment, quietly observing the female and her feathery friends. A voice would break through, from the direction he had seen a man reading moments before. Now that he was closer, and the man had caught the boy's attention, well Tensai would notice the title of the book held between elder fingers. "A Codex on Ancient Language..." He muttered, loud enough for both to hear but in a way that made it obvious he wasn't speaking with either. His curiosity had been reached. "That happen to have anything about the languages which the peoples might have spoken in old-time Wind Country?" He asked softly, not introducing himself or anything at all really.

[MFT]

[See profile for full body image.]​

 

[Kaoru]

Kaoru continued to feed the birds when a man approached her. The shy teen instinctively lowered her head, hoping she didn't have to speak with the man.

Please go away, please go away the thought repeated over and over again inside her head.

That's when she heard him speak. Knowing she had to respond, Kaoru slowly lifted her head. It was an older man dressed in casual clothing holding two books. One considerably larger than the other. "W - What do you -" she began to answer when she heard another voice. Her eyes trailed to the source, a young boy. He didn't seem to be talking to them directly, but he seemed to be interested by the book that the stranger was holding. Kaoru glanced at the cover, it did have an interesting title, but what would a young boy be doing with that kind of information?

Kaoru was now also interested in the book. She looked up to the stranger waiting for him to answer the young boy's question.

 

[Kobe]

As soon as the words left his mouth he had regretted uttering them. Speaking out of turn was not typical of any Anbu, let alone one that held himself in such high esteem. It wasn’t that the young male felt he was above anyone else, yet ever since birth he lived to a separate standard. His mother was considered royalty, his home was a Buda worshiping temple. What he certainly was not, was a snot nosed, speak out of turn, brat…

Hiro had been keeping one eye on the young women and the other on the pigeons that had already taken flight when a third person spoke. Speaking slightly under his breath a short white haired boy was asking him about his current reading. Turning his attention away from the young female who had opened her mouth to begin uttering a few words in a mousey little voice. “Historical Wind Country?”

Hiro looked down at his reading as if the cover would reveal the answer to the nosey young man’s question. Running the subject matter though his mind he recalled his reading on ancient Sunagakure’s dialect and linguistics. “Indeed there is a bit.” The off-duty Anbu lifted an eyebrow as if to say and… what of it. He kept his gaze on the young boy, while still expecting the female to begin speaking again.

 

[Hashashin Tensai]

Well, now it was clear he had managed to get everyone's attention with quite little effort, and divert it to the book. The girl had silenced herself before she finished her statement and now the man before them both spoke jeeringly. Tensai's lids dropped a few centimeters in order to give his expression a distinctly 'Bored' look. He understood quite well the way people outside dealt with one another, but never let it influence his own personal actions. Just when his body was about to catch up with his mind's decision to continue traveling in search of maps, was when he noticed the consideration being given.

Oh, the theatrics. The slight emphasis as he looked down at the book, and the subtle attitude trailing after a dry statement. The behavior wasn't going to change his focus though. Instead, a little genuine grin managed to form. "Would you happen to know where I could find another copy?" His disposition was still that of a disinterested youth, but one with a minor goal at the moment. He'd reach into the deep pockets of his long drabe and withdraw a few gold coins. "I could easily pay you for the information on finding it." He understood that currency was usually the language most people preferred to converse using, while he himself cared little for it.

 

[Kaoru]

Kaoru's interest was peaked by the unusual topic. Now what would a young boy like this want with such an unusual topic? she mulled over the thought as the man answered. She looked over to the boy, Kaoru was surprised to see that the youth seemed to be bored with the conversation.

Why is he bored? Kaoru continued to think as the boy went on to say that he would pay for information on finding another copy. He pulled out a couple of gold coins from his coat. The young boy had surprised Kaoru yet again. She had never thought that a boy that young would have that much money, since she never handled that much money in her life living in a small apothecary.

Kaoru had no useful information to give so she remained quiet and looked up to the man that stood in front of her, wondering if he knew the whereabouts of a second copy.

 

[Kobe]

Looking down at the book once again he thought about its content. He had read it through twice before, this third time was to glean every last ounce of information before returning it to it’s rightful place within the Anbu library. Hiro wasn’t even sure if there was another copy of this book, the complexity and thoroughness of it was a rarity in this day in age. Cycling through his memory bank he knew there was most definitely not another copy in the Anbu complex or even in Kumo’s grand library. Therefore of all intents and purposes this was the only copy.


After inquiring about the book the young man delved even deeper into asinine actions. Was he trying to buy the services of someone so many years his junior? Did he think he was talking to someone who could be bought? Maybe the young girl but not he. Lifting a hand in the air he waved the coins away. “I highly doubt you can find another copy within the walls of Kumogakure. I believe the author is originally from Konohakagure, or maybe it was Kirigakure? Either way it’s not something in print here.” Would that be enough? No, he thought not. “I wonder though. Why would you be looking for information on the ancient land of wind?” Raising his left eyebrow he looked plainly at the boy.

 

[Hashashin Tensai]

Body language spoke volumes. The sluggish manner with which the eldest of the trio seemed to respond suggested the coin did nothing to entice him. Already slipping them back from whence they came, he would listen idly as it became clear that the book was far more rare than he'd thought. The very thought was frustrating. Right before him was neatly wrapped bundle of information, much of which could have been vital to his interests and he couldn't have it .It was unlikely he'd even be allowed to borrow it.

His nose would crease in annoyance while he half-turned to simply walk away, there was no need to interrupt the day of others when nothing could be gained. Yet, a question about Tensai himself would prevent another step from being taken. "From what I've been told, that's where my ancestors come from who migrated to Lightning Country. Supposedly a millennium or two ago, depending on who you ask. It seems the elders have found the need for precise dates absent, or better to keep to themselves. Everyone has a right to know the history of themselves and their people, why should I be any different?" His voice, contrary to the serious tone of his words, managed to remain child-like and calm. "Faith is not enough." He would mutter quite solemnly. At which point, his eyes shifted in color. What once reflected a golden amber, became an emerald and almost translucent green.

 

[Kaoru]

The older man explained that the book he was holding was a rarity that was written in another village. That was strange to Kaoru since it was a book on the Country of Wind. The young girl looked back down to the bundle of parchment, it surely didn't look like something that was printed everyday that was for sure.

He then asked the boy why he wanted the material. The same thought had crossed Kaoru's mind throughout the conversation. Her eyes wandered to the bored looking boy. He answered that he was looking for information on his family history. The words came out serious yet the child still remained calm. This struck Kaoru, she knew nothing of her family, nothing at all since she was abandoned as a baby. She almost envied the boy for having at least a minute amount of information on his family. "That is very interesting" she said in her usual shy tone, "Learning about your family and its history are very important if you ask me." Kaoru said with a smile.

All of a sudden the boy's eyes seemed to change from a bright amber to a pale green. Am I seeing things? Kaoru thought as she rubbed her eyes. She looked back up. She was not hallucinating the boy's eyes really did change, but she couldn't figure out how.

 

[Hashashin Tensai]

It seemed that the oldest of the trio didn't have much to say, sitting there in his fancy clothing with what Tensai felt was a condescending demeanor. He'd give a little shrug, and shift his gaze towards the girl who had spoken. Her words were something he couldn't help but give a subtle smile towards, and a simple nod. "True history is something hard to find, considering that most texts written these days are laced with personal opinions and biases rather than raw fact. Aside from my own history, I intend to find out the truth of this world too." He'd give the female a small bow, and mentally made a note that he would like to see her again, then walked away. Disappearing into the crowds, he vanished as quickly as he had come.

[Topic Left, got bored waiting.]​