Subeki Pride

[Mitsuko Subeki]

SLAM! "I'M HOME." The two sounds resonated through the Subeki household, two noises that marked the arrival of the enraged head of the home. FUCK! Mitsuko had planned his time out to avoid this exact scenario, but his removal of the bandages from his side and leg had swerved the boy's plan off course. Grabbing his shirt, the boy opened his window and leapt from the second-story, tucking into a roll as he landed. "Phew, that was..." And suddenly, the door of the home he had just flung himself from crashed open, revealing a bellowing Ogichi. "MIIIITTTTSUUUUKKKOOOO!!!!" The boy quickly darted into a shocked and laughing crowd and towards the middle of the city. Embarassing.

Mitsuko wandered around Kirigakure, a bit lost both in thought and in literal terms. He had yet again fled his home to avoid the destructive force of his father's words. It was the third or fourth such occurrence, and he had come to find that, well, the Subeki didn't really know his way around the village or what do when he was out. Most kids would just head over to their friend's house, but then again, most kids didn't flee their homes. It would be hours before Ogichi would leave. What to do? There was certainly a lot to think about. He had not seen Akemi or Kyomu since the day of their exam, but he had trained with Yuuyake-sensei. It was constantly on his mind: what had they been thinking? Of the exercise, the team, of HIM? Since he passed the test, that was the most pressing matter in his book. But as he'd come to learn, the only book that mattered was Ogichi's. It'd likely be titled: Never Good Enough. To his father, this was yet another failure that the clan had to endure. It said "hero" on his back for a reason, and that wasn't to make friends and play ring-around-the-rosie. It was his father's wish, his command, that the boy begin acting more like a ninja. So he had to.

Eyes half opened and slouched over, he roamed around aimlessly until he heard his stomach growl. Mitsuko's mother had his favorite meal prepared and the smell still haunted him. He had to find somewhere to eat and fast. And suddenly, as if the little building was glowing with a divine light, the boy's eyes were drawn to the sign of a restaurant in the middle of town. Lucky me. I can probably ask how to get back home, too. Though the fact that a child who had resided in Kirigakure his whole life was embarrassing, the other choice would be to roam the streets until he ended up at his destination by trial and error. So, Mitsuko waltzed into the restaurant, and took a look around. It wasn't busy enough to cause him to leave, so the boy took a seat at a both in the corner of the place. He stretched out, yawned, and threw his legs up to relax and wait to be catered to. Hopefully this place would be somewhere to relax and gather his thoughts without being pestered. But somehow, things never ended up that way when he was in a sour mood...

[Akemi Izayoi]

There were some skills that you learned in the academy. There were some that you learned through experience. More through trial and error. In fact, there seemed to be a set of talents and skills that only accumulated from within distinct fields. Take Akemi, a hard working eventual superninja with a side of delusion thrown in there somewhere that she refused to admit. The girl was good, but she had her few...well, plenty of weakpoints. One of those said weak points were trying to stay two steps in front of her family. Her parents were damn near impossible to fool. And her siblings, while it was possible, were a challenge second, but still close to her parents for different reasons that.

Akemi's brother was as smart as he was sly and conniving. The bastard could be magnificent if he wanted to be planning out difficult scenarios and seeing things in so many different ways it would make Akemi's head spin. Worse of all is that he knew Akemi too well, having grown up with her and technically shown her the ropes, and he used that to his advantage. The girl could barely keep up with him sometimes unpredictable or not. He was just that good in comparison to herself. If he wasn't so determined to be a doctor maybe he could have been a strategist. Akemi would have chosen him to come up with battle plans any day.

Her sister was too nice. So nice that a man couldn't refuse a innocent request. Both good traits, but the eldest daughter could be a manipulative bitch. She was like Akemi's mother in the way that the family felt what she did. If she wasn't happy, which was always impossible to notice, no one was happy. Though a gentle soul at heart, she cared not for small things like mercy in some areas. To Akemi's sister when you made a promise or bet, you followed through. Akemi understood that, but what she didn't understand was how she got stuck with both of their chores!

Her brother didn't want to take inventory. Fine, well, and dandy since she still owed him for loaning enough money for that shiny new weapon that caught her eye. So she grumbled but she still managed to sort through the back slowly and painfully going over the stock after a morning shipment. Which might she add, had be delivered at what seemed to be the asscrack of dawn. Then, her sister decided to find her and ask in that gentle way that sounded like an absolute order to do the dishes. Akemi couldn't refuse for fear of her life and because her sister had covered for her chores during her first team meeting so she did.

What did she learn? Haggling was a bitch! And it turned your ass into mincemeat. Inventory from her brother's workload, a pile of dishes that she swore was cursed at one point from her sister, and her to top it off she had to wait tables right after. All in all, she'd rather have been sleeping until the afternoon in her nice cozy bed. But she was a ninja and shinobi didn't crack from torture. So she persevered. She weathered the rushes with all her ninja and waiting skills. Zipping from table to table, memorizing long orders, keeping up with everything, not letting a smile drop because of the occasional asshole or lack of tipping, etc.

And finally, it was over. Akemi could sink into a chair and not move until dinner...or ever...Then she almost cursed the heavens for mocking her when the door opened again. With a heavy sigh she began to make her way to the table. She could do this. Keep the eye from twitching, catch the second wind and- Akemi was shocked to find a familiar face that belonged to a familiar teammate. A teammate who had just waltzed in like he owned the place, tracking traces of dirt on her spotless floor. A teammate that had just so nonchalantly threw filthy sandals on the table she just finished scrubbing clean.

"Mitsuko..." she practically hissed out the name in her mind. She still owed that bastard for the cheap shot he hit her with. Oh, he was so lucky she was on the clock. "No crippling, maiming, torturing and/or killing any customers is allowed unless they draw blood or start a brawl" was one of her mother's rules. Would it be too much to ask for him to be in a friendly mood? Probably so, but she went up to the table anyway. "Hello,my name is Akemi and I'll be your waitress." The girl prided herself on the honest smile she had in her reserves.

The kunoichi smoothed out the front of her 'work' qípáo (which meant it was one of the few that looked prim and proper instead of the beat up ones that made up her ninja wear), but didn't bother taking out a notepad. "Please don't mention the girliness," That would be humiliating. Akemi hated showing this side to people that knew her as a ninja. Her in a good dress, hair combed neatly, and with nails painted she looked the ever bit the kunoichi assassin instead of shinobi of action.

[Mitsuko Subeki]

Hmmmm.... The boy pondered the various situations ahead of him and how to manage them. On the one hand, there was the happiness Mitsuko had felt when Akemi had chosen him to be her teammate along with Kyomu, a sort of kindness that would only continue if he reciprocated it. On the other hand, he had worked so long to be as good as he was, all for the sake of Ogichi and for the name of his clan. Could he abandon that all? No, his father would be enraged and even worse, he could not be that selfish. His life was not his own, and he knew as much. How he wished he could do both.

His eyes wafted closed as the Subeki continued his thoughts. Friends...who needs em? You hear much less of a team of 'legends,' like that girl called us. No, you hear of those legendary ninja, the ones who slayed thousands and the kage, the Seven Swordsman...all working alone... As clear as it was, the boy didn't want it to be that way. His finger tapped the table repeatedly as he grew more frustrated with his predicament. All the accomplishments, even becoming a true genin...none of it felt as good as being accepted...do I even want to be a ni-"

The tapping of feet neared his position and stopped, prompting the boy to half open his right eye to peer at the girl before him. Well, how ironic. The strangest thing was that she had announced herself so formally, and even given her name. She seemed genuine enough, happy to see him even. Or, at least, that's what her smile seemed to say. Of course, he never was an expert at reading others, girls especially. Sure, that was the standard for waitresses but...he knew her. Had they not bonded as much as he had figured? Perhaps it was just policy and she was being watched and evaluated. Perhaps she still hated him, perhaps he jumped the gun when he thought they had become friends. Well, perhaps he didn't need her.

"Oh, if it isn't the little spitfire. Didn't think that a future legend would be working as a server." Mitsuko began, still with only one eye open but with the addition of a small smirk. The full opening of his eye had highlighted the fact that there was something...off about Akemi. While he didn't see much of her in school or even in their first meeting, on account of the...quick strike that had sent her into the mist, they boy had gotten a good look at her before the battle had begun. She looked rough, even dirty then. But now, she was delicate, done up, more of a lady than a tiny tomboy. It was...different, to say the least. And she was cheery. Her smile was so bright and bubbly it was almost...wrong. Since when was she a woman? In all honesty, he'd seen her as another boy up to that point.

"I tell ya, I've never heard of a weapon master wearing a dress and painting her nails. Change of life plans, maybe?" His tone suggested it wasn't as much of a question as a snide remark, but Mitsuko scowled a bit inside. I have to get some distance from this girl, from Kyomu...from all of them. I can't be so open, I can't let them take what belongs to my family. I have to keep them from distracting me from my goals. Whatever good terms they had established had to be destroyed. After all, it didn't seem like they were friends. Maybe that was for the best. If he continued on the path he'd set out on then it wouldn't have been long before the boy cared more for their well-being than his family's. And what did they know? They were no different than the others...spiteful, jealous, cruel...who said that they cared about him anyway?

[Akemi Izayoi]

Akemi didn't have to wait long for Mitsuko to notice her. Honestly, Akemi didn't know what to think about the boy. In class he always looked so stressed. Even now, he looked troubled. The girl wanted to ask why more than once. What did someone who was so talented have to be stressed about? Did he just want to keep that top spot he held that bad? Akemi really didn't want to delve to deep into her thoughts concerning Mitsuko, but now that he was a teammate how could she not?

Yet, she didn't want to admit that she envied him. Alemi envied both him and Kyomu. Mitsuko's skill and the way he picked up things in class. That top spot that got him all the recognition from everyone in the academy. Kyomu's advanced skill with genjutsu that surpassed even Mitsuko. It was on a level that got him a different, but equally praised status among their peers. The girl remembered being jealous of that attention and praise. Angry that she didn't have such advanced prowess with genjutsu. Sad she couldn't pick up things like they were easy. Humbled even when she practiced with weapons for hours on end, trying to stand out in her own way.

When she showed up for their test, Akemi had been intimidated and terrified. The girl had felt small in comparison to them. However, she came out as the only one to beat Hinode-sensei's clone. Whether it had been her stubborn streak or dumb luck somehow she had done it. Then when faced with the attention the accomplishment brought, she froze under it. Unsure of herself and unused to praise, she still didn't falter. Akemi, wanted friends, having grown up in this very restaurant listening to stories of ninja that came through with their teammate's help.

Akemi wanted that bond. The girl didn't need to think hard to chose both of them as a team. Legends together, just like in the stories. So she stiffened a little when Mitsuko spoke to her in such a...harsh tone. Her smile wilted a little and she bit back a retort that was already on the edge of her tongue. "I AM GOING TO BE A LEGEND," struggling to roar from her being. Not in the restaurant. Outside she could hoop and holler all she wanted, but in this place she was shackled by the words of her mother and the laws of her father. So instead of the blazing inferno that normally erupted from her a cool storm started to swirl silently instead.

The second comment hit harder. Who in the hell did this guy think he was making that kind of assumption!? Did he think her to become some docile housewife!? Akemi could feel the tiny piece of self control within her start to form little hairline cracks within it. It was an insult to her pride. Yet, standards and protocol demanded that she be formal and polite to customers even if she knew them. Her smile became a bit more forced and she could feel a bead of sweat roll down the back of her neck. Akemi's mother would probably get to her before she could castrate him, but the girl would be damned if she didn't knock seven shades of shit out of him with a fucking frying pan if she had to first!

She pushed on in her protocol, torn between fanning the flames and struggling with putting them out. The girl twitched slightly as she reached for a menu and restrained the urge to slap his tongue out of his mouth with it. “Good evening to you as well, Mitsuko-san. Our special today is ramen, but feel free to order whatever you like. What would you like to drink?.” "Don't let him get to you, Akemi." The girl told herself. She just had to make it until she was off. It had to be close to her break soon.

[Mitsuko Subeki]

Mitsuko braced himself for what would likely be an extremely loud denial of his jabs. He could see the girl stomping and jumping around as smoke burst from her ears, yelling at the boy and throwing him out of the restaurant. It was too predictable, too likely, and yet, it didn't happen. Not one yell, comment, or crack in her smile or positive tone. Instead of the admittedly cartoony scenario he had imagined up, his teammate responded as cheerfully as ever. The rhythmic tapping of the boy's finger stopped and his smirk faded a bit.

It was all a little bit disarming and slightly confusing. Is she just gonna sit here and take this punishment the whole time? If the way she responded in battle is any indication, Akemi should be hitting back right about now... Her kindness hurt, in a way. Mitsuko had launched his verbal assault with the assumption that she would strike back, hit him as he had hit her. As in fighting, the counterattack, he had found, sort of gave his own attempt to injure another a kind of vindication, and she hadn't even tried. Not a slap nor a retort...nothing. It made him feel like a dick.

He opened his eyes fully now, and tilted his head to lay it on his fist. "Uhhh... He was speechless. Should he let up now? Mitsuko didn't know if his harshness had contrasted starkly enough with her saving him for it to resonate with her. She wasn't his friend. The Subeki didn't need distractions and a girl was certainly one of them. One of the three major shinobi vices, if he recalled correctly. Even if he didn't have any romantic intentions or feelings for the girl, it was not going to be approved by the old man.'

After what had surely been five or so seconds, he answered. "Just a water. And I'll take the ramen, but just hold the seaweed." While he could normally form a scathing remark quite quickly, the whole thing had just tripped him up. That girl...she made him think, and he hated that. His thoughts tended to be a rebellion against all the principles and teachings of his father, and they only caused him pain. So why think about those things? For the most part, he just acted on habit and that got him by.

Fuck it. He didn't want to think, he didn't want to deal with any of it. He was just a boy after all, and if he couldn't have friends, play games, or let up for an instant then he didn't want to have to be constantly critiquing himself and having inner debates. Perhaps if he cast aside Akemi then he could evade his thoughts and thereby, the emotions they caused. So, he'd break her, even if it'd break him a bit too.

"...Actually, I'd like the noodles chopped up into quarter inch segments. The water shouldn't exceed 78 degrees Fahrenheit when it is placed on my table. And put it on three coasters in an equilateral triangle. Also, don't put too much water in it, it dilutes the taste. And gimme a lemon wedge and an umbrella on the water. But don't let any of the lemon fall in it. No seeds, too. And make it a red umbrella. But make the ramen spicy. Not too spicy though. And add pork. Diced though, not in slices. Thanks."

Mitsuko's trademark smirk began to creep back up again. The thing about that smirk, though, is that its trademark is its fakeness. But most people didn't see it. It was the most ridiculous order he could think of, and that'd probably be the straw, no, the anchor that broke the camel's back. No one could handle that sort of blatant obnoxiousness, much less the girl who decided to unleash an explosive volley against her teammates on the very first day. Good, the sooner this was all over the better. The Subeki had to be on a team, but it had to be all business. He had to get Ogichi off his back. It was like a bandage: it would hurt, but he ahd to get rid of her and Kyomu, fast.

[Akemi Izayoi]

Akemi watched the boy, cold fury and even a bit of confusion swelling inside her, partially at a loss herself. What was wrong with him? He almost seemed disappointed. It was weird and so at odds with the last impression. Mitsuko had seemed so happy before parting ways last time. Akemi didn't know him well enough to place his behavior as odd, but this couldn't be normal even for him. Either way, he'd gone quiet in that brooding way similar to when the team almost failed. The way he looked at her now, mulling over something only he was aware of made her slightly uncomfortable. All Akemi could do was wait patiently and meet him eyes, allowing some of her anger to die down.

The kunoichi would have liked an apology, but instead he merely ordered. On the bright side, Akemi preferred that to any more comments. It wasn't her fault she had to work here. Her family owned it and she needed some form of income. Weapons, ink, scrolls, polish, sharpening equipment, spare materials, the list went on and people didn't just give that stuff away. If they ever did, the girl would clear out the stock within seconds. Until then, she had to buy and work and get discounts with more work for the supplies she needed. What was a weapon master that ran out of weapons? Certainly not a legend, heck to be unprepared would only make her a laughing stock if it didn't get them all killed first.

The girl only hesitated for a moment and her guard lessened. How she regretted that mistake not a moment later. Mitsuko's order continued; but in no way, shape, or form did it bode well for her. Akemi's posture stiffened ever so slightly. Her smile strained and she clenched her jaw to keep from grinding her teeth together. The words that left his mouth were outrageous. So much so that she couldn't believe her ears and when he finished she hesitated a bit longer. Hoping, wishing, praying that he'd take it back. He didn't. The cocky dipshit was intent on toying with her, mocking her. First her dream, now her position and all of it with that damn smirk on his face. The girl's hand twitched as she wanted nothing more at that moment than to ball it into a fist and drive it into his nose, but unfortunately Akemi's will prevailed.

Why today? Why did it have to be today, the only day where she had to cover, when Mitsuko decided to find them? Akemi didn't want to say the next words because deep down she knew they would be the same as signing a death wish, but she had to. Fucking protocol was only going to make her hole a deeper one. "V-very well, Mitsuko-san. Will that be all?" She spoke politely, but slightly rushed to force the words to come out and cursing herself with the slight stutter at the beginning. She just showed a sign of weakness and there was little doubt he'd jump on it. The small hairline fracture grew, branching out like a web.

This was not going to end well...

[Mitsuko Subeki]

The boy's words sort of flew out in slow motion. Mitsuko could hear them as they were spoken, and immediately felt shame. Lucky for me that no one's around, I guess... Right. As necessary as the whole act was, it would make everything hurt even worse if anyone else was there to hear it, to judge him, to find out how cruel and evil the Subeki really was. That's the role he had to accept, the way he had to be to become a legend, to dig his entire clan out of the grave they had dug for themselves. His burden, his curse, his "privilege." He had to bear his cross...alone.

It didn't ease the pain, though. Wherever Mitsuko turned he would be greeted with negativity. The ire of his peers one way, the disappointment of his father another, and there was always his own self-hatred. The only respite was his mother's embrace, but it was just a temporary relief and an inefficient one at that. This situation however, was new. It was worse. He had never had to destroy another person's respect and care for him in such a brutal way. And to make matters worse, Akemi wasn't going to buckle, it seemed.

And then it got worse. The Subeki had concocted the most sinister and irritating order he could possibly think of, and the whole thing might have doubled the amount of time it would normally take to make ramen. Hell, he wanted to punch him, and he assumed Akemi would have by then. But she didn't, she responded as pleasantly and innocently as ever. Why the fuck won't she yell at me or hit me and just get it over with? What's wrong with her? All it would take is some confirmation that she hated him. A slap, a scoff, a punch, ANYTHING. Why was she torturing him with her kindness and patience?

But he noticed that she stuttered. Had it not been so obvious and at the beginning of her response, the unobservant boy would have totally missed it, but he caught a fortunate break. She was finally breaking, the light at the end of the tunnel was finally visible. It would take just a little bit more from Mitsuko to end it all. But he didn't have much more in him. The boy had spewed out so much spite and venom that he didn't know how much more he could take. He just had to be that even the smallest strike would finally crack her armor.

"Yeah, why are you still here? I don't have all day...get going..." Mitsuko said, looking away, scowling, and using his off hand to make shooing motion. He couldn't handle this much more. He just had to get her eyes away from him, he needed to keep them from matching his. He needed to assume they were filled with hatred in order for him to continue being an ass. Funny thing was, if her eyes showed him hatred, he couldn't stand to look at them either. But as it stood, being hated would hurt much more than not. It was all confusing, all just too much. In the course of a few days, he went from craving love to begging to be hated. Akemi's onslaught would likely be the straw the broke the camel's back as well. At that point, the boy just wanted to be alone, to leave everything behind. To not be himself. Hopefully the girl would end it soon.

[Akemi Izayoi]

Luckily, Mitsuko didn't have any further humiliating orders to make. Akemi, however, was pretty sure that was the only upside to his response. Her eye twitched at the attitude. Her hands twitched for a weapon that was not allowed on her from the words. And deep down inside that small little piece of self control cracked more. It had become fracture in a way similar to frail glass. In the beginning only a hairline crack, barely noticeable, would be seen. Then the break dug deeper and deeper until it began to branch out, like a spiderweb. Finally, it shattered into millions and billions of itty bitty pieces with a loud explosion.

The girl struggled to keep it together, put back the pieces. So she turned stiffly around, counting from ten to one in an attempt to distract herself. Anything to return a thin string of calm. However, the killing intent of a scorned woman began to leak out. A small trickle. Not enough to give a man the sight of his own castration and death, but enough for anyone to be wary. Perhaps the best description was a calm intensity, similar to that of the look of a mother when she caught you and you knew she caught you. The feeling that made you want to run and hide despite not being in any danger.

She was on number three, having taken merely four steps away from that bastard's table. Then she caught the clock out the corner of her eye...and she smiled. Two. One. The small killing intent disappeared in an instant. The few spread out people in the place were safely on the other side. Strangely enough, they weren't unnerved given that they were regulars. They knew what was about to happen. Some of them even glanced at the clock to confirm what they were aware of. Others gave the boy a pitying glance. Akemi's shift had just ended. Her sister would begin waiting tables. Her brother would begin doing the dishes. Her mother and father would take over cooking.

Akemi herself was free to do as she pleased. Like destroy the village block as she attempted to reduce a certain teammate into a smear of paste (despite that being unlikely since she'd probably be snatched up after the first building was demolished). So she took two more steps which confused everyone. Then she blurred in the opposite direction, plowing straight into Mitsuko like a cannonball. The girl wanted justice! This boy had the nerve to strut in, belittle her, and take advantage of the rules that binded her. Where did he think he was? WHO THE HELL DID HE THINK SHE WAS!? A low rumbling growl sounded from her throat as she glared at him, face barely an inch from his. "I should chop off your manhood and feed it to you."

Then she beamed at him with a sweet smile that was completely at odds with the urge to kill she had. "But I'm not because your going to be a nice gentleman and buy us both a ramen special and we're going to sit here and bond like teammates and friends." The 'and you're going to like it!, was left unsaid despite being heard. Frankly, Akemi wanted the free food. One would think she could eat free and she could...usually, but she had been treading on thin ice lately so her parents would probably cut her allowance (payment) anyway. At least this way she could take a shot at Mitsuko's wallet and fill her stomach. Why she tacked on the 'friends' bit, she didn't know. It was probably a slip.

The girl was unaware she thought of Mitsuko as a friend when they completed Hinode-sensei's test and in her anger couldn't really filter it out. Besides, this smug bastard owed her for not dropping his ass. So she let the unspoken alternative threat of castrating him linger as she pinned him to the seat. The way she hovered over him while sitting on him with her hands around his collar probably looked indecent, but Akemi was painfully oblivious to those kinds of things. Most people knew better than to point it out too so they pointedly ignored the entire thing.

[Kaibutsu Gakidou]

The streets were bustling with people, as was normal for this time of day. People rushing about, trying to get their daily chores done to rush home for dinner. Speaking of dinner, Kaibutsu's mother had gone out tonight with her old ANBU friends, and had left him some money to go buy his own food. Having not eaten since around noon, and having mostly trained since then, he was quite hungry, and also annoyed after having come home, expecting something to eat only to find a note with the money on it lying on the counter top.

That hunger and annoyance led him here. It was a nice part of town, at least he believed so, and it had a few good eateries around. But he didn't want good. He wanted it cheap. Cheap meant he could get more. And he needed more to satisfy this gnawing hunger in the pit of his belly. Unfortunately, that probably wasn't going to happen. In the end he started following his nose, which would likely lead him to a more expensive dish.

Following his sense of smell led him to a small restaurant. Looking at the front door, he debated going inside. 'Maybe I outta just go ta the ramen stand down by my house...' He thought, not wanting to spend the vast majority of the money he had acquired from Ai. At that moment his stomach growled violently, almost like it could read his thoughts. Deciding that that settled it, he opened the door to the restaurant and crossed the portal.

Looking around, he noticed that, while not packed, there was a few people in here. This was generally a good sign. It showed the place had good food, but that they weren't so popular as to be out of all of their good stuff. It would suck to be this hungry and only get the establishments leftovers...

Making his way to the front of the restaurant, Kaibutsu noticed that everyone seemed to be looking at something. Some with amusement in their eyes, some with fear. Glancing the direction they all seemed to be staring out so intently, all of Kaibutsu's thoughts suddenly halted. There was Akemi, the girl he had met a few days previously. The same girl he had come to start liking. The girl he had actually thought about asking out, on top of an unknown male, who looked to be the same age as himself. Normally, this wouldn't of bothered him. But the position they were in. It seemed to imply something. That there was something between them. His eyes darted to Akemi's face, hoping to see some emotion or sign of something different. But no. What he saw only seemed to confirm it. A smile.

The gnawing hunger in his stomach seemed to disappear. Surprisingly, a lot of the emotions he thought he would of felt at this point, he didn't. He didn't feel anger, which is the main emotion he expected. No, he mostly felt sadness, and he felt stupid. Really stupid. Of course someone as great as this girl he had met would have a boyfriend.

For a split second, he contemplated fleeing. But, he had thrown himself into this situation, and people were starting to stare. What kind of ninja would he be if he just suddenly ran out of the place, into the street, and ran home? He would be the laughing stock of the ninja world is what he would be. So, he swallowed this new feeling that had welled up, and spoke.

"Uh, huh, hey Akemi?" His voice was quiet, but strong. He had to be strong. He couldn't be some pansy because a girl he liked was already taken. That wasn't life. And he wouldn't live like that.

[Mitsuko Subeki]

Finally... It took long enough. That girl was tough as nails. Mitsuko didn't notice the little ticks that showed just how angry the girl was, so the boy sort of guessed. And boy, he didn't even know the half of it. Top of the class or not, if he had known just how angry Akemi was, he likely would have had some trouble in his pants. Hell hath no fear like a woman scorned. Though, isn't that more about lovers? Damn mom and her fortune cookie sayings...I swear, girls are way too difficult to understand. I really should just stay away from 'em like pop said... Still, even though she was leaving, he hadn't gotten the sign of hatred he so needed...

And then, just as he thought it all of it was coming to an end, the clock struck five and the entire place, no, the world itself, stood still. Akemi stopped in her tracks and everyone turned to look. Damn it...leave! Just leave already! I don't want to do... He noticed that everyone's expression wasn't just mild interest or irritation...it was a mixture of extreme interest and well, fear. There was no noise or action that attracted them, save the ticking of the clock. The ominous, slow, tick...tock...tick...

BOOM.

The boy couldn't help but let out a puff of air and a grunt at the big hit. Mitsuko wasn't sure he'd ever been hit that hard in his entire life. Actually, he wasn't sure of anything in that moment. What had happened? What was happening? The girl, now atop him, hissed at him. W-w-w..what? He'd never been talked to like that, never been pinned down, never been threatened in that way...while he should have been humiliated he was just sad. That hatred he wanted was finally there, on top of him, just inches from his face, spewing venom in his face. And yet, as he reached his goal, the Subeki wanted nothing more than to apologize, to beg forgiveness. But that was not an option, he had to persevere, scared and sad as he was.

Of course, the more pressing matter was the imminent destruction of his jewels. He knew it was coming, and yet he could do nothing but wait for it. Mitsuko deserved it, didn't he? Why should someone like him get away scott-free? And yet, it seemed he would. His already widened eyes, previously diverted from the girl who seemed to demand their eyes meet, widened ever further. Mitsuko slowly turned, looking meekly, shyly, hesitantly looking at Akemi dead in the eyes.

She wanted to eat dinner together? Had she called him a gentleman and her...her friend? She wanted to bond? The boy could not comprehend what was happening, He was so utterly confused. A million emotions flooded his brain: fear, frustration, sadness, joy, pain, and...well it seemed like now he DID have some trouble in his pants. Now he was panicking. He HAD to do something. The boy's white face flushed with blood as he looked away and tilted his pelvis ever so slightly, altering the trajectory of his manhood so that it missed any part of her pelvic region, which had been seemingly strategically placed in order to incite more confusing emotions in the boy.

Fucking hormones...NOW of all times? That was way too close... If she had felt that then there would be no saving him. The embarrassment, the castration...it would all be over. Mitsuko hadn't really realized how sexual a position they were in...not only that, Akemi just had to pick today to look good and shine a warming smile at him, as opposed to her often boyish looks and obnoxious mannerisms. Plus, who jumps on people like that? Especially for a girl, it was weird. Had he been a more sexual individual, things might have been much different.

But once the physical crisis was averted, there was a matter of the silence and lack of eye contact. What did he even do? There was no way he could just go off of habit because this situation was so new...and if he went off emotion and feelings he had a feeling that things wouldn't end well. How could she disarm and confuse him so? It was nothing short of anomalous and terrifying. Mitsuko's head, supported by Akemi's arm, slowly turned back again. Her warmth and sweetness reflected even in her eyes, but the Subeki...he could never tell what was going on his own heart (or pants), much less his eyes.The girl could surely see confusion, shakiness, regret, and perhaps the smallest twinkle of compassion. He opened his mouth to speak but she was just so close to him, he could feel her breath and it all paralyzed him. Finally, he managed to stutter out, straight from his heart.

"I...I...I wish I could, Akemi...I just...I have to be...but I don't want to be...Akemi..." He couldn't finish a single sentence. All of the confusion, all the emotion, it just struck him completely dumb. He didn't even know what he wanted to say. He wanted her to forgive him, to like him, to be his friend, but he couldn't. The Subeki just wanted her to know that it wasn't his fault. he wanted her to know he didn't want to hurt her or anyone. But it was his duty, he just did what was expected and demanded from him. Forgive me, please...

Just as the boy was about to gather the strength to say what he wanted, to erase the sorrow , weakness, hesitation, and pain from his voice and speak his heart for once in his life, the embodiment of destiny interrupted. A boy, who seemingly knew Akemi from before, stood there, shocked as they all were. And then Mitsuko realized that everyone saw them like that. Did they think he was weak, a pushover? Or perhaps a ladies' man? Unfortunately, in order to find out more about the new arrival and escape the embarrassment and rush of emotions, to run away from Akemi and from himself, he had to get her off. But he couldn't just throw her.

"I...uh, Akemi I think that guy wants to talk to you and I think people are staring..." That was shy, scared guy code for "I think this is weird." He looked away again, still blushing, wanting to escape so badly. He would have substituted with jutsu but that would just leave Akemi crashing down. He'd done her enough damage. Mitsuko couldn't match eyes with her for longer than a few seconds. She unraveled him, destroyed him, brought down his walls and flicked around his emotions at will. She confused him. She gave him so much kindness in return for his hatred. What could he do? What should he do? He knew what he wanted, but that wasn't important, it never was.

[Akemi Izayoi]

Honestly, Akemi was seeing everything in a haze of red. The girl knew it wasn't real, she was just angry. She didn't care either and if she could beat this smug little brat until he was bleeding everywhere she would. However, her mother always said to fight dirty and be unpredictable. That and Akemi did not feel like cleaning up the blood. Hell, she'd turn this kid into paste and that would be a bitch to get out of the floor and walls. She dreaded what would happen if they actually lost customers because of it. So instead of straight up stabbing him, Akemi decided to stab at his wallet in revenge. The girl would get this revenge whether the boy liked it or not. So she smiled even as she burned in anger on the inside. Ignored the small voice that demanded retribution deep within her soul and gave him a second chance.

Akemi sucked up her pride and even played the girl card. She hated using gender as an excuse for anything, but right now she would consider an exception. The girl would strike at his pride and use his gender against him. Her father was a stickler for being a gentleman when he retired as a ninja. He said something about life being precious and other stuff too, but she had trouble sorting through all his gibberish most of the time. The point was, she was getting this free meal from him. He was forking over money. She'd shake him down for weapon money too, but she did want to be on okay teams with him considering they were stuck on the same team. That was another reason why she couldn't kill him. Deep down she hoped he'd fight back, protest to it, then she could have the joy of breaking every bone in his body.

However, Mitsuko was taking way too long to merely answer. Akemi's patience had been stretched like a rubberband and snapped by his attitude already. While she was getting a hold of her own anger, the urge to throttle him was becoming strong every moment that ticked by. "Say something dammit!" Her hands clenched tighter around his collar wanting to shake his brain into reality. Maybe even smack him across the face a few times for good measure. Yet, she continued to smile. Girls smiled and flattered things out of guys, right? Akemi wasn't sure, she'd skip the occasional kunoichi class and even slept through some of them so her memory of the topics covered were a bit fuzzy. This slow dumb method was annoying as hell. How the hell were you supposed to interrogate and stuff without weapons. Weapons got answers. If she had a weapon on her right now this boy would have said he wet the bed still if that was the answer she wanted.

The girl glared at him when he started spouting nonsense. Was that supposed to be a denial? She held back the snarl, but she could feel the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Her smile lessened, but she didn't give up. "Why thank you for offering me a meal, Mitsuko." The words sounded nice enough to fool the ears like a flower fooled the eyes, but they were laced with something...dreadful, like how a flower had hidden thorns. Then the world started to spin again. Mitsuko wasn't going to die unless he ran. Akemi was getting free food. And they could discuss battle plans and skill sets. She still owed him one for the cheap shot, but the girl would save that one for when he didn't expect it. She did kind of get the vibe that he was a little sorry too. So maybe she'd cut him a bit of slack unless he fucked up again. Then she'd kick him like a downed dog. Ruthlessly.

Akemi narrowed her eyes at him when he pointed out someone else, thinking he might be dumb enough to run for it. However, she shrugged and moved off him, careful not to flash anything. That'd be embarrassing (how she missed the position she was previously in shall merely remain a mystery). Glancing to the side, she spotted a familiar face and a smile that didn't promise death flashed across her face. "Hey Kai! Want a ramen special? Mitsuko-san's treat!" She beamed at the red head, excited by the brief notion of destroying Mitsuko's funds. "I can even introduce the two of you," she continued, unaware of how shy Kaibutsu was compared to the time they trained. Not even giving him the chance to reply, she made her way forward and proceed to drag him to the booth.

"Mitsuko, this is Kai, a friend of mine. Kai, this is Mitsuko, one of my teammates." She spoke with such cheer as she motioned to each of them accordingly. It was hard to believe that such a small, happy girl could level buildings and torment an unfortunate individual that was stupid enough to tease her. Then without missing a beat continue to go grab the meals with a skip in her step. "Free food, free food~ Tastes even better when its free~" she chanted in her mind. Akemi would make sure to grab a couple of kitchen knives as well and hide on her person. Just in case...

[Kaibutsu Gakidou]

Kaibutsu watched as Akemi made her way off of what he guessed was her significant other. Once the other boy had come more fully into his sight, Kaibutsu did a quick once over of him. Blue hair, longer than average. The boys face was currently one of embarrassment. Obviously Akemi knew what she wanted...But he already knew that from their time training together. It was one of the things that attracted him to her.

While mentally sizing the other boy up, he didn't notice Akemi rushing forward to him, so he was taken by surprise when she grabbed his hand and forced him towards the booth. Not that he was complaining. He enjoyed the feel of her rough hand against his own. Too bad it wasn't the holding of hands that he wanted.

Pushing these thoughts from his head, he merely nodded at the newly dubbed Mitsuko. This was his rival now. There could be no friendship here. Not in this war. This war for love...Or was it? Hell if he knew. He was only thirteen for Ryujin's sake, but he could think what he damn well wanted to.

Sitting down, it wasn't until Akemi left that Kaibutsu spoke. "I'll buy my own food." He said, not glancing at the boy that had just been deemed his rival. The thoughts in his head were swirling. What did he do? He'd never had a rival for anything before. Mainly because of his social awkwardness and the fact that most other kids stayed away from him due to his size. Speaking of size, now that he thought about it, this Mitsuko kid seemed about as tall as himself. He even looked like he weighed a little more. That was different. There were very few children in the academy blessed, or curse if you look at it that way, with this sort of unnatural size. It was something he hadn't enjoyed much in the academy, least not until he used it against the ones who tried to bully him about it. Little bastards.

Thinking, Kaibutsu couldn't help but feel bad already for treating the boy with so little respect. He usually never did so until he found a reason not to. It was another value instilled in him by his mother. But sometimes, especially with his hormonal body, he couldn't help but to dislike them. At least when it came down to a girl he liked. At least liked liked, not just sexually attracted to. Well, he couldn't say that was the norm, considering the fact that Akemi was the first girl he had come to like like this. But thats getting off track. Kaibutsu vowed to try to treat the boy with some amount of respect.

Still waiting for Akemi, Kaibutsu finally glanced back at Mitsuko. He stared at the boy for a second, trying to decide how to word his next question. "So...you two datin' or somethin'?" His tone was that of one who didn't wish to speak to the person they were conversing with, yet felt they had to to get the answers they needed. Which was exactly how Kaibutsu felt about the blue-haired teen. And after what he just witnessed, who could blame the kid. Meaning that his previous vow had already been broken...

After he asked the question, he unclipped his mask from his belt, setting it on the table. The damn thing was bothering him, poking into his skin and the like. He also took out the money he had been given, setting it beside the mask. Not getting out often, he wasn't exactly sure how these places worked. Other times, he had gone with his mother, who of course took care of everything.

So, in other words, Kaibutsu was lost. Did he pay for his food as it got here? Did he pay before he left? He couldn't remember how his mother did it. Damn his occasionally suck ass memory.

[Mitsuko Subeki]

Mitsuko couldn't help but frown as Akemi began to speak. She didn't get it, she didn't know what he wanted to say, and she didn't understand why he had to be that way. All for the better, I guess. I suppose that letting her know that the way I act would sort of ruin things, huh? Good thing, pop woulda killed me... His teammate spoke pleasantly enough, and no matter how much she tried to inject venom into her words, the boy's head was still reeling and so he just took them for face value. The best he could muster up was a "Tch.." accompanied with a small grin, the kind of embarrassed smirk that could only be summoned when a teammate of yours was straddling you in a booth in the middle of the restaurant. He kept his eyes away from her though, that much he kept in his head. Never look at her eyes.

Thankfully, the girl finally began to move off of him. But that presented another task, and that was getting Akemi off without her grazing the boy's...disco stick, if you will. Thinking quickly, Mitsuko began to sit up as the girl slid off, allowing the problem to slide harmlessly towards him and under Akemi's dress, a risky maneuver that payed off. His last second pelvic contortion had nearly allowed for pelvis-to-pelvis contact. The waitress was surprisingly oblivious to everything that had happened, even as the Subeki pointed out that everyone was staring at them. To most, that would say "Hey, what you're doing is really awkward." But again, it just flew over her head.

The mystery boy was acknowledged by Akemi and greeted with a warm smile and...an invitation for dinner on Mitsuko. While the Subeki clan wasn't exactly rolling in money, its prodigy had enough to buy a simple ramen meal for the three of them. He didn't buy much, so the money just kind of accumulated over time. No, the issue was that he had yet another person to talk to. A stranger. He didn't know anything about the kid, and he didn't want to. Mitsuko just wanted to leave more and more every second.

Akemi introduced the boy, who was curiously around Mitsuko's size, as Kai, her friend. As the redhead sat down the girl left, leaving the two alone and giving the Subeki no chance to protest, not that he would have at that point. The kid just had no emotional energy left after all that. Kai had been sizing Mitsuko up for some time though, and that set the tone as hostile from the get go. Likewise, neither of the two chose to acknowledge each other. They didn't even look at each other. As the blue-haired boy sat up and fixed his clothes, he returned to leaning his head on his tattooed fist, choosing to stare at the wall instead. I'm way too tired for this shit.

Finally, the other genin spoke up, but it was barely anything of consequence. Mitsuko knew that Akemi would be furious if Kai was allowed to pay, but she was most likely going to make sure that wouldn't happen anyway, so no effort was necessary on his part. The boy merely shrugged off Kai's comments, not turning around or otherwise moving. The seconds and minutes ticked on as the silence continued. Mitsuko had nothing to say to the kid, but he was sure that there was something off about how he reacted when he saw Akemi with him in that compromising situation. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

But when the stillness was broken, Mitsuko's head pivoted on his marked hand, his right eyebrow shot up, grinned sarcastically, tilted his head, and let out a scoff (he nearly cracked into a laugh) that would've made the answer to Kai's question clear enough on its own. "Don't be ridiculous. Like she said, we're just on the same team. Barely know the girl." His tone was full of sarcasm, and where Kai was frosty Mitsuko was extremely cold. The notion was ridiculous, though he could see how that notion may have been deduced. However, the sentence had gotten more sarcastic and his undertone had risen to pompous, and paired with that last sentence and his cool smirk, it may have been more suggestive than the Subeki had intended. He turned his head back to its original position, making it clear he wasn't interested in speaking further.

This whole thing was quite a predicament. He was going to have to sit through an entire meal with these two. He may have been able to discuss battle or team strategy or some shit with Akemi just to pass the time, but Mitsuko wasn't about to unveil his abilities to some random kid. No, he was a rival to him like everyone else. Someone who he had to stay ahead of. The genin racked his brain for any memory of the boy but came up short. Like with Akemi, he couldn't recall anything of detail or importance about Kai. Good, he's not a threat then.

He wondered though, did Kai remember him? Had he heard of him or did he know of his family? Akemi never said Mitsuko's or Kai's family name, so perhaps he could get off on just his first name. Unlikely though, the boy had made quite a reputation in the academy. And what of the girl? Did she expect him to bond with both of them? That wasn't going to happen. As much as the girl managed to delve into his emotions and tear up his facade, Mitsuko could find reserve strength in his reluctance to open up to this stranger.

The pinging of coins on the table intrigued the boy further. Was Kai flaunting or just trying to point out that he was going to pay? Perhaps trying to preserve his manhood by paying himself? Whatever the reason, it was a chance for Mitsuko to sum up whatever emotional strength he had to establish some semblance of a hierarchy. "We haven't even gotten our food yet." The boy would let the other pay if Akemi allowed it, but his blunt remark would do the job he wanted it to. Since Kai was a stranger and pretty irrelevant, there was no need to go to the same lengths he did with Akemi. Damn it, where's that girl with the food? The plan was to just sit silently, finish his ramen quickly, pay, and be off. This day was way too taxing and needed to end ASAP.

[Akemi Izayoi]

Akemi slipped around her sister catching the older girl's curious glance and offering only a simple shrug in response. Akemi didn't see the glance move toward the two boys in the corner of the restaurant if she did, then the girl might have feared a little for the boy's sanity. Hell, Akemi would have even feared for her own. The eldest would be sure to sit her down and begin one of those weird "talks" where Akemi struggled not to wilt under the imposing calm. Luckily, the girl was blissfully unaware and continued without worry. Free food and the idea of exciting discussions over battle plans did that to the kunoichi.

Making her way to the kitchen,she suddenly paused by a certain rack and eyed the knives displayed on it. Growling lowly to herself, the girl only grabbed two. Any more would be too obvious to hold on her person. After spinning them in each hand to make sure they were balanced, she nodded and slipped them where they would remain unseen and easy to access. Absently running a hand through her hair to free it from its tamed confines, she expertly maneuvered around her parents. The three specials were set to go in a few seconds.

The girl made sure to ignore the outrageous requests from Mitsuko's order, but she did hold off on the seaweed like he asked. The girl knew should she push him too far, he might just make a break for it and forfeit his life. It dawned on her that she had forgotten to ask Kai how he preferred his. Hopefully, he would be fine with the basics. Feeling eyes on her she turned away from the ramen and met her parent's gazes. They'd probably seen the end of the commotion that happened outside, but she was off now. They shouldn't be angry or anything...

"What?" The girl asked curiously.

"Who are those boys?" Her mother asked. Akemi's father had taken the time to give another curious glance to said boys.

"Friends." The girl stated as she plated the bowls and balanced them. "One's a teammate and I forced him-err he offered a meal." The girl then chose a hasty retreat to prevent them from questioning her slip. The murderous look of her shot the boys went unnoticed as did the placating hand her mother put on his shoulder. With a sigh of relief she made her way back to the table. Catching the end of what Mitsuko was saying, but only enough for her to hear the 'food' in the statement, she beamed.

"Food's here~" Without thinking, the girl kicked a chair hard enough to slide over to the booth. The bowls were large ones after all so she didn't know if they'd be able to eat comfortably if they were crammed to one side. Dishing out each boy their meal she plopped into the seat with her own. Then she propped her legs up (legs crossed of course to prevent any pervy glances), after all she did own this place unlike Mitsuko. Technically it was her parents, but still. Akemi indirectly owned the place. Besides who got all hung up on technicalities anyway. Taking a big bite, the girl gave a content hum of approval.

The girl thoughtfully considered how to breach the conversation of tactics and get it started as she slurped up her first bite carefully. The only tactic she had used against Mitsuko had been the combination of arrows and explosive notes. The boy hadn't seen any other skills from her arsenal. Kai on the other hand only knew that she was slowly developing silent killing and could use tanto on even grounds with him. Each probably had completely different ideas on her fighting style aside form seeing weapons in them. The girl didn't want to leave on or the other out in a battle plan either. Though Kai wasn't on her team, he could still provide an outside view for them. Finishing her bite, the girl started off simply.

"Hey Mitsuko, did Yuuyake-sensei teach you anything yet? I haven't heard word from him since the test..." Akemi asked curiously. Hinode-sensei had all but disappeared recently. Was he trying to focus on them individually first? Kyomu had been scarce as well. Maybe their sensei was focusing on the genjutsu user's skill first. Akemi felt impatient to get started and a little jealous she hadn't made any progress yet while her teammates might be passing her up. "Well, I guess it's not that bad. Kai showed me a cool technique anyway." The girl finished flashing Kaibutsu a smile.

[Kaibutsu Gakidou]

Listening to the blue-haired boy's words, Kaibutsu thought he heard something in there he didn't like. Not sure what it was, he merely grunted an "Ah." in response. Thinking on it, thought, he suddenly surmised what it was. Being a pervert, he knew undertones, especially sexual ones, and that sure seemed like one. And he didn't like it one bit...

At that point, it grew quiet for a bit, at which point Kaibutsu had some time to think. So, if these two weren't dating, then surely he still had a chance. But from that undertone, and the fact that Mitsuko was on her team, meant he would have to work quick...But...How would that work out? Again, he had never liked a girl like this. Ever. So he had no idea to go about it. Since his normal approach to other women didn't work, he was sure it sure as hell wouldn't work here. Well, it might actually be something to ask his mother at some point, no matter how embarrassing it might to be bring it up to her. Damn women and their complicated...ness.

Hearing Mitsuko speak once more, Kaibutsu almost grabbed the money quickly, knowing how embarrassing doing something wrong in a public situation was. Almost. He stopped himself at the last second, not showing any signs of him trying to put the money away. Really, why would he listen to this dude? Especially with the way he spoke. Like Kaibutsu was beneath him. Bastard was probably from one of those big time clans. The people from those tended to be big time arrogant pricks.

Damnit, why did Akemi decide to drag him over here and force him to sit here with this ass. He had merely meant to say hi to her and leave quickly due to how stupid he felt, yet here he was, waiting for Akemi to grab their food, which Kaibutsu was sure he would have to sit here and eat it with Mitsuko sitting right across from him. Sweet Ryujin this was going to end badly.

The silence after that point seemed to stretch on for eternity, though surely it was only a second or two before he finally spotted Akemi returning quickly with their food. Breathing a sigh of relief, he smiled to her as she kicked another seat over, though he was slightly bummed that she didn't take a seat next to him. Oh well, there was always next time.

"Thanks a lot Akemi-chan!" He said enthusiastically before digging in. Well, digging in as much as a well-taught boy such as him could. One didn't live with their mother their entire lives and not learn some table manners. Regardless of the fact that he was filling his belly, he made sure to listen in on the conversation going on around him. A trait he gained from being taught to be an assassin for the better part of his life.

Hearing his name and the fact that he had actually managed to teach someone something, he looked up from his food, flashing the girl his own smile. Deciding to try some things, though, he flashed her what he thought was possibly his most charming smile. "Yep, they won't see ya comin', Akemi-chan." Letting out a small chuckle, he went back to his food.