A Meeting In a Park with a Lonely Girl

Walking into a small, empty, lonely park, Aoi resisted the urge to flop down on to the ground. How was it that this always happened? Always dragged into her mother's work.

It had all started earlier that day when her mother had dragged her out of the bed.

" AOI! WAKE UP. I need you to go to the market for strawberries! I need them before the end of the morning. So hurry up! " Aoi's mother, a civilian, but still stern and strict, kicked Aoi's bed, making the young teen fall out. Grunting, Aoi fell onto the floor ina tangle of sheets. Aoi's mother, twitching at her daughter's laziness, kicked Aoi in the shoulder. Even though she was a civilian, Aoi's mother could really pack a punch. Or rather throw a kick.

Groaning and rolling to the side, holding her arm where her mother had kicked her, Aoi slowly picked herself up. Clad in a black tank-top and short white shorts, she silently glared at the already slammed-closed door where her mother had just left. Mumbling to herself, she threw off her clothes, silently getting changed into her normal outfit. Sliding open her window, she jumped down to the aweing of the aparement below her window. From there, she jumped down to the street.

Aoi had already bought the strawberries. They rested in a basket, which was in a bag, which was on her wrist at the momment. She still had a little bit of money, about enough to grab a snack at a vending machine before she headed back home. Looking at the park she was in now, Aoi started down a path.

The park was located next to an agracultural farm, which sold fresh strawberries. Aoi perfered them over the in-store ones. The ones here were sweeter and better looking. Grinning to herself, she plucked one out of the bad and poped it into her mouth. Chewing it slowly, she savored the flavor.

Strawberries where her favorite. Aoi loved pink, dispite her name, and the small, round pink berrie. Smiling, she kept walking down the long path. She chose this one, because it was longer and provided an excuse to her mother on why Aoi was late delivering the cargo. Might as well take her time with it.

With her first genin-team meeting in a week or so, Aoi decided to spend her time as calmly as possible. It'd be a while before she got to enjoy herself this much. Looking around, Aoi gazed at the park. Trees lined the path, going into grasses areas with a path intercrossing here and there. There weren't any people around, as far as Aoi could tell. Not that it mattered or anything.

But Aoi sure did feel alittle...... Well, lonely.

There he was, midday in a park. The sky was cloudy and you were able to hear the thunder that started just a few minutes earlier. He was sitting in one of the larger trees close by the entrance. In his hand was his unsheathed katana, hyakurai. Slowly he was sharpening the blade, the sound of the sharpener ageanst the metal of the blade broke the silence of the park. His white tail was wrapped around him and rested in his lap, he was afraid the dirty tree would ruin his clean fur.

As usual he was wearing no shirt, showing off the shiny and clean fur covering his whole body. Across his chest he has a black fabric strip, leading to the sheath on his back for his sword. His custom shorts were pure black, his tail was fit through a spot in the back for it. That morning he decided to not wear his custom shoes. His footpaws dangled down from the tree branch. All was calm for him inside that park, until he caught a smell from upwind, of a genin.

With a scowl he jumped from tree to tree, landing on each branch with the skill of a cat. Finally after a minute he catches sight of the girl. He recognizes her as a genin fresh out of the academy. "What is she doing coming through alone? From what i heard she doesn't have much skill in combat oriented jutsus" He pondered the reasons for a minute as she walked down the road. Noticing her stop ans gaze down the longest road through the park towards the residential setion.

Sighing to himself he jumped down onto the ground steathily with his katana gripped in his hand. His face was completely blank and unreadable. While his eyes looked her up and down. "She will have heard of me. If she makes one word about how i look she will regret it. Although she looks weak. I don't even think shes worth killing" As soon as the thought passed through him, he grinned for the fraction of a second. "What are you doing here all alone? This is a dangerous section to be alone at, Some real psycos come around here" His voice was deep and grungy. Tsukimono looked at the girl and his tail swept from side to side, showing he was annoyed.

As the neko-boy jumped down, Aoi blinked in surpirse and stoped mid-chew of a strawberry. Looking at him with her wide blue eyes, she tilted her head to the side alittle.

She sized him up, looking at him. He was covered in fur, almost like a cat's fur. In his hand he held a katana. It's blade reflected from the sun, shining into her eyes. She looked back at his face and she blinked again.

' A neko-chan? He looks so familar. He'd probably kill me though if I called him Neko-chan out loud. ' She thought casually. Aoi blinked once more. He was talking.


"What are you doing here all alone? This is a dangerous section to be alone at, Some real phycos come around here"

Aoi blinked again. Momentarily she thought that she was blinking an awful lot, but, then again, a cat person was standing infront of her. As he stopped talking, Aoi shrugged wordlessly and swallowed the last of her strawberrie.

Shifting the bag of fruit on her arm, Aoi looked at the neko-boy in the eye.

" Well, Mr. erm...." Aoi paused, wrinkling her nose. What should she call him without getting killed? But, then again, now that she thought about it. This neko-man, seemed very...familar. Like she had heard of him.

Surly she had, with such a physical apperance and undoubted power. Just from looking at his body, Aoi could see that he was strong. And this wasn't just her medical eyes looking at him. He was toned to say the least. His fur though....how unusual. Was it a clan apperance? A kekkai genkai? Was he really, in some way, half cat?

Shaking her head from the questions that were rising, she kept talking, continuing where she had left off.

" Ah..Well, anyways, I'm fine walking here. I'm just on my way home. Besides, I may be only a genin, but I'm also a ninja. I can take care of my self from here to my home. " She said, cracking a smile and raising a hand free of strawberries. She laughed alittle, almost a nervous laugh.

She didn't know why, but he gave off a darker aura than most. The last thing she wanted to do was piss him off, but knowing her own stupidness...

She'd just do that thing, unintentionally.

Looking at her, his eyes narrowed and his pupils became slits. He could easily tell that she was wondering what to say , and in particular, what to call him. "surely you recognize me. People hate me, they hunt me, and they all die trying. I am a neko, and my name is Tsukimono" As he spoke he watched her expression. He assumed that by telling her his name it would click just how dangerous he truely is.

Slowly he reached back and sheathed his katana. "There is no use using my katana against her. I am to fast for her" he thought to himself. He decided to find out more aobut this particular girl. He could easily kill her another day. "Who is your team leader?" His grunge voice seemed to shake some of the leaves above them. Suddenly he looked up as it started to rain, and he closed his eyes letting himself start to get more comfortable in his natural element. As he took a deep breath he noted that it was pure rain, and not acidic rain.

Looking around the park, he knew that he would now have pleanty of water for any of his water jutsus should he decide to kill this genin girl. "what is your name girl?" He asked as he looked back at her. Seeming to grow in size as the rain fell on them. He was in his home element, and had more water to freeze and minipulate with his clan jutsus.

"Turn up the music, let's get out on the floor. I like to move it, come on and get me some more!"

Shiori's singing was several octaves higher than what this song was intended for, yet it still sounded right. Her head moved back and forth as she belted out the lyrics, her pixie styled black hair moving freely around her. Soon her hips were starting to sway with the music.

"Steal the night, kill the lights. Feel it under your skin!"

Closing her eyes, her long pale legs carried her over to the park. Unknowingly letting herself be drawn over to two prominent chakras. Before she could fully reach them though, she stopped and let herself fully go and dance. This song is AMAZING! Her finger-tip length red and black plaid skirt swaying along with her, though her black button up shirt stuck to her like glue.

"Hey little DJ come burn this place right down to the ground!

Reaching the end of the song, Shiori opened her eyes and noticed the two people talking. The couple looked odd, to say the least, but this excited Shiori. The girl seemed normal, despite her outfit, with her blond hair and skinny body. She's totally a cracker! Shiori began to giggle as she looked over at the male. He was obviously more powerful with his chakra level, but he looked very odd.

White fur was all over his body, and his skin was just a shade above his fur. DAMN! He needs some sun. ASAP! Feeling like the girl who could just help him out, Shiori moved her bare feet across the grass towards them. Sadly she didn't make it a few steps before it started to pour down rain, but this didn't upset her in the least. A wide, cheeky smile formed on her face as she began to skip like a little kid towards them. I LOVE THE RAIN!

Coming up towards them she could sense something a bit more than before. She sensed a slight bit of hostility. This broke her smile, but not for long as it quickly re-formed itself.

"Hey!"

What to do, what to do, oh what to do ~? It was just one of those days where Natsumi just wanted to..... sleep? Bah, but she didn't want to. In facy, she wanted to go out, have fun, and possibly meet new people. Besides the fact she can/is living between the Vongola headquarters or her parent's home, she liked going out. Now, when was the last time she met new people? Ahh, yes. Aoitori and Saib... the Daimyo's daughter and her bodyguard. They were fun characters. But then.. she started acting... quite weird with Aoitori...

'Aoitori...' Natsumi thought a bit sadly as she straightned her hair as she walked out of her parent's home wearing a black tight tank top, a coat, seeing as it looked like rain was gonna come and black pants. Her hair wasn't in a high ponytail today, it was loose, letting her jet black hair dance in the wind as her green eyes narrowed when anyone would look at her. She hated being the center of attention. But, anyway, back to what she was thinking about...? Ahh, yes. Aoitori. That guy... somehow is now in Natsumi's mind and she's unable to get him out of it.

Maybe she was feeling something for him? ... Probably, but... how to tell him? That's just..... She shook her head as she kept walking, her head held up high as she looked at the clouds that were coming in, and she also heard some thunder and that made her sigh. 'Great. Juuuuust great, it's gonna rain again. Honestly this weather... not that I mind... but still...' She placed the hoodie on her head, trying to get -some- protection from the rain as her feet led her to.... the park? 'What the hell...?'

Her green eyes blinked in curiosity, she saw about.. three people in the park as she walked casually with her black hoodie on and her hands in her pockets, and let's not also forget her spear-like weapon strapped onto her back, in case a fight breaks out. Her bangs covered her eyes a bit but they were still noticeable as she looked at.. two kunoichi, who seemed... normal. And then her eyes fell onto a young man with.... Neko ears?! She blinked twice, tilting her head to the side and getting closer to the shinobis. "Why hello, nice for all of us to be here, when it's about to rain or it's going to rain soon, ne?" She grinned as she awaited their reply with a calm yet collected look that hides a very hot headed personality.

As the neko-boy, or rather Tuskimono, spoke to her in a deep voice, she opened her mouth to reply his questions. Rain had started to pour, and Aoi lifted up her jacket's hood to cover her head. Shifting her weight to another foot, Aoi tilted her head to the side. Just as she started to speak, a girl started to dance in the grass. She seemingly danced to them, music blasting from her vocal cords.

Aoi flinched at the high squeal of it. As the girl came up to them, she said hello.

Aoi blinked and nodded to her, about to speak again and introduce herself. As she opened her mouth-again- Another girl came up. Squinting through the rain, she watched her walk up.

The next girl had on a black jacket, simmilar to Aoi's only lacking the fur lined inside. She blinked watching as one by one the the doplets of rain slashed onto the people around them. It was like suddenly a wave of people had come in around her. She went from totally alone in the park...

To suddenly have so many people around her, she felt alittle off. Shruging it off, she blinked and looked around at the four of them.

" Well...So many people....So quickly..." She said, more to herself than anyone else. Blinking slowing, she looked to Tsukimono.

" I'm Semi-ku Aoi, Tsukimono-san. Ah...And to you too, as well. I suppose you two were just passing by? I was just taking these strawberries home..." She said slowly, blinking once more. Moving her head around to look at everyone, she sized the other two up.

Squinting at them in the rain Aoi breifly wondered if she needed glasses. Her vision was blurry in the rain...But she guessed that really didn't matter.

Rain didn't seem to mix well with Aoi, though the other three seemed to enjoy it. Aoi was more for the sunny and windy days.

Wind. Aoi loved the wind. It was her natural element. But on this rainy cloudy day, it was definately uncomfortable for her.

With a scowl on his face he heard the girl with the high pitched voice coming in their direction. He had held back a growl and an urge to kill the girl on sight for interupting. "Hey!" Her voice was considerably lower than the pitch she used while she was singing. "Usually this park is so quiet, now i'm starting to get annoyed" He mumbled to himself under his breath. His fingers seemed to twitch as he faught the urge to kill them. Than something caught his eye, another girl approaching.

"Why hello, nice for all of us to be here, when it's about to rain or it's going to rain soon, ne?" Her voice was higher pitched, yet something seemed different about her. His fingers stopped twitching and he was almost immediately as calm as he was when he was alone. Quickly he focused on something differant as his mind began to wander. Looking back at the girl named aoi, he spoke to her Again "Certainly there are faster routes to get back into the residential section of kumo. This direction takes an hour to get back" The annoyence was gone from his voice and his eyes flicked back to the girl that approached.

She looked to be about twenty, but assumed she was closer to the age of 18 or 19. "She looks.." He didn't finish the thought. He had never felt an attraction towards somebody before. "Could this be what it feels like?" He thought to himself silently. He tried to keep himself controlled. From experience he could tell she was a chuunin. He didn't know if she was C-ranked or B-ranked like himself. And similar to himself, she also carried a weapon, It looked like a staff, with a blade on the end. As an expert swordsman he could see the weapon was well made. But what abilities does it contain, is a completely unknown factor.

After a few seconds he closed his eyes and looked away. Cursing himself for looking at her for as long as he did. "This is highly unusual. My favorite place is being invaded by numerous people. What do you want?" He directed the question at the girl who came singing mostly, but also at the other girl. When he opened his eyes, his facial expression changed back to it's usual scowl.

Shiori closed her eyes and started rocking back forth as if she could hear music. The quiver full of arrows, her bow, and various other items was jangling along with her as she swayed. Although right now she did look like she was half-mental, it was only half true; Shiori never let anyone know the true her until she knew they were worth trusting. Brushing strands of her black hair away from her face, she sensed a new presence coming towards them.

"Why hello, nice for all of us to be here, when it's about to rain or it's going to rain soon, ne?"

Keeping her eyes closed, Shiori stopped rocking. Listening to each of them slowly introduce themselves. These people are definitely..different. Opening her yellow eyes, she glanced at the neko, he seemed to be the oddest and most hostile of them all. I'll have to keep my eye on him.

" Well...So many people....So quickly..."

" I'm Semi-ku Aoi, Tsukimono-san. Ah...And to you too, as well. I suppose you two were just passing by? I was just taking these strawberries home..."

Shiori smiled warmly at the young woman, it seemed she lacked confidence; but that will come when she finishes a few upper classed missions...hopefully. Glancing back over to the neko, he seemed different. There was a light in his eye that wasn't there before, taking a quick peek to see what he was looking at, Shiori noticed the new girl again. AWE Neko and....that other girl sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S...ING Before she could get through the whole song in her head, she was bombarded by an angry question.

"This is highly unusual. My favorite place is being invaded by numerous people. What do you want?"

"Well Mr...Tsukimono? I was just walking around, having a little relaxation between all the work. It can really be a drag, but I sure wont let that keep my spirit down! O' and my name is Shiori, nice to meet you all!"


OOC: sorry it's so short!

One of the kunoichi's introduced herself as Aoi Semi-Ku. She seemed to be passing by, in a way? Natsumi noticed that she was a bit shocked at the many people here? She shouldn't be, this IS a park after all.... 'Though...' She looked up at the sky, a straight line on her face as she looked at the rather different clouds that were hanging about, already pouring slightly, but not enough to make them all and run for cover. The rain pelting them was cold, as usual. It wasn't anything new, and yet it sometimes made Natsumi jump whenever she felt something cold like a rain drop touch her skin.

The... neko male's name is yet unknown to her, not that she minded a lot, but it made her curiosity grow a lot more... Natsumi noticed the neko boy looking at her, which made her raise an eye brow at him. 'Why must I attract attention..? And to think, I'm usually the one who can be quiet...' She did a rewind. 'No. I'm usually the one who's screaming... So it is shocking that I'm so... quiet this day.'

The other girl seemed at least somewhat.. welcoming. Her name was Shiori. So, two out of three names she knew, eh? Well, that's good at the moment, right?? "An honor." Natsumi said as she nodded to all three, her hand still in her pockets. "Name's Natsumi Lleiad." Natsumi was sometimes the woman who can be straight to the point, or sometimes just stall for time for certain reasons. But it didn't seem like a time to stall, right?

"It shouldn't be surprising, Aoi-san. People can appear just that quick, and dissapear just as quickly", her eyes by now, were directed at Aoi, looking as if she was serious, but it's her usual look. Then, her eyes went over to the neko boy and she scowled a bit. "This doesn't have your name on it. It may be your special place, but anyone can come here anytime, so don't go all annoyed at any one of us. We came here because we wanted to." Now, she might've seemed a liiitle harsh, but just people like that sometimes get to her, and she just wanted to tell him like it is.

The neko boy, Tuskimono seemed to be intriged by the other girl, Natsumi. He stared at her for a while before speaking.

"Certainly there are faster routes to get back into the residential section of kumo. This direction takes an hour to get back"

Aoi reisted the urge to huff. What was with this guy? Did she have to explain her reasons for taking the long way home? He was grading on her nerves. Not that it mattered much. Aoi shifted her eyes down momentarily and tightened her grip on her bag of fruit.

" Well.. I just wanted to waste some time before going home. Is that a crime? " She said in an irratated voice. Snapping her mouth shut she glowered. Aoi didn't know why she was reacting so much- It just annoyed her.

But then again, her reacting to him so much was pretty obnoxious. It just showed her weakness. Aoi had to react to everything, didn't she. Aoi grimanced at herself slightly. Why did she have to be so weak? Looking at the other ninja around her, she felt useless and totally vaunerable.

Biting the bottom of her lip, Aoi kept her eyes lowered as they conversed momentarily. Her eyes shot up though, when the older kunoichi spoke to her.

"It shouldn't be surprising, Aoi-san. People can appear just that quick, and dissapear just as quickly",

Aoi blinked at the statement. It made so much sense. Aoi was a ninja, damnit. She should know this.

It was a fact of life. People, just like time are fleeting and fast paced, never slowing down. Unless you were old. Then it was just slow for you, but Aoi was far from old.

Fifteen and kicking Aoi was in her prime...Or. Atleast she should be.

Lately she hadn't felt up to top. Which, she wasn't. Aoi was just a child compared to these two; a child playing ninja with some sharp knifes. She was bound to get hurt one of these days.

Aoi scowled. Sure, she could heal minor wounds... kick and punch.. But was that all she could do?

Probably.

Aoi shook her head mentally and looked between the other ninja.