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As morning was turning into the main part of the day, the village's people were bustling around it with their everyday business. The general mood was a little more upbeat since Deil (the new Mizukage) had lead the successful project of repairing several places within the village. Therefore it came as no surprise to Deil that the general feel he got from the various citizens as he made his way toward the training grounds was one of optimism, and not as many looked away as he caught their glance as they had the day before. Some even gave him nods or smiles, and this raised his spirits considerably. In his pack were the various elemental scrolls belonging to the village, but nothing above B-rank. According to his studies of the relatively skimpy profiles provided to kage, nobody in the village was cleared to have access to those lists. The ones that were had been those ranks so long that surely they must have learned what they needed to by now.

He arrived at the training grounds within a few more minutes, and took a moment to survey the area: many training dummies and other training tools were in the area, as well as a small lake (or oversize pond, depending on how you want to name it). However, as far as he could see it was empty of any people besides himself. Hmm, well if nobody's here yet, I might as well warm up. I'm going to be in for a rough day as it is. So he put his pack down to prevent inadvertently damaging the scrolls inside, and did some light stretches for his legs by reaching for his toes before setting off on a light jog. He would go about 50 yards, then turn back around and go 100 in the opposite directing, and repeat. That way he never got very far from the pack and the entrance of the training grounds.





♥Ichisumi♥
§[Primary: Sexy]§[Secondary: Strength]§[Tertiary: Agility]§
§[Special Jounin]§[Taijutsu User]§[Suiton]§[Summoner]§[NPC]§
Ichisumi, the most beautiful serpent in Kiri (if not the world) arrived not long after Deil did. Her thick but slender form slithered into the area gracefully, as she made sure her body moved fluidly and with symmetry. Her eyesight was only slightly worse that humans, but it was enough to not be able to tell who Deil was when he was 50 yards away from the entrance due to the fog. However a flick of her nimble tongue picked up the same scent that had been on the scroll requesting her to help him train the next day. "Ohohoho, looks like I got beat to the punch today. That's rare, considering I'm used to being on top. Why don't you come on over so I can get a better look of you, Deil-san." The fact that she called him "Deil-san" instead of "Hokage-sama" was a major indicator of her arrogance, but she still had enough respect to at least refer to him as "san" instead of "kun." And it was technically fitting since they were both the same actual rank in terms of strength; the title of Hokage was merely that in Deil's case: a bestowed title. As he returned from his circuit, she could tell by the vibrations of his footsteps (which snakes can feel quite well) that he was either extremely huge, or he was wearing training weights. That raised the suspicion that he may be a taijutsu specialist like her and, sure enough, his well build frame came into view and confirmed her analysis. His actual handsomeness level was rather... average, but the sheer physical prowess his body showed was more than enough for her to consider him... acceptable. Of course she would never think of him as her equal in terms of grace and beauty, but perhaps a little teasing was in order to see what his personality was like. She slowly approached him at a couple inches a second from the five feet away she had originally started.

"My my, don't you put on quite a show? If I didn't know any better I'd say you brought me out here to try to seduce me. Of course that build could just be for show. It's not about how thick you are..." the end of her tail reached up toward the base of her neck and slid down, accentuating her well toned body, "but how you use it. And of course we don't know how strong we are unless we see how we perform in the... heat of the moment." Ichisumi finished it all off with a wink of her eye, and at that moment she had managed to get within only a couple feet of the Mizukage. She stopped, and seductively tested the air with a slow flick of her tongue to see what kind of pheromones he was releasing, and to test for the presence of other shinobi.

The familiar feeling of exercising by oneself at the training grounds brought back memories of one of his first days at the Sand village: the day he had gone to their training grounds and began conditioning for the 8-gates style. In fact, that's also the day I met Misuki. The genin and other ninja of the village would be congregating soon, and their joint experience gained through training together would likely influence their lives as much as it had his. He smiled as he reflected on how he and Misuki had grown in both strength as well as in their relationship, but the smile slowly faded as he recollected some of her habits throughout their relationship. Memories of their past bubbled to the surface as he warmed up in the sticky morning air. What came to the forefront of his mind was the fact that she would flinch almost any time they came into contact, mainly the first time they went out for lunch together, but it still happened whenever he did so unexpectedly. Even though they were light innocent touches, she would cringe or flinch in response to the contact. She had built huge walls around her, which were evident in the summary of her personal history that she had provided at the time.

"Oh, its nothing special you know the usual parents get killed by ninja thing and kid wondering around on their own for a few years before suddenly deciding to settle down somewhere."

She made it sound so inconsequential, so insignificant. And yet it isn't, because it has shaped her life so much.

...I know how hard it can be to place your trust into someone who could one day be your enemy.

Even though our relationship grew quickly, it was obvious there might be lingering reluctance to trust me wholly. Yet there are obvious signs she wants to trust me wholly; she wants to believe there's at least one person out there who genuinely cares for her, and will not raise a hand against her.

"I don't trust people easily but if I had to trust someone with my life, it'll be you. So, if you do come to my rescue and we both get kicked out, I won't blame you, instead, I'll be grateful since it means I'll get to live another day." She faced Deil again and gave him a genuine smile.

She trusted me enough to put her life into my hands, but not enough to share her history with me. She did so later, but it's interesting how that worked. It was like her life meant less to her than her actual self, if that makes any sense. But then again, there were instances where she put herself out there to make sure I knew she cared about me.

"Hey, since we've established that we can trust one another, don't hold back on telling me if you're every in pain okay? I hate to have things sugarcoated so if you're in pain tell me and I'll try to heal you and if I can't I'll just have to learn to accept that my skills still aren't good enough."
Deil received his plate of food and ate a bite while she talked. He looked up at her, making sure he had eye contact. "I will tell you if I am in pain and need your help. But do not beat yourself up if you cannot heal me. Also, do not try to stop me if I am hurting myself for you. I told you I would protect you if I could, and I will do what needs to be done to do that." He grabbed a piece of toast and took a bite while still looking at her.
Misuki blushed a bright crimson at his words and was intensely at a lost for words, breaking eye contact, Misuki stared down at her plate of food while attempting to cut her eggs. After a few seconds of silence, Misuki softly muttered out something to Deil, "Thanks, that's really sweet of you Deil-san. I...I'm really touched." Misuki flashed him a quick smile before returning to stare at her food.

Now that I think about it, that seemed to be the general pattern: she would sort of fade out of the conversations whenever things got intense. She grew more and more comfortable physically, but emotionally she still did her best to hide her her deeper thoughts. Well, that's what I think anyway. It was too quiet sometimes for her not to be thinking deep thoughts. But then things changed when we went to the hot springs during the chuunin exams. I remember being surprised that she agreed to join the uni-sex area with me, but what surprised me even more was what she told me while we were there.

After a moment of silence, Misuki spoke in a quiet, almost timid voice, "I told you before how my parents were killed right?...well...in reality, they were assassinated, sound issued that order. I was only 8 at the time, so you see why its just so hard for me to relax around someone from sound? I just can't help but worry that the same thing that happened to my parents would happen to me." At this point in time, Misuki could feel herself shaking and struggled to keep in control. 'No good, I just losing it. Once I start talking about it, I just can't seem to remain calm...' Still looking at the wall, Misuki continued on in a shaky voice, "At the moment, I'm also really disturbed as to why Soritaka-san would also have an adopted brother who's a Sindoue...why would a clan from sound adopt a kid from a clan that they sent out an order to kill? It just makes no sense and I just can't seem to get a grip of all these thoughts going through my head right now...*sigh* I, I don't even know why I'm telling you all of these but I just really needed to get this off my chest..." Misuki blinked a few times trying to hold back her tears as she recalled the death of her parents.

She didn't know why she did she told me, but I think it was because she really trusted me at that point. Maybe not wholly trusting because she still hasn't shared what happened after her parents died (the events during her 8 year period of nomad lifestyle), but the trust we do have is solid. I think there are things she's still running from; things she won't bring up even with me because of how much they will hurt. But I've told her I would do anything for her, and at least we've talked about the root of it all: the death of her family at such a young age. The fact that she's still with me even though it was my clan that was hired to perform the deed is testimony to how strong our relationship is, and I think it could very well stay that way even if I don't dwell upon her past more, but I think the habit of holding onto her thoughts and emotions when with anyone but me might be too stressful for her. I wonder how's she's handling it all...

Just as he was doubling back at one end his jogging path, the cynical laughter of Ichisumi reached his ears and yanked his mind from his time of reflection. He had no idea who it was until he got close enough to make out her features through the mist. He arrived in front of her taking deep controlled breaths, but he quickly lost his rhythm as the intriguing snake made its move. Her words didn't really register to him until she was right up on him, and then he realized the nature of the discussion. He took a couple steps back and raised his hands in front of him in a show of bewilderment. His voice lost its usual confident tone for a moment, but then he soon recovered. I'm sorry Ichisumi-sama, but I think you've got the wrong idea. This is supposed to be a training session for anyone that wants to come, not just the two of us. And besides," he lowered his voice a little to indicate that the situation was uncomfortable as he continued speaking, "I'm honestly not looking to seduce anyone. In fact I'm not really even looking for a relationship right now." He looked curiously at the snake for another moment before he heard and felt the voice of Mileena greet him. He turned toward her figure in the mist and returned her bow with a more shallow one befitting their rank. "Good morning Mileena. Are you ready for the first of many days of training you'll go through in your lifetime? I trust you're feeling better since yesterday's incident as well?" The only reason he knew was because he had received reports from the head nurse of any currently injured ninja, and hers had been on the top since it was most recent.





♥Ichisumi♥
§[Primary: Sexy]§[Secondary: Strength]§[Tertiary: Agility]§
§[Special Jounin]§[Taijutsu User]§[Suiton]§[Summoner]§[NPC]§
As Ichisumi tested for his pheromones, she detected relatively low levels of the male mating pheremone being emitted from him. How queer. she thought. Her smile shrank to a slight grin at his response. "How droll, Deil-san. And here I was thinking you wanted to have a special chance to spend the day admiring true beauty." With a hiss, she turned to face the new arrival. The young lady was pretty, but didn't come anywhere near the standard Ichisumi had so clearly set. Obviously this new arrival was inferior to anything the great snake would think of as "competitive" to her beauty, and Ichisumi gave no leeway for Mileena to think otherwise. She did find the fact that the girl had spoken without creating air vibrations quite intriguing though. That's Ichisumi-sensei to you, girl. And who might you be?" Ichisumi reared her head back and eased her body up some, thus giving her the appearance that she was both observing the girl from up high and preparing to strike at the same time, yet her tone and the actions of the rest of her boy didn't give any indication that she actually planed to strike down the genin. Unsurprisingly though, the new curves in her posture accentuated her femininity and caused light to deflect oddly across her smooth scales.

Watching with keen eyes and childish curiosity, Mileena couldn't help but feel uncomfortable herself. Deil's discomfiture was pouring in waves toward her direction, and in truth, she did not know how to turn off her innate ability to sense people's emotions. She wasn't even sure if it was possible, but times like these drove her to wonder. The very second Deil's words caught Mileena's ears, she prepared herself to respond, but was taken aback for half a millisecond when he spoke of her recent injury. 'Of course he knows, he is the Mizukage after all...' Mileena looked away suddenly as if she were too ashamed to meet his gaze, which wasn't too far off considering the circumstances which led to her receiving the injury in the first place.

"Well... It wasn't too bad. I overestimated my abilities, thinking I could fend off a very powerful attack. I was wrong I suppose..." As if able to hear Mileena's words, the snake interjected just before the little girl could properly finish what she had to say. She shot a glare in the snake's direction, but the arrogant reptile either did not notice, or was the world's greatest actress. Finally, the snake deigned to cast her gaze over Mileena, but what the girl saw there was not what she had expected. The snake eyed her as if she were nothing more than a bug in a box, an insect that solicited no more than a sneer. When the snake hissed her disapproval, Mileena decided then and there that she despised this creature. One other thing registered in her mind at the same time. The snake, Ichisumi as she had so imperiously addressed her person, honored herself as 'sensei'. Mileena's eyes opened a fraction wider as she turned to Deil stupidly, asking silent questions without the need for thoughts. Head bolting back in the snake's direction, Mileena looked stunned as the creature erected herself some and arched her slender body in a pose that caused Mileena to feel affronted. Taking a single step back, Mileena stared up into the cold, fathomless eyes of Ichisumi. Big mistake. As soon as she did so, sunlight reflected off of the snake's scales into Mileena's eyes. She squinted them quickly and looked away. She took it to heart to believe that the snake had done all that on purpose in an attempt to either give her a heart attack or blind her, or possibly both. That was the last straw. Mileena refused to seem like the weak little girl who hid away from the world. She retook her step forward, standing tall in an almost perfect imitation of the snake's imperious posture as she kept her facial features masterful and impassive. "If you must know. I am known as Mileena Mayu, and I would appreciate it ever so much if you would refrain from calling me 'girl' for as long as we are to endure each other's presence". Mileena shot Ichisumi her most ingratiating smile as she said the words without the least bit of malice or inflection in her voice. The snake would have no way of telling that she was being disrespectful, a small play in tone of voice that Mileena had come to master over the years as an assassin. Small, seemingly unnecessary skills such as these were what counted for an assassin. One had to master these skills in order to carry out an undercover operation or normal every day life to perfection. Without waiting for a response, Mileena peeled her eyes from the snake and returned her gaze to Deil. "If I may ask Deil-sama, would it be alright if you trained me? I don't really think Ichisumi likes me very much, and truth be told, I don't think I like her much either". Mileena pouted involuntarily at the thought of the snake, which would alert Deil, if he were paying attention, that an unpleasant exchange had just taken place between the two ladies.

"Morning Sunshine". Those two simple words were all it took for Mileena to giggle. She could sense that he hadn't gotten enough sleep last night, and she could read his mind to know what he was attempting to do. He always seemed to do that with his hair. Besides all these trivial points of notice, he seemed fine and ready for whatever the day held. Mileena turned away from Deil and took a step as if to walk toward Nero. Then she remembered Ichisumi. The snake would most likely think Mileena beneath her in the sense that she has to run to a man. Mileena seethed as she stood her ground, sending mental daggers (it's all in Mileena's mind. Ichisumi senses nothing) at the snake. She instead turned her gaze away from Nero and assumed a bored, almost stolid expression as she broke the link with Deil and formed it with Nero instead. "There isn't anything good about this morning. I just found out that that pompous reptile over there is going to be one of two teachers for the time being. I am not looking forward to this at all, and it's all her fault". Mileena stood arms akimbo as she waited for Nero to come closer.

Matsuya made his way to the training grounds all the while clacking his katana in its sheath on his shoulder. The noise had a sort of rythem to it, but to Matsuya it was a distraction. His mind was wandering into useless statistics and odds of certain things happening. That was just Matsuya's mind, brilliant but random. As he arrived, he took an assesment of the area. There was Deil, the alluring snake he didn't know, Mileena, and the kid who'd arrived at the tower when he and Rios were working. He gave Mileena and the kid a nod of greeting and then made his way towards Deil. He stood a little ways off, his katana grasped in one hand. "Deil-sama, I've come to ask you for those scrolls I declined the night we met. I feel it's time for my training to start." Matsuya eyed the snake out of the corner of his eye. It wasn't that it interested him, but he couldn't take his eyes off the thing. It was one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen, but that wasn't that stiff a competition.