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 Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:48 pm
She'd almost fallen asleep out of boredom and slight exhaustion from her travels, when she noticed some movement in the clearing finally. She saw a man jogging around the outer edges of the clearing, moving nearer and nearer to the tree she had climbed. She wasn't sure if she should come down yet or not, however. She didn't want to just jump down in front of him and risk provoking an attack by startling him. He seemed like he was far enough away, however, that should she start now, she could slowly climb out of the tree before he made it to her, or at least be closer to eye level. So she made sure her belongings were secure and started back towards the ground.
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:53 pm
Seph slowed to a stop, a confused look on his face. He didn't scan the area, as he had a much more practical method of searching his surroundings.
He grinned some, dropped the jutsu he was using, and turned back towards the Dojo, making his way back to the fountain.
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:03 pm
She watched as the man changed course, confused as to why he was grinning. She looked around, to see if maybe there was something ahead of her that she hadn't noticed. If it was her that he was grinning at, she certainly wasn't aware of it; to the best of her knowledge it didn't even appear that he'd noticed the was there.
She completed her descent, double checked her belongings, and stood for a moment, debating whether or not she should follow him.
May as well. Can't quite ambush me if I'm prepared for him to turn around and attack at any moment.
She took a deep breath, and stepped out of the forest, into the clearing.
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:10 pm
He took a seat on the edge of the fountain, dunking his head in the water. His ear twitched suddenly, picking up movement behind him. He didn't look back, though, just flung his head forward and shook off the water on his face.
He stretched his arms a bit more as he looked back at the Main Dojo.
"I probably should have shut that door.."
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:19 pm
It seemed more and more to her like he really hadn't noticed her at all, and was now concerned about her decision to follow him. She couldn't just walk up behind him and say 'Excuse me' without risking a defensive response.
But as she thought of this, she thought of something else. She had been using the train of thought 'it's a ninja academy, they'll attack me if I surprise them' but she'd also forgotten the other aspect of it being a ninja academy. It was very likely he had noticed her, but wasn't letting on for some reason or another.
She decided that the next course of action would be to draw some attention to herself, or at least make her presense known. As she walked, she took less care to be quiet, and when she was about ten feet away from the fountain where the man stood, she let her bag slide off her shoulder, hitting the ground with a soft, yet still noticeable, thud.
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:22 pm
Seph considered the door once more and, before her backpack hit the ground, said, "Can I help you?"
He turned his body completely around to face her through the fountain, crossing his legs. The water that should still be running down his arms and shoulders was gone, evaporated. He offered her a welcoming smile.
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:26 pm
She reached down to pick her bag back up as he asked his question, and replied with her own.
"Is this the Gaian Ninja Academy?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:34 pm
Seph looked around, then nodded, "Last I checked." He smiled and stood up, pulling back on a maroon shirt and throwing a white scarf back around his neck.
He bowed to her politely. "Welcome."
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:39 pm
"Thanks," she said with a smile, as she reached for the small pocket of her bag. She pulled out the map she'd been given and unfolded it. She flipped it over to where she had written down the name she'd been given.
"I was told to seek out a person named Neko, and was informed that he was a sensei here. Is this correct?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:43 pm
Seph nodded softly, pocketing his hands. He smiled politely. "Yes. May I ask who you are, and why you seek Neko?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 1:56 pm
So I am definitely in the right place it seems, she thought before answering his question.
"My name is Oniyuri Shimokawa. I was sent to find Neko in hopes that he might be able to teach me. Some men who spoke very highly of him were in my village recently, helping our village defend itself when we found ourselve caught in the middle of a war between our kingdom and a neighboring kingdom. They sent me here, saying that Neko would surely take me on as a student. I came in hopes that with his training, I will be able to return to my village and help defend it."
And avenge my father's death, she added in thought, but didn't say aloud. She knew that most senseis did not care for vengeance as motivation, and for all she knew, she may have been speaking to Neko right then. Be that as it may, vengeance was where a large portion of her motivation came from, and she wasn't too quick to deny it.
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:06 pm
Seph's eyebrows raised. He was not expecting so much information. "You offer much to someone you do not know." He smiled. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need. Neko is here, somewhere, but searching him out proves a fruitless effort more often than not. Is there anything I can get you or help you with?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:15 pm
"Someone trusted me with information about this place, I would only assume that someone who appears to be from this place would be as trustworthy. If I am wrong, then that is my own mistake and I shall deal with the consequences."
She smiled, and responded to his offer.
"Perhaps some water, I emptied my own container earlier this morning," she said, bowing slightly in thanks.
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:24 pm
He nodded and took a seat back at the fountain. The ground between his feet split, and up surged a bubble of magma. It hovered in the air before him for a few seconds before twisting and contorting into a bowl-shape. He dropped his hand and the bowl of liquid rock fell into his lap. Before it made contact, it hardened and cooled. He picked up the smooth, dark bowl and held it out over the jet of water from the fountain, filling it.
He handed her the bowl. "It's nice to meet you, Oniyuri Shimokawa. I am Sephiroth Mousser, Ho Sensei and Ijutsu Shojiki here at the Gaian Ninja Academy."
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:30 pm
She smiled, a bit impressed at what she'd just seen. She accepted the bowl, bowing her head just slightly in acknowledgement.
"Thanks," she said taking a sip from the bowl.
"How many other students are there here?" she asked, not expecting a large number in reply. The place seemed almost desolate, given the amount of activity she'd witnessed there so far today.
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