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Xenon stood beside his rival, hands in the pockets of his coat, as the two surveyed the area. Mokutan, who was once more contently perched atop his should, was looking with interest. "Not bad facilities eh Boss?"

Xenon swept his eyes from left to right behind his glasses, and said as he was doing so "No. Not bad at all."

"Are you kidding!?" Kimiko was looking starry eyed. "this is SO COOL!" she ran to the edge of the sand pit looking at it, then the surrounding area. "Wow! Our very own training ground! I can't believe it!"

Xenon was walking behind her, while exceeding more relaxed about the whole affair, appraising the place. "It seems," he put an emphasis on seems "The we're the first to arrive... how shocking." yet he didn't seem all that surprised.

Mokutan chuckled "Heh, Well not everyone can be expected to meet your level of punctuality Chief. If I were this sensei guy I'd just toss you a couple of scrolls and hit the bars. I hear being a shinobi gets you all sorts of chicks."

Xenon pushed his glasses up amused "I would almost prefer that, then at least he would amusing if nothing else."

Kimiko looked back over her shoulder "Hey Maboroshi are you bad mouthing sensei again? Cut that out! We haven't really even given him a chance you know." She crossed her arms at him. "Besides, you shoud be getting ready for our sparring matches... you're going to have to fight me you know."

Xenon sighed as though slightly disapointed. "Yes... a shame." he shrugged "Oh well. I suppose I'll just have to hold back."

Kimiko suddenly was a foot from his face looking irate, her eyes burning with heroic fury "Hey Maboroshi! Don't underestimate me! I'll show you how strong I am!"

Xenon seemed entirely unphased. "Oh? Very well. If that's what you want." he suddenly got a creepy grin on his face. "I won't hold back at all..."

Kimiko smiled triumphantly, rolling her eyes. "Ha! That doesn't work on me Maboroshi! I've specifically trained myself to be resistant to your creepy smirks! I'm immune!" From her tone she might have been declaring herself the supreme ruler of the Universe.

Xenon's face returned to calm. '...Impressive.' He thought in mock seriousness before laughing at himself. God help him, the girl was rubbing off on him, at least as far as her dramatics went. He now gave a small smile "Very well, then let this be a friendly match between rivals yes? I believe that's how these things go isn't it?"

Kimiko nodded but she was facing the sky, looking apparently passionately determined. "YEAH!" This was it, she was finally going to prove herself to her rival.

Mokutan chuckled again "Oh like her boss, she's hysterical."

"See what I mean?" Xen noted continuing his smile as Kimiko ignored them both.

Kimiko's enthusiasm didn't falter, she seemed just as pleased as he. "I know! It's amazing! This training ground is just for us!"

Xenon meanwhile was raising an eyebrow slightly, his bird looking at him sideways. "Was that kid talking to himself?"

Xenon pushed up his glasses with one finger, his other hand remaining in his pocket. "In his defense," Xen muttered even faced "he did suffer from immense blood loss on our recent mission."

The Crow chuckled while Kimiko was addressing Raine, her eyes slightly curious. "So do you talk yourself too? My dad does that, but my Mom says you shouldn't" she spoke to him apparently trying to be covert "She says people will think you're crazy."

Though she wasn't quite keeping her voice down so Xenon and Mokutan both heard, the two snickering a Xen noting "Heaven forbid."

Mokutan made a gagging noise "AH! Eat a worm! That's just disgusting! Do I look like a bird to you..." Xen looked at him sidelong and then coughed. "Oh...well yeah... but that doesn't mean I have no class!" he ruffled his feathers indignantly. "I'll have you know I'm a gentlemen of wealth and taste!"

Xenon pushed up his glasses slightly tickled at the thought. "I can find fault with nearly every aspect of that sentence, but I suppose the point stands." he looked at the tiny snake like creature in Raine's pocket. "Don't worry Raine... your fascinating little friend there is safe, Mokutan's a rather picky eater."

"You make that sound like it's a bad thing." the crow noted.

Kimiko meanwhile was addressing Raine's statement. "I guess I decided to set out early so i wouldn't be late... hey Maboroshi, you always have that watch right? What time is it?"

Xenon reached inside his coat, not disturbed Mokutan perched on his shoulder, and withdrew his silver pocket watch. "Hm...we've got some time." he shut it and put it back "I mean I wouldn't make any meal reservations but there's certainly enough time to...uh...what was that term?"

"Recreational murder?" Mokutan suggested.

"No I would've remembered that one."

"Go get some chicks?"

"That's something you would say."

"Go russle up some food?"

"You just ate, and didn't I just say something about meal reservations?"

"Hang out?"

Xen snapped his fingers, his expression still dulled. "That's the one."

Kimiko put a finger to her chin, thinking "Well... we could always get a head start on training, I'll bet he'd bee real impressed if he got here to find us all working!" she was nodding to herself...then suddenly her eyes went wide as what Xen had said had just had it's full impact on her. "Wait a minute...! Maboroshi! Did you just indirectly say that you wanted to "hang out"?"

Xenon blinked "I...suppose-"

"This is great!" Kimiko was suddenly filled with pep "This is a sign of improvement Maboroshi!"

Mokutan whispered "Seriously, what mental hospital?"

Xen was smiling, the lenses of his glasses shimmering over with the light from the sun. "Why...that sounds like a delightful game. Don't you think so Momoe-san?"

Kimiko was hugging her knee's poking the ground ill tempered "Stupid Maboroshi and his speed...this is so" she grumbled for a few seconds before returning to her original stance. She sighed, her hands going to her hips. "Okay fine." she seemed to regain her enthusiasm. "I guess it'll give me a chance to improve a little, I'll try my best!"

Xenon chuckled then nodded his head to the bird on his shoulder. Mokutan winked a golden eye and acknowledged "Gotcha, I'll see what the surroundings canopy's like. We might be around here alot right? I'll need to scope the best napping spots." with a flap of his wings he dove off his masters shoulder and took off into tree line.

Xen returned his attention to his team. "Well then," he took his hands out of his pockets and let them hang loosely at his sides. "Since it's your game Raine, I think it's only fair you get the first move yes?"

Kimiko stuck out her own arms boldly, as though daring them to be struck. "Yeah, that way we can see how it's done too." she moved her weight from one foot to the other, preparing for any hint of attack. "Okay! I'm so totally ready!"

Xen merely continued to smile, his eyes hidden behind the light bouncing off his glasses.

2+7=9
1/2
Raine: 0/2
Kimiko:0/2


Xen fought the urge to grin as his hand was struck. Raine was certainly much faster than when they'd first fought. It was true he'd barely made an effort to dodge, but that was no excuse. The truth was he'd not been expecting the Tekkenseisai's speed. He'd not even have had time to Shunshin by the time he'd noted the velocity of the strike. 'To have come so far in so short a time. Impressive. What he lacks in chakra control and ninjutsu he makes up for physical prowess, but the same could be said of myself in the reverse. Whether he compensates or not, it's a weakness, unless he chooses to develop it...'

As with most things, Xen considered this game a win win situation. He was gauging his teammate's strengths, their skills and improvements in junction with his own, even if he lost, he won...and if he won, well, all the more fun.

He gave Raine a congratulatory grin that didn't reach his eyes, which would have looked more at home accompanying a smirk. "Hm. My my, it seems you got me." he put the struck hand inside his pocket.

Kimiko was blinking slightly amazed. "H-huh!?" she frowned 'Oh great....Raine's even faster than Maboroshi... this is so bad." She hung her head slightly. 'But wait a minute, why didn't Maboroshi use that jutsu of his?' she was still holding her arms out. 'I wonder if he's just messing with us... no. If Maboroshi was better than us he'd beat us, that's how he works. So that means that Raine's faster than him, but he's not giving it his all either... maybe he's trying to- AHHH!! Trying to figure him out always confuses me!'

Xenon was smiling, looking at Raine still fighting that smirk. "You haven't been training your speed by any chance...have you Raine?"

Raine gave himself a huge grin with victory hitting Xen. He knew he had to keep on his toes though, at any moment Xen could whip around and go for his hand, which was now extended in the other boy's reach. He sincerly expected that Xen would go for Kimiko, those two seemed like they had something going on. But as A hand came slicing back at his own, Raine whipped back towards himself trying to dodge! Alas! Surprised by the sudden attack Riane had only moved his hand back, instead of out of Xen's path of destruction. He was hit, and burst into laughter.

"Ah no!"

Quickly, Raine tucked his arm back behind his back, luckily his other arm was far from Kimiko's reach. Would she really try for an attack on him?

Roll: 9+9=18

Score:
Xen:1/2
Raine:0/2
Kimiko:0/2

(Tie Breaker)

(SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME!!!!!!)