Sands of Time
Tsukiko swept through the desert at breakneck speed her mind focused strictly at the task at hand. Behind her, following closely, were her teammates, who, as of last season, had all passed through onto a Chuunin. Their particular mission this time: escort the ambassador of the Sand village, Temari, to the Leaf village, into the hands of Shikomaru. As like almost every mission, Kiko's comrades were quite excited about this special event, but to Kiko this wasn't very exciting. Temari just happened to be Tsukiko's older blood sister and the excitement that flowed through the ranks didn't effect Kiko.
Temari was well known through the village and slightly feared by some of them as well because of her relationship and team placement with Gaara. Kiko, however, loved her sister and was slightly jealous of her because she was a very skilled Shinobi and the other reason made her blush whenever she met up with her sister for lunch or to chat.
During those times Temari's teammates, also known as her friends, were with her, the extention of her family. The reason for her blush had to do with the most feared member of the village, Gaara. Surprisingly enough Kiko had always been fond of him, even when she became old enough to understand what a Jinchuuriki was and why the people of the village were so scared of him, she found herself even more entranced with him. It had never been fear that fluttered in her stomach but a tumultuous chorus of butterflies singing to her mouth of her secret crush.
This trip, though, was void of him. A secret crush to everyone but not to her closest friend, Temari. She knew everything that went on with her sister, Kiko, they were quite close and remained so even after their parents had died. Temari had taken over the role of a parent several years ago but as Kiko had gotten older they both took on responsibilities and got along famously.
This mission though was likely to be an easy drop off, the precautions were just for the Chuunin to have a mission of importance. Since becoming new Chuunin it was likely they wouldn't run into real trouble with this mission and for reasons known to Kiko it was just to have something to do besides the Genin tasks that inhabited the Sand village.
Things had been fairly slow since the attack of Orochimaru on the Leaf village and it appeared that nothing was going to happen on that front for another couple of years, according to information that was secretly passed between the villages. Since the attack the alliance between the Sand and Leaf had become stronger and more trustworthy, but uncertainty of whether those allies were really to be trusted filtered through the village frequently and not everyone was fond of this newfound alliance.
However, on this particular day it was of no consequence. A simple route to Konoha and then back home...or so Kiko thought. She turned up the pace but soon enough her sister was down her throat.
"Kiko-nee, there is no need to be going so fast," Temari was right beside her and gave her a calm look.
"I've never been to Konoha, Temari. Our exams weren't held there like yours were. The villages all traveled to the Fire country last year. I want a chance to see Konoha and maybe walk around a bit and rest there before we head back," Kiko was honest and sincere to her sister.
Temari smiled and nodded, "And this has nothing to do with wanting to meet the famous Shikomaru I told you about?"
Kiko's face was bright and cheery now and she laughed as she spoke, "No, I'm not the one that's interested in him," then she whispered almost to herself, "You know very well who I like." Her eyes softed as she pulled the image of Gaara from her memories, he had just gotten back from Konoha and she seemed to be the only one that noticed the change in his features...his eyes most of all.
Temari smiled and rolled her eyes in that very sisterly fashion then fell back a little to be back in the center of their protective triangle. Tsukiko was not considered to be the leader of this group, though, she was fairly more adequate at scanning ahead and finding traps than her collegues. Her special techniques were similar to her sisters in dealing with the winds but they did vary in an extreme way. She could easy manipulate the wind but her weapon was not a large fan like Temari, instead she used the wind in a different way. Her ability was something that only a few in her line had, the ability to sense with the wind. A reading of the wind, a change in the winds direction or a slip of the wind. A mere misstep of an enemy and she could determine how far and how fast they were going. Being a long range attacker she had more than just her Ninjutsu to depend on. From the very wind itself she could turn it into a weapon, all she carried with her as a main piece was a long bow carved out of ebony. Making wind into arrows was her specialty. No one would expect an almost invisible shard of wind to come slicing through them at extreme speeds. The intensity of the arrows would have to be substantially practiced. Too much chakra and not enough wind could result in a failed arrow while too little would merely bounce off the attacker. Therefore the flaw in her technique was clearly evident. No wind, no arrow.
However, to make up for this Kiko instead came up with a second technique, one that involved the creation of her own wind. Without the use of a fan or partner she devised a way to go around the enemy and attack them with their own movements. One slight movement and jostle of the wind would allow her to take advantage of them without close combat. Although this techique is highly advanced Kiko quickly learned to master it after only five days. This technique instantly confines your enemy without even laying a hand on them, as long as the user is in complete concentration and didn't break the chakra flow. As for that, if the user has multiple enemies this technique may become quite complex, as of yet she is unable to take advantage of two enemies at once with this technique. So with that disadvantage any fight resulting in a two on one battle between her and two enemies would be a loss if there was no wind present.
But seeing as she had her two companions and her sister with her the chance of her having to use that technique was very slim, unless by some chance the enemy were to get her by herself. As for this day, it was plenty windy with a slight over cast as they entered the forest boundary beween the Sand and Leaf.
Kiko looked back for a moment feeling her heart lurch a little as she realized that she was no longer in the Sand country. Her smile faded and she returned her gaze to the route to Konoha, scanning ahead with her technique she found that all the way there no danger was to be crossed.
As they approached the gate into Konoha a feeling of nervousness flew into Kiko's veins, slowing her to a more tranquil pace. They had to check in with the Shinobi stationed at the booth just inside the gate. Kiko stood to the side of Temari as she told the Shinobi their names and instead turned her attention from the booth to the city of Konoha. Her eyes took in all around her and what Temari had told her seemed to be quite right. It was a bright colorful place, unlike the Suno village. Kiko couldn't wait to do a little exploring.
Temari turned to her escorts and smiled, "Well, soon enough Shikomaru should be here. We arrived a little earlier than expected." Temari gave her sister a stare in her direction as to why they were so early.
Kiko turned to her and met her gaze then smiled sheepishly, "I like being on time...in fact early if possible."
They were in fact an hour and a half early to Konoha so they decided to quench their hunger at the Ichiraku Ramen Bar. Kiko was the last to enter and the aroma of ramen filled her nose making her mouth water, she hadn't realized how hungry she was. She sat down at the bar and ordered the special.
Her teammates Najara and Sempra were gabbing away over their bowls of ramen and Temari was happily enjoying her bowl. Kiko's ordered arrived and just as it did two new people entered and sat beside her. They looked like they were related somehow, the boy had long black hair that was tied loosely behind his head. His eyes were an almost white color and that is what caught her off guard, but he wasn't the only one with those same eyes, the girl who accompanied him carried the same eyes but her hair was quite short but still just as black.
Temari looked over briefly and nodded a courteous smile to them both, then after gulping down her mouthful of ramen she spoke to them, "Neji, Hinata, good to see you. I would like to introduce you to my sister, Tsukiko and her teammates, Najara and Sempra." In hearing their names mentioned Kiko's teammates looked up from their conversation and turned to smile at the new people who had entered the bar.
Hinata smiled kindly at them all while Neji gave the same courteous nod to them, but was caught in Kiko's gaze. Kiko smiled then quickly turned from her rude staring. A blush flew from her spine to her cheeks, she then looked up to the chef and spoke, "May I have another bowl?"
The chef nodded and smiled happily at her then began to work on her order, whipping up another special bowl.
"So they were your escort team, Temari?" His voice was like music to Kiko's ears and why she suddenly felt like he was closer to her than he had been she didn't know why. All thoughts of Gaara were gone and she found herself wondering why they had flew so quickly. This beautiful man that sat next to her was someone new, someone most intelligent, this she knew.
Temari answered during Kiko's thoughts and strangely she didn't even know what her sister had said, but of course it was a yes. The bowl of ramen was suddenly before her and she stared at it unknowningly then shaking her head to clear her thoughts she closed her eyes and took in the smell. Anything to take her mind off of this Neji.
"You are here quite early," there was his voice again, bearing deep into her mind, it seemed her soul was alight
Temari nudged her out of her odd trance and spoke poking fun at Kiko, "Well, my sister here has never been to Konoha and was a bit impatient."
Kiko smiled brightly and took some bites of the delicious ramen.
Neji raised an eyebrow, that much she sensed as he took up his own chop sticks and began to eat.
Kiko and the others had finished and sat back happily feeling much contented with the meal that bulged in their stomachs. Sempra let out a sigh and patted her stomach appreciatively.
"That was some amazing ramen," Sempra stated appraisingly.
Najara was quiet as usual and simply observed. Temari looked out to the street and stood up. "Come on. Shikamaru should be heading to the gate by now." Before leaving they all courteously said goodbye to their newly introduced Konoha peers.
This is the unedited version but I imagine I'll just need to sweep up some minor grammar and misspellings.
