The Garden Path (Daisuke)

[Kentora Neko]

Neko trudged silently through the city of Iwagakure, Her steps heavy with tire, her mind focased on one place; The Grand Gardens. She had covered her scarred hittite to prevent anyone from stopping her, but inwardly she knew that most wouldnt even look at her. A tiny smile crossed her face as she imagined how grimy and travel-worn she must have looked. It had been a week since she had eaten anything, and she felt half-starved, but it was a small price to pay for her urgent wish to get to the gardens. Her eyes were cast down, she didnt want to see those scrutinizing gazes of the villiagers, it wouldnt be good for her mind right now. The weight of the swords on her back was slowly increasing with the time. Not only had she neglected to eat, she had neglected to sleep, rest, or stop moving, running even in the night.

Finnaly, the entrance to the gardens came into view, the Arbor of jasmine released a sweet perfume that guided her to it. She blindly reached out for the wooden structure and leaned against it, her face buried in the blossoms. Purrrfect A soft groan of pain echoed from her mouth as the weariness fogged her mind. She Fought the sensation, and pressed on down the rocky path to where there was a fork. She took the path to the right. It was a few minutes before she reached a cherry tree, its branches filled with vibrant pink blossoms. She was stumbling now, and braced herself against the trunk, panting. She clawed at the straps to her scant backpack, the sheaths to her swords and her side pack, the articles falling with loud thuds into the stones below. Her heart ached terribly as she reminded herself of where she was.

This tree was where she first met Denkuza, It was also where she buried him 7 years ago. Her voice cracked terribly, her tounge thick with thirst, "Ha-happy..Anniversery... Denkuz-za no D-danna" It was then she realized that her legs were collapsing, her hand sliding down the sacred tree. Her knees hit the rocks roughly, throbbing in pain at the impact. Then, she fell over, her mind taking her somewhere pleasant in the afternoon sun.

Amazing, She thought dreamily to herself, Even though your gone, I still feel safe here...with you

[Iwahashi Daisuke]

It had been a while since Daisuke had been in Iwagakure, he couldn't remember the last time he was summoned to the village by the clan for matters related to the well being of another Guardian. It had seemed like the Rain Guardian was killed in the line of duty for Iwagakure but what was strange about it was the fact that the Flame Guardian was with them on the mission. Daisuke knew all to well that his cousin, the Head of the family had him killed. Daisuke was far to smart to be caught in the matter of the Iwahashi, and knew better than to question the death of a Guardian of the family. Since the death of the Guardian it meant that he had to stay in the village until another one was choosen by his cousin, this both annoyed and worried Daisuke for the simple fact there was not many that he trusted in the clan itself.

As Daisuke roamed the streets of Iwagakure he found himself inside the garden that was in the village. It was mostly a quite one that most of the older women of the village tended to in their old age, some old men worked there. His eyes roamed the hair has he brought his hand up and rubbed it on top of his head. He wasn't sure what he was doing here and he knew that he better pay attention to where he was going for now on. He looked over his shoulder slightly and walked more into the garden. This is where him and his three sisters would come to place when he was younger, he remembered that much about things. "Things really don't seem different come to think about it...hmm..." He yawned slightly and kept walking. There was not need to change things at this time. Walking through the garden seemed like a good idea to him and nothing should come of it right?

He kept walking until his eyes fell on someone slightly familiar to him. Tho there was no way that he wanted to dig through his memories to find it. He watched her fall to the ground and blinked. He walked cautiously over to her and knelt down beside her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Hey, are you alright there?" He was slightly concern because it was not every day that you found someone nearly passed out here in Iwagakure, where not that he remembered anyways.

OOC: Seeing how they are two years apart, they would have seen each other at some point in the academy or in the village

[Kentora Neko]

Neko felt her body go numb from exhaustion, her mind empty as she stared blankly at the base of the tree. For a moment all she could hear was her shallow breathing, and her heart pounding mechanically to keep her allive. Suddenly there was musical sound above her,...a voice she realized.

Her mind was in no condition to decipher the voice, but it didnt take long for her to know that it was a man speaking to her. Probably trying to kick her off this spot, but after a second of thinking and decoding she realized that he, whoever he was, was asking if she, a complete monster, was alright. Then, she felt a hand place itself gently on her bare shoulder. The sensation of skin on skin made her shiver. No one had ever touched her so in seven years! Curiosity drove her to move her head slightly to glimpse this person, hoping to some god that it wasnt a puny villager that looked easy to kill, she couldnt bear that shame. Thankfully, he wasn't . Her luminous green eyes briefly took in his appearence, Dark hair, dark eyes, red shirt, rather charming. Her mind swam over, making her head slam into the gravel. Somehow, she recognized him from her days at the acadamy, but there was no way she could put a name with him. She was in no condition to do anything, and normally she wouldnt accept that, her pride wouldnt allow it. But right now, she felt empty on the pride gauge. She shivered in pain, her throat oly allowing a croaking reply, "No...I...need Hel-" She choked on the word, a sob clawing its way out of her throat. She wasnt crying, but she didnt exactly feel happy either.

[Iwahashi Daisuke]

Daisuke watched her left her head slightly to look at him. The features about this person seems oddly familiar but there was on way at the moment that there was time for him to search his mind for a name. He was good with newer memories than older ones about his childhood, there was so many events in his past that seemed to been erase from his mind at the moment that he didn't trust his own mind. He rubbed his cheek slightly with his finger before giving up before thinking about the past. It was better to him if they started from today other than the past that they might have known each other from. He had been away from the village for some years eager to live on his own and out of the watchful eyes of the Tsuchikage and the Iwahashi Clan itself.

He watched has her head hit the ground once more and she spoke the words. The last word was not completely but she had got the point across to him right away. She was asking for help, and who was he not to give help? He tried to help anyone that he could unless they gave him a reason for him to fight them. He placed both of his knees on the ground now and helped her to turn around and lean her back against the tree. She did look in rather poor condition at the moment, and for some reason this made him frown. He hated seeing people hurt for no reason, it might have been because of his hellish past that he seemed fit to call that, but still. No one really should go through this without a real cause.

He moved to sit down next to her, he was slightly detemined to her and nothing that she was going to say was going to change this for him. He took his pouch off the right side of him and placed it in his lap. He reached in there with his left hand and took out a bottle of water. "Here take a drink of this. I just brought it this morning and its unopened." He opened the bottle to her and held it out to her. He had learn long time ago not to travel in the Land of Earth without water, and it was something that he still carried around to this day even outside of the rule of the Tsuchikage. He mostly drank the water in the first place, barely drinking some sake. Normally during some weird family thing he did, but it was never enough to make him drunk.

He thought for a moment, he didn't even know her name and here he was helping her like he had known her forever. It was just like him tho, to help and not expect anything in return. There was no need in expecting something in return when you yourself knew it was pointless to expect change in a person. He had learned that from his cousin Hayato during the rebellion in the clan nearly ten years ago. Daisuke forced the thoughts of those time out of his head and turned his complete attention onto her. "I am Iwahashi Daisuke." He didn't expect her to know much about his clan, most of the villagers didn't.

[Kentora Neko]

Neko was surprised to feel the man actually lift her up and prop her against a tree, her mind and heart fluttering at the sudden movement. Her pride however wouldn’t allow her to become useless, so she attempted to move her limbs in a way as to help reposition herself and not cause him any stress. With the tree now supporting her, she let her burning arms and legs go limp again, and continued to breathe shallowly. She glimpsed a small frown on his features, and closed her eyes, turning her head away in shame, I must look pitiful to him. Dirty, weak, it’s a wonder he can even look at me. Ugh, way to go Neko, asking help of a stranger, who you could possibly hurt? Smart

She heard him sit beside her, which wasn’t an un-welcome gesture, but it was completely different than being isolated. Neko opened her eyes, and took notice of his rummaging. Out of curiosity, she turned her head to face forward, just so that she could look sideways at him without being noticed or considered. Then he spoke, offering a bottle. Her head turned to face him in revelation, her body sat up in attentiveness, and her lime green eyes widened in shock. Water…Bottled Water…Brand New and Unopened…He Had Bought It This Morning. All these past years, she had drank out of rivers, lakes, and rainwater, and now, he was handing her a bottle of fresh, purified, harmless water. Her body begged for the glistening liquid, but she felt her pride take another blow. He had just bought it for himself and she knew that if she took it there would be nothing left, save the plastic container. Unconsciously, her right hand reached for it, careful not to activate the spring action system that revealed the metal spike in her bracer. She hesitated, her fingers curling slightly back into her palm, her hand shaking unsteadily. Then, she got over herself and let her quivering fingers close around the plastic bottle, her hand briefly brushing his fingers. With her left hand supporting her weight, she looked into his dark eyes, “Thanks, I’ll pay you back, I promise.”

With the bottle in her hand, she returned to her forward facing position, and tipped the bottle upwards. The cool drink revitalized her desert like mouth, and she gulped it down gratefully. She heard the plastic crack as she sucked another mouthful of water out and pried the object away from her mouth, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips. He then gave his name. For a split second, she thought out loud, repeating the name, “ Iwahashi Daisuke” Her mind searched through all the memories of her days at the academy to see if it fit. After a moment, it clicked. She remembered him saying something profound one day in class and being very impressed. What he said though, escaped her memory. With water in her system, Neko found she could speak better, but her shallow breathing still wasn’t helping her to be eloquent “I remember you from our days at school. You probably don’t remember much of me though. I’m Neko,” She hesitated, he probably didn’t recognize her nickname. Maybe her full name would help, “Kentora Neko.” She then returned to the bottle, hoping that it would revitalize her deteriorating systems. More than anything, she hoped that he knew something of her clan. That way he would understand her fear of hurting him and her wish to be distant.

[Iwahashi Daisuke]

Daisuke watched her sit up the best she could, he could tell she was not one to accept help like it was a hand out. He would have to be careful what he did around her for the time being, but he saw no reason not to give her any help. Everyone from time to time needed help, that was something that she was going to have to realize sooner or later. He was not just going to back down, because that was not like him to do that. He didn't know the word 'no' for an answer when it came to helping someone that he saw that was in need. He shock his head slightly when she told him that she would pay him back. "Don't worry about it, its only a bottle of water. Its no big deal. I probably would have forgot about it anyways and find it in my pouch tonight and give it to one of my sisters." He shrugged slightly.

He watched her take the bottle and then repeat his name once. He looked away when she did tho, it was not something that he wanted to be reminded of because of the bloodline that he had in his veins. He looked at the ground and smiled slightly tho, he knew not to show disappointment either way, there was no reason for that. He nodded slightly. "Yea that me, the idiot that graduated two years early, my sister said that it was big news running through the academy when I did that and graduated before her, her being older than me of course." He was not sure what what the big deal about him graduating early, it had only caused trouble within the Iwahashi area of the town. He was sure that she didn't knew about the fact that he killed his cousin nearly ten years ago, it was something that the clan kept quiet about. He rubbed the back of his head slightly when she stated her name to him.

“Kentora Neko," he said slowly has if taking the time to store it within his head. He smiled slightly. "Grant it I choose not to remember too much about my childhood, for my own reasons. But the name Kentora rings a bell. The blood clan that lived on the outskirts of the village and all, last I heard that they left Iwagakure." He smiled at her ad brought his hand from behind his head and dropped it into his lap on top of his pouch. "If you think that scares me and will make me run in fear from you Neko, well you are wrong. You have done nothing to me to suggest that you are my enemy. I have no reason to fear or attack you. In my book you are still an Iwagakure Ninja, just like me. Tho I haven't exactly listen to the Tsuchikage for some years now." He tilted his head slightly at her, watching her movements in case she did take what he said the wrong way. He was ready to at lease defend himself.

[Kentora Neko]

The conversation with him had eased her somewhat, and she found herself actually looking at Daisuke as he gave her a hint as to his character. So he had sisters? Well, that’s one more reason not to hurt him above the shame of such an idea. Then he looked away as she said his name, but a small smile graced his features. That piqued Neko’s curiosity immensely. Was he ashamed of his name, of his family? But she pushed thought away as he told her of his School wide fame. “Oh, that’s right, he did graduate early. Hmm, I’d forgotten that.” she thought to herself. At the mention of it being the biggest news ever, She shrugged, a small smile lighting up her face “I don’t know if it was ‘Big News’, but I did hear about it. Then again, I didn’t pay attention to rumors and the like. Don’t get offended or anything, but I wasn’t very interested in people, I was more interested in my studies and those few friends that I had. You, however, were no idiot, I can safely say that much about you.”

Then it was her turn to look away again at her own name. Shame colored her face with the surname that once belonged to her. “Its just Neko now. The clan left me.” At least Daisuke knew that the Kentora clan had left, but that reminded her of her father’s note You Are Alone, Yin-Neko. The taste of Bile clogged her throat, and she grimaced “ You heard right then, Daisuke. I just hope, for your own safety, you know why, after centuries of living here, they left.”

Then, she felt a train hit her as he defiantly proclaimed that she was wrong. How she had done nothing to him to suggest that she was his enemy, how he had no reason to fear or harm her, and how she was still an Iwagakure Ninja in his book. After all this time, someone told her she was wrong. But how could she be wrong? It took three days of being chained to a wall and left alone in solitary confinement to effectively engrave the notion of being a monster in her mind. She had seen the blood, she had felt the desire to kill, she had held her brother’s neck in her mouth, savoring the feel of his heartbeat slowing, the sound of his ragged breathing, and the feel of pure adrenaline coursing throughout her body. How could she not be a monster? She could have stopped, she could have controlled herself, but she didn’t…want to. She felt a teardrop fall from her eyes, she so wanted someone to tell her she wasn’t a monster, and here was a man who wasn’t running from her, nor trying to kill her. It was shocking enough that he helped her now, but even more that he didn’t care about her family’s bloody habits. Neko pulled her knees to her chest, as if hoping to hold her heart and lungs inside that hollow. Her heart was swelling from the blow it had received, and she hid her face in her knees, her breathing shaky. “Daisuke,” she said after a moment of controlling her emotions, “you have no idea how it feels…to be told something like that…after so many years of believing that you are evil incarnate.. It hurts…but at the same time… It feels good. I don’t want to hurt you. And, for what you’ve said and done for me, I refuse to let my nature hurt you.”

[Iwahashi Daisuke]

Daisuke listened go on not really caring about the past with him graduating early. He didn't care one bit, it was in the past and he could remember it just fine. One of the few things that he didn't have problems with remember about his past. Everything that involved his mother or father was just something that he could not wrap his mind around anymore. Even when he saw his mother and she gave him a hug, he just stood there with a blank expression on his face. He rubbed that back of his head. "Yea that bit was really big for my family for some reason because I did graduate before my sister. I don't mind if you don't remember me at all. And lets just say that I am an idiot in my own way?" Yea that would do for him, an idiot genius in his own way and reasoning.

He looked back over to her when she talked about how for his safety he should be scared. He just shrugged some. It was just like him not to take things seriously until something happened. It was just apart of his nature of things. He rubbed his forehead slightly trying to recall the words he wanted to use towards her. He knew he had to place things nicely and not like he was out to harm or make her feel like an idiot, that just wont do in this case since she was only trying to push him away from helping her. "Lets see, I don't recall much what happened to your clan, cause I think at that time in my own clan there was a fight going on and I was involved in it. Each clan has their own problems Neko, like yours, mine try to hide their shame too. Don't worry too much about it. There is no need for that."

He watched her pull her head towards her knees. He knew that there was not much he could do for her at this time. He knew all to well emotions could be confusing and make one scared. He leaned back onto the ground and stared up at the passing of the clouds. It has been a while since he just laid on the grass like this around someone and watched the clouds. He remembered his oldest sister making him do it so long ago. He looked to her when she started to speak again. He smiled some when she told him that she wouldn't allow her nature to harm him. "I am the Breeze of Iwagakure, Neko. I am the Breeze of the Iwahashi Clan. You will not harm me. I will make sure of that." He had earned the name of the Breeze of Iwagakure due to his naturally ability to judge the wind current and used it to create two jutsu. He was the Breeze of the Iwahashi due to the fact of his wind chakra alignment.

He looked up to the sky once more and smiled. He placed his hands behind his head, he felt at peace at this time. Today was just a day to relax and make a friend with someone that to him really need it. "The Iwahashi has a blood limit called the Crimson Rings Eyes. Each time you use it and depending how long you use it, bits of your memory fades away. There are some shinobi within the clan that has it, the most notable ones are me and my cousin who is the head of our clan. the previous head of the clan, I killed myself for killing my mentor, his own chosen Guardian. Just before I took his life...he told me something, and that was he was the one that killed the man I called father...but because of the Crimson Rings, I don't remember him. That day, I also lost memory of women I called mother. Each time that women comes and hugs me...all I can do is stare at her and feel sorry for her Neko because I can not be the son that she knows I am to her...I remember my three sisters still tho. In a way, I do know how you feel, but its a different longing feeling than yours." This was the first time he had repeated his story to anyone outside of the clan or to anyone in the last five or so years. Now he had to wait and see how she took to this and judge for herself if they was somewhat the same.

[Kentora Neko]

Neko looked up from her position to stare at him when he mentioned his lack of knowledge regarding her clan, but somehow, she felt like she needed to explain. Later perhaps, but right now she had to focus on keeping it together. The exiled Kentora knew if she let her emotions run rampant, there was a chance she could go into bloodlust mode, and with her in the weary, half-starved, and thirsty condition she was in, her chances of turning were likely. As if he was reading her, he told her his determination to make sure she wouldn’t harm him. Her eyes glazed over with an odd feeling of peace, and her mind settled into focus. How had this person come to her? How had he known what her inner turmoil was? Why did he care? Then she noticed a scar on his face, which connected his mouth to his jaw line. Secretly, she wondered if that was his mark from his clan’s inner turmoil.

She let her legs stretch out somewhat. “The Breeze…fresh, renewing. The breeze symbolizes change…wanted or otherwise.” Neko had a thing for symbols, thinking in such a way eased her immensely. Some would think it categorizing people based on first impressions, but symbols were ever changing. Every person interpreted a symbol based on his or her own way of thinking. This man, Daisuke, was The Breeze; he had said so. He might interpret being the breeze a little differently, but he had just come to her...just like...well, a breath of fresh air.

Neko watched him as he relaxed, laying down and looking at the sky, his gaze dreamy. There was something in those eyes, their depth, their distance. They intrigued her, she felt as though she could find some answer in them. Her body was shivering from the ramble of emotions in her chest, but her mental focus was so strong that she disregarded any physical or emotional sickness. Slowly and surely, she allowed her protective position to fall into a more comfortable pose. Her legs bent slightly and her weight distributed on her lower left side, her left hand propping her into a half sitting position. She raised the bottle to her lips, the water clearing the bile from her throat. He then started speaking. Her pink lips parted slightly in horror as she listened intently. So, he had a Kekkei Genkai too? And one that had a drawback far more painful than her own. Certainly, she still felt the pain of loosing people she loved, but to forget them? She would probably go mad. After a moment, she said very slowly, and still slightly panting, “I’m sorry…It must be terrible,…. to be something to the ones who love you…. and yet you have no memory, no emotional chord to tie you to them,… because you had to do what was necessary to live.” She turned her head skyward, a sad look on her face, “Maybe, your fate, and the fate of those who share your gift, is worse than death… but …you’ve remained strong… For that …I envy you.” She waited a few minutes, then sighed. She wanted to explain, to spill everything right now…but why? In that split second, she decided that she couldn’t hold it in much longer. It was after all, her day to reminisce, “ My Father was Kentora Hazuku, the clan leader at the time. My brother, Koto, and I were twins. As the second born, I was regarded with a level of…disdain from my father. He thought that I would destroy the natural order of things, but he adored my brother, and I did too, for different reasons. We were like two peas in a pod, he and I. We hung out together, talked about our darkest secrets, and were best friends. Everyone thought nothing could separate us…but it was my foolishness that broke that bond. When we both made Genin, our teacher was a young Jounin named Denkuza. I adored my sensei and strove to make him proud. He gave me the love and guidance my father starved me of, but my brother didn’t like my affection for him. He warned that…liking normal humans would only bring trouble. I should have listened. We both took the Chunin exams and dueled each other for the final verdict. It was my father who gave us our swords.” She paused to gesture to the blades to her right , the hilts sticking up . “The white one is mine, the black one was his. Yin and Yang respectively.
We thirst for blood, to kill, to feel adrenaline rush through us. It’s the equivalent of a drunkard thirsting for his next bottle. You have no idea how much…effort it takes to control that Daisuke. If we, for one second, lose our grip on it, If our emotions become too over powering, we go mad, killing everything we see, then killing more. And when we finish, when we will ourselves to stop, its so….painful. I feel like someone is reaching in me and ripping flesh from my bone, twisting my body, bending my bones the wrong way. I was placed in solitary confinement for three days...there was no light, I was chained to the wall in that state. No comfort..nothing.”

She had her eyes tightly shut as she spoke, trying to control the emotions in her violently shaking frame. Once she opened them however, the shaking wasn’t so rattling . She looked at the clouds, her gaze distant. They were beautiful and calming and her breathing considerably settled, becoming deeper and more meaningful. It felt as though a great weight came off her chest. It felt wonderful, and she allowed herself to enjoy the feeling of breeze blowing her hair. “Now tell me whether or not I am a threat.”

[Iwahashi Daisuke]

Daisuke was thinking what he was going to do next, he knew that she needed more than just the bottle of water. He was planning to feed her somehow. If he remembered correctly there stuff in his fridge was bad so going to his apartment was out of the question. He didn't think she would like going to a ramen stand or restaurant in her state. The only other options he had was one go to his mother's house who he didn't remember and explain who Neko was or grabbing a few things from the market place and go back to his apartment which he hadn't been in for nearly an year. That reminded him that he needed to pay another year on it so he didn't lose it. His oldest sister watched it for him, so he knew it was at lease aired out and clean.

He turned his head towards her when she started to talk about his clan, he shrugged some. There was worse memories that lost their minds for relaying on the curse rings. He was not that stupid to actually try to use them, they activated on him on accident. His memory was not one thing that he liked to gamble with, so there was no reason to actually learn how to control them. "I am not that stupid to relay on something that makes me forget my past. There are others in the clan that have lost their minds and have been dealt with by the six Guardians." He blinked slightly when he said Guardian. He didn't explain about that part to here and why they was important, well even those reasons was not known to the six of them. "Each Elder chooses their own Guardian, usually assigned by their chakra alignment. The Breeze Guardian is me, I have the wind alignment and I use jutsu along with my tonfas. But thats not the only reason why I am the Breeze. I am the Breeze because I like to just travel now instead of playing pawn to the Tsuchikage and my cousin. There is no need for that in the long run to me. I come back to the village when I am summoned that all that matters to me." He hated to be tied down because of his status of a ninja and inside of the Clan.

He didn't quiet understand that why she envied him, everyone had the choice to relay on it or not too. "Don't envy me. There is no reason to. I know who my sisters are, that is enough for me, I am sure my mother understands. I can't remember a time that she has tried to pressure me into remembering her." He smiles slightly to tell her that it was okay. He didn't want people to feel sorry for him because of his curse. It was his own problem that he had under control.

He listened to her tale about her clan. He payed close attention to her, she had done the same thing for him so he had to return it. This was just how Daisuke was. He treated everyone like an equal until the crossed him. He ran some of the information inside his head for a moment before sitting up. He placed his hands on his knees and turned his brown eyes towards her with smile after she had told him about her clan. He dropped his hands to his sides and pulled off his tonfa that was hooked on to either side of him. He placed them down between them. This was how much he was trusting her for the most part. This was something that he had never done really before, but he felt like she needed to know it was fine. "You are not threat, for the simple reason you believe that you yourself are a threat. That is what keeps you Neko under control. You fear losing it, so you will not allow yourself to lose control again, because you know what it was like to lose control once, so you wont again. That is usually how these things work."

This time he stood up and dusted himself off. He smiled down and picked his tonfa back up. "Now I am not going to give you much of a choice here, because you need the help. I have an apartment here in the city, my sister keeps it clean for me. Then I am going to go out to the market and pick up some stuff to make something for us to eat. If you tell me no, I will just pick you up and carry you. You are so light right now that it wont matter how far I carry you while you kick and scream." He lead out his hand for her to take.

[Kentora Neko]

By this time, Neko had drained the bottle of water and had been fiddling with the plastic container. Her attention however had been ensnared once again by his voice. His explanation reminded her of her own clan’s structure. The leader and the elders didn’t really need protectors, considering that they tended to be the strongest of the clan members, but they did have lackeys that carried out clan laws they passed. So there were six elders, and each elder had six followers. She shook her head, It had been so long that she couldn’t even remember any details. What surprised her was that he too was a traveler. Her luminous eyes lit up “You’re a wanderer too? I’ve been traveling for 7 years and this is the first time I’ve been back. How long are you planning on staying?” Mentally, she whacked herself. What was she thinking? If she had this info in her mind, it would be too- no she couldn’t think like that.

Then he spoke about his contentment with what little he knew, a small smile lightening his features. Somehow, she got the feeling that this subject was not his favorite. She returned the smile with a weak, if not pained, smile, then nodded, letting the topic drop there.

She looked at the Breeze when he moved to sit up. Lordy, could he keep a position long? Neko had also noticed that he rubbed the back of his head often. It was amazing there was no bald spot there, but his oddities weren’t unbecoming, just amusing. She felt comfortable with him being himself. After she finished her story, he smiled at her, which confused her somewhat.

Neko had just told him of her unnatural thirst and he was smiling? It wasn’t unwelcome, but if she had told anyone else (And she had told others) they would run away, or look at her with horror. Daisuke however, was smiling at her, and what a feeling it was to see that on his face. Suddenly, he took off his tonfa and placed them between the two of them. What Was He Thinking?? Disarming Himself Around Her? She felt a twinge of fear course through her body , but then he started talking. She wasn’t’ a threat, because she knew she was a threat? What was he, her sensei? A blow hit her square in her stomach as the thought rang in her head. The memory of when her lover defiantly told her father that she wasn’t a monster, when he said he loved her no matter what. Neko felt her eyes well with tears and looked away so they could fall in silence, stifling the harsh tremors of sobs wanting to rip her apart. She was speechless…What Daisuke had just said, is exactly what Denkuza would’ve said in his position. Pursing her lips and wiping the trails of water off her reddened cheeks with the back of her bracer, she returned her attention to him as he stood.

Oh god, he was going to take her to his apartment? Neko’s diamond eyes widened, that wasn’t a good idea. Then he threatened to carry her kicking and screaming. The exiled Kentora folded her arms across her chest, a small pout on her face, “If you think going to let you put yourself in danger for my sake, think again, Daisuke-Kun.”

[Iwahashi Daisuke]

Daisuke nodded when she asked that he was an wander and how long he would be staying in the village. That was a tough question mainly because he didn't know how long it would be until Kosuke chose another Guardian to replace the other one. He was not even sure exactly why Kosuke had order that one to be killed, but he knew that two or three other Guardians had taken care of that problem. He had never killed another Guardian, not really knew them considering he left the village without really talking to them on a personal level. He smiled slightly and shrugged. "There a clan issue that is going on here that I have to be here for. Otherwise I wouldn't have been here."

He wasn't exactly how he was feeling after meeting someone that was nearly just like him but worse in ways. He knew she needed to be comfort right about now and knew that she was not going to just let anyone to do it. It would seemed that fate had it in for them to meet like this and that was okay with him. He smiled at her and grabbed his pouch and button it and placed it back on his side.

What came next to him shocked him, has he watched her curl up slightly and cried slightly to herself at his statement. His face soften just a bit at her. This only prove what he was staying to him. She was human because she carried how others say her, and wished to be treated just like any other human. When he placed his tonfas back on his side after standing up, he still had the smile on his face at her. He looked over to the tree for a moment. He was not sure what exactly brought her here to this tree and nor him, but today was turning out to be a rather good day, and he was not about to let her ruin it by allowing her pride to get the better of her. He had not connected so well with someone in a long time, sure he had his flings with rather woman around the other village. He just never really realized that there was someone worse off than what he was.

He blinked when she looked back up to him with a little pout on her face. She kinda looked cute to him like that. He laughed slightly and shock his head at her. "Your logic fails you Neko-chan. You have clearly stated in other ways that you are a threat and I am around you now, so I have already placed myself in danger for your sake. What is life without a little risk? We both went to the academy and have the skills of a shinobi. Trust me when I say you are not going to hurt me." He walked over to her and picked her up in his arms. "See you left me no choice." He smiled down at her has he had one arm under her knees and the other under her arm, like how he picked to set her against the tree. "Now I have to go to the market before the apartment."

[Kentora Neko]

Neko wasn’t one to be loud, or alarmed easily, but when he stooped to pick her up, she half-way cried out “Daisuke, No!” but it was too late. In a matter of seconds, she was in his arms bridal style, the quick movement upwards making her slightly sick all over. Being half-starved and severely lacking sleep didn’t help at all. She was too weak to fight back, or atleast resist. She silently cursed herself for being that foolish to not eat or sleep. Then again, she didn’t expect to be in this position at all. All she was thinking about was getting to Denkuza’s secret place. Humph, not so secret anymore. Now she had a new memory for this place. This cherry tree is where she met a persistent man named Iwahashi Daisuke, who picked her up from the ground just to take her home.

Her cheeks flushed a light red from the embarrassment of just being picked up like a ragdoll, but grew an extreme shade of crimson when he said they were going to the market. “You’re not seriously saying that you’re going to parade around the market with me in your arms, right?” Her heart nearly stopped. What in the world would people think? Good lord, and he would be carting the weight of both the bags and Her ? She should have just taken his hand to stand up. Then again, now as she thought about it, she probably couldn’t even stand. Her legs ached terribly from running non-stop, on top of her weakness. She flinched, she hated looking weak, but right now, she wasn’t much more than a pile of goo. Her cheeks were burning so hot, that she buried her face in his chest, hoping there they would cool off. Unfortunately, they burned hotter from envisioning the scene. Thoroughly shamed by the fact that she was under Daisuke’s power, Neko growled , “Daisuke…I hate you. This is me thanking you.”

Why in the heck was she letting him take care of her? She had lived 7 years without any help in the world and now she was relinquishing her independence to him without a fight. Neko had just met him today, for Pete’s sake! Didn’t her mother tell her not to talk to strangers? Then again, he shared so many burdens she herself carried; A volatile Kekkei Genkai, a wanderer’s heart, and persistent nature were just few. He was kind and charming, and even though she was in a rather embarrassing pose right now, she didn’t feel threatened. On the contrary, with her being so close to him she felt…safe.

She suddenly felt the urge to wrap her arms around his neck…but that would be too much. Neko cleared her throat, “What about my gear? I don’t want you to burden yourself.”

[Iwahashi Daisuke]

Daisuke just laughed when she shouted his name and told him no. To him she was in no position to argue with him. He had the upper hand here and she was just going to have to realize this sooner or later. It would be better for her if she did, tho he was not going to tell her that. It was slightly interesting to him when she was resisting him, it showed character to him and that was rather important in the shinobi word. "To late for that Neko, you need to eat and rest. Thats what you are going to do." He smiled down with her slightly, she wasn't that heavy for the most part the moment so it wasn't that hard to hold her.

When he did look down to her he noticed that she was blushing slightly. He was not sure if the blush was from her being picked up or realizing she been beat at her own game about how dangerous she was. He did noticed that she flinched and just smiled more. It was not his place to call her on it. No he was not like at all, flinching was not a sign of weakness, just a sign of realization over something. Exactly what it was, he could not tell. Besides she would tell him sooner or later what it was that came to see. He looked a head for a moment until she commented how she hated him and that it was her way of thanking him. He smirked slightly mainly to himself. "Well, than Neko you are welcome. If you wise you can just call me Dai."

He looked over to her stuff when she commented on how she didn't want to drag him down. He closed his eyes slightly for a moment, it had been so long since he last used his jutsu that he was trying to remember all his jutsu inside of his head. He started to mumble slightly to himself at the names of them. Then he ran off the shadow clone jutsu, and a smirk crossed his gentle lips once more. He extends his hands around her body and placed both his index and middle fingers of his hands up in a cross like state. "Kage Bushin no jutsu." Two clones of Daisuke appeared in front of them. Daisuke nodded to the one to the right of him towards her gear, while the other one watched around him and dug some coins out of his pouch and disappeared.

Daisuke watched the one that disappeared and then walked with Neko towards his apartment. It took a good ten minutes carrying her through the village. He didn't care about all the odd looks that he got from people, it was never like he carried what they thought about or anyone else. He knew the rumors would fly around to the villagers and his clan but he would deal with that when the time came for it. Thankfully tho his apartments was in the main stream of the village other than the clan little district.

He walked up the stairs to the apartment and his clone that was tagging along behind them, pulled out his keys from the pouch and opened the door for them. Daisuke allowed his clone to go in first and set her gear down beside the door. Daisuke walked in a second later and looked around. It had been a while since he walked in here. The main room had a couch and a chair. There was a few pictures on the wall. He looked around and saw the live plants and smiled slightly. "Sister's handy work I see." He walked over and set her on the couch. "Now rest." He smiled at her.

He walked to the table and saw a nice pile of scrolls and letter for him. He didn't even touch them for the moment, instead he took off his pouch and tonfas and placed them on the table next to them. He rolled up his sleeve and walked into the kitchen for a moment before returning with two glasses of water for them. He held the one in his right hand out to her. "You also need to drink some more Neko."

[Kentora Neko]

A look of sheepishness crossed Neko’s face as he summoned two shadow clones to do his bidding. “Oh, yeah, umm, forgot about that.” It was a basic technique, even she could summon clones of herself to accomplish simple tasks like he had, that is in normal circumstances. Since, however, she was still the pile of goo, there was no way she could summon a cookie to her aid. With one shadow carrying her stuff and another out for food, she folded her arms across her chest and reluctantly signed her power over the man holding her in his arms. As Daisuke walked away from the tree, she looked back to the secret place of her lover, a tear falling from her eye as she imagined the sensei, waving goodbye, that knowing grin on his face. You’ll be fine he said warmly, then disappeared. For now, she believed him.

For ten minutes, Neko softly wished she was invisible. As Daisuke carried her through the busy city, she felt eyes look at them curiously, the suspicion sharp and painful. As childish as it was, she sought to make herself invisible by burying her face in his chest. Why was she safe with him? It used to be that she was only safe with Denkuza, wherever he was. What had Daisuke done? It wasn’t until she felt the rhythmic movement of going up stairs that she peeked out of her companion’s sanctuary. As he put his keys into the door, she looked up at him “ Last Chance” But he pressed on into the apartment.

The entire place was clean, she could smell the many cleaning products used but something made her sneeze. It was the quick change from the warm sunshine into the cool, air-conditioned living space. She wrinkled her nose slightly as they passed the kitchen. Something was rotting in there, but she didn’t want to say anything, lest it should bother him. He carried her into the living room and placed her on the couch. As his arms left her form, she stretched and sighed. The softness of the cushions relaxed her immensely and she couldn’t help but relish the feeling of something softer than hard-packed earth underneath her. While she got comfortable, Daisuke disappeared into the kitchen. She softly kneaded the pillow next to her. That’s the best thing about men, she mused as she yawned, they can always pick the perfect couch.

After a moment, he returned with a glass of water. She repositioned herself to take the glass. As she grasped it, the cup titled and spilled water on her face. She groaned wearily, “Well, That was graceful.” Then wiped her face with her bracer, careful not to spill any on the couch. “This is a really nice place. I used to have an apartment, but I sold mine a long time ago.” Neko commented as she looked around. She felt like an invader but Dai would’ve just told her to relax. So she did.