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Nakama
Oct 27, 2010 1:08:32 GMT -6
Post by foxx on Oct 27, 2010 1:08:32 GMT -6
Quickly, he dashed across the ground, his feet light and sure. He moved with a sense of secrecy about him, for every so often the boy would halt in his dash, glancing over his shoulder and refusing to continue until he was certain of something particular. Seconds later, satisfied and ready, he would dash off again, disappearing into the trees.
He was rather proud of his speed and agility. Sure, he was using the things his father had taught him over the years, and for things said father would find absolutely unreasonable, but... What he doesn't know won't hurt him...
Keiji knew he was breaking "rules", coming this close to the place. He'd done it so many times, though, it was hardly considered bad in his mind; he hadn't been caught yet, and the young mind was easily influenced into thinking it would continue this way. He couldn't help it, he found; it was boring at home, in the middle of the woods.
Besides, it was quite a view from up on the "usual cliff". Keiji had stopped here, sitting against a tree and catching his breath, looking down below upon the layers of buildings that were strewn before him, people dotting the dirt roads in between them. It was an amazing sight; every single time, this being the hundredandsomething-th time or so, it always took his breath, and it never got old.
Keiji's breath returned to him quickly, and he folded his legs, watching the village bustle about its usual business. It was so neat, so different from what he'd grown up in. At home, there was no one but his small family; his quiet mother, his brooding father, and his brother, who was only fun every once in a while. He never was allowed anywhere, forbidden to venture very far at all (as if he obeyed, though). But here... There was so much life here.
Down below, Keiji could see children his age playing happily, and he found himself struggling to stay upon the cliff, beneath the tree. For a brief moment he wondered the consequences of slipping down for a bit, just a little while; would they allow him to join them? He shifted, but paused, deciding immediately against it. It was enough that he came this close to Konohagakure. If he pushed things any farther, even this view would get taken away.
A final thought entered into his mind as Keiji leaned back against the tree another time, and a sigh rolled out.
"...I still don't get what makes him hate this place so much."
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 2:00:17 GMT -6
Post by Luke on Apr 2, 2011 2:00:17 GMT -6
Welcome to...
THE BREAKDOWN
[/color][/size][/right] "Bye, dad!" Footsteps echoed into the air with each step taken as the boy looked over his shoulder to see his father standing outside on the steps, waving to him. Hurrying on, the boy made his way down one of the busy streets of Konoha--not bothering to stop for anyone--only waving back to passersby as they cheerfully greeted him. "Good morning, Kazuo!" called one man as he swept the dust from his front step. Waving back to him as he sped past, he returned the greeting and moved on--having places to be. One might think it was odd for a child to be receiving such a reception out in the middle of a busy street, but it was an ordinary occurrence for this particular child--he was none other than Uzumaki Kazuo, the son of the Hokage. Not only that...but he was also of Hyuga lineage--impressive, huh? After reaching his destination--a large tree that provided excellent shade in a slightly less inhabited area of the village, the boy would sit down underneath the tree. Looking around, he noticed in the distance a small moving shape up on a rock formation. Wondering what it could be, the boy quickly activated his Byakugan. Leering in that direction, he was surprised to learn just what it was, having thought it was a small woodland creature at first. "...a kid?" he mumbled to himself. "What would a kid be doing all the way there?" he asked to no one in particular. Deciding to find out for himself, he stood up and made his way toward his discovery as discretely as possible.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify]
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 2:17:59 GMT -6
Post by foxx on Apr 2, 2011 2:17:59 GMT -6
Keiji sat for a while there beneath the tree in silence, shifting every so often whenever the rock beneath him grew uncomfortable. His dark eyes gazed constantly down the steep, rugged hill (it was perhaps more of a drop-off than a hill), observing the darting and laughing children along the street. He merely watched, but after a while, Keiji leaned forward hesitantly, eyes carrying an almost wistful and longing glint.
A heavy sigh rolled off the boy's chest, though rather than sitting back again he stayed leaned forward, his face resting in a palm with his elbow propped on his legs. ...That looks so fun. I wonder what they're playing? That kid is running away from...oh, the girl there. She's chasing him. She's pretty fast, too... Wha? She just touched his arm and then ran away from him. Now he's chasing someone else... This game seems silly...but...
Having been so enthralled with the children's game of tag, Keiji had leaned very far forward. His elbow moved from its prop and his palm released his chin as he leaned even farther forward, not paying attention as his rear lifted from the rock. Suddenly Keiji felt himself tilting forward, but before he could lean back again, his weight had gone too far in one direction; he gasped and slipped forward, tumbling down the sloped drop-off and landing with a thud...
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 2:39:25 GMT -6
Post by Luke on Apr 2, 2011 2:39:25 GMT -6
Moving quickly toward the boy, his eyes widened slightly as he watched him wobble for a moment or two before falling down off the ledge he was on. Fighting the urge to laugh hysterically as the boy landed with a loud thud, he quickened his pace to make sure he hadn't killed himself or broken anything. As he continued on, he could hear his fathers voice in his head, warning him about approaching strangers--but he wasn't going to pay attention to that...just this one time--it was only a kid after all.
"Uh...excuse me? Are you okay?"
Kazuo had finally reached the area where the boy had fallen--about six feet down from the drop off he had so carelessly been wobbling on. "...you aren't....broken or anything are you? Need a hospital or something?" he asked, looking slightly concerned. Sure, the fall wasn't exactly that far but it was enough to make boo-boos and ouchies....and those were just uncomfortable! "...what are you doing all the way over here anyway? Why aren't you in the village?" Geez. Twenty Questions or something, right?
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 2:50:28 GMT -6
Post by foxx on Apr 2, 2011 2:50:28 GMT -6
"Itaiiii~..." Keiji rolled over onto his back, sitting up and rubbing his side where he'd landed. He groaned, shifting his weight onto his hands and beginning to lift himself back to his feet.
"Uh...excuse me? Are you okay?"
Halfway raised off the ground, Keiji froze, the sudden voice chilling him instantaneously to the bone. Slowly he lifted his gaze, meeting the face of another boy who seemed to be about his age. He felt a very fleeting relief--it wasn't anyone he knew. However, the relief was short-lived as other thoughts occurred, and he scrambled back to his feet, taking an unconscious step back. He's...a kid from that village, he thought, mind racing; I'm not... I can't be talking to him. I'll get in so much trouble if I get caught... I need...I need to leave...
Keiji was about to dart away, but the boy opened his mouth again, spouting a question or two before he could even move his feet. Whether Keiji knew it or not, the semi-terror was obvious on his face. He must have felt it, though, for he seemed to force it away best he could, feigning calmness. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, then opened it again, and finally he peeped a very small "I'm okay".
I really need to leave...
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 3:11:20 GMT -6
Post by Luke on Apr 2, 2011 3:11:20 GMT -6
Catching site of the terrified look on the boy's face, Kazuo raised an eyebrow. Was he that hideous or something? After a moment, the boy's expression changed to that of calm--for the most part. He nearly burst into laughter at the way he opened and closed his mouth--looking like a fish. Sighing inaudibly at the two word reply, he paused for a moment, wondering if it was worth repeating his other questions that had gone unanswered.
"....well that's good. But what are you doing all the way out here? Why aren't you in the village?"
He asked yet again, stepping back a bit to give the boy some space. He couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable he seemed and that made Kazuo pretty curious. Why was he uncomfortable? Why was he just sitting up on that ledge watching? What was for lunch? These were all questions that he was just dying to know the answer to.
And then he realized something--he realized just how rude he was.
Smacking himself in the forehead he jerked a thumb toward himself, "I'm Kazuo, by the way. What's your name?"
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 3:22:30 GMT -6
Post by foxx on Apr 2, 2011 3:22:30 GMT -6
Keiji wanted badly to just turn and flee the situation--which would have probably been best--but he found himself unable to, as though his feet were rooted to the ground. He noticed the other boy step back a bit, and Keiji felt a strange sadness rise and fall in his chest.
He had more questions to answer, it seemed, and it only stressed his mind and heart further. He glanced over his shoulder briefly, peering at the small clearings and patches of brush as if he expected to see something, but there was nothing. A bit relieved, Keiji turned back to the boy, eying him for a few moments before opening his mouth to speak again, "...I was...watching..." he said slowly, loosely pointing a hand at the distant group of kids; "Watching them. I'm sorry if...if I was bothering anything..." He trailed off, looking up again as another question arose. At this question, Keiji was suddenly wary again, seeming uncertain as he thought something over. Then, finally, "U... K-keiji. My name is Keiji."
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 18:07:55 GMT -6
Post by Luke on Apr 2, 2011 18:07:55 GMT -6
"...no need to apologize." Kazuo shook his head, looking slightly confused at the boys demeanor. "You weren't bothering anything--I was only wondering why you just weren't playing instead of watching." he added with a small shrug. Kazuo noticed the nervous look on the boys face after he had asked his name. "...man. This kid is a wreck." he thought to himself. "U... K-keiji. My name is Keiji." Nodding slightly, he thought for a moment before he finally lifted his hand and held it out in front of him for Keiji to shake. "It's...uh...It's nice to meet you, Keiji." he said, smiling slightly. "It's strange that I've never seen you around before..." he added as an afterthought. Pausing for yet another moment, Kazuo looked over at the group of children and then back to Keiji. "You wanna go down and play tag with them?"
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 20:30:03 GMT -6
Post by foxx on Apr 2, 2011 20:30:03 GMT -6
This boy was so forward. Keiji merely looked at the outstretched hand, fidgeting slightly in the small awkward silence. Did Kazuo want something? "Y-yeah... Nice to meet you..."
At the question of his whereabouts, Keiji fell silent again, glancing over his shoulder a second time, but only briefly. "Yeah... I'm not really, um..."
The boy trailed off. Keiji's eyes drifted again, back over to the children who were still enjoying their chasing game. For a few moments he watched them, then: "You wanna go down and play tag with them?" Keiji blinked, his gaze snapping back to Kazuo, widened slightly in surprise. "...Tag?" he asked after a second. It was a strange word he hadn't heard until now, but the word "play" he absolutely understood. "Tag" must have been the chasing game they were playing. He glanced at the kids another time, chewing the side of his mouth uncertainly.
"...I can...play with them?"
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 21:04:56 GMT -6
Post by Luke on Apr 2, 2011 21:04:56 GMT -6
Kazuo looked down at his outstretched hand before he let it drop to his side, feeling slightly awkward--he had never been left hanging before. Did he not know what a handshake was? Looking at the boy for a moment or two, his expression was that of mild surprise--he didn't know what tag was...or did he? "Yeah...tag. You know...one person is 'it' and they have to go around and chase the other kids until he touches one of them--then that person is 'it'." he explained--just to be sure. It was hard telling if the boy was serious or not by the way he was acting, he certainly was a strange one. "...I can...play with them?" Kazuo raised an eyebrow. "Well of course! Why wouldn't you be able to?" he asked after a moment. "It's not like you're a monster or something..." he added with a small laugh. Out of nowhere, Kazuo grabbed the boy by the arm and led him off toward the area the kids were playing. "Come on! I'll show you!"
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 22:04:49 GMT -6
Post by foxx on Apr 2, 2011 22:04:49 GMT -6
Keiji glanced at the group of kids again, then briefly he looked another time over his shoulder. His eyebrows furrowed lightly as a small pang of fear settled in his stomach. "O-on second thought... I don't think I shou--"
He was cut off mid-sentence as Kazuo's hand closed around one of his arms. Before he realized it, he'd been led down to the group. Three of the kids stopped, smiling at the two as they approached. "You guys wanna join in?" a boy asked, pointing at another brown-headed boy; "Tobu is It!"
"Tobu" as he had been called had already been rushing around the area, chasing those he got near to. He skidded to a halt suddenly, looking around with a light frown. His eyes settled on Kazuo, then Keiji, who was looking at him curiously. A grin spread across Tobu's face, and he started toward the new target.
Wide-eyed, Keiji made an unprepared stumble backwards, and Tobu caught his upper arm briefly. He guffawed and darted off again, yelling, "IT!" Keiji blinked obliviously.
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 22:16:20 GMT -6
Post by Luke on Apr 2, 2011 22:16:20 GMT -6
Kazuo grinned slightly at the group of kids, surprised that he didn't even have to ask to join in. "Yeah, sure! We were just about to ask, actually!" he replied with a small nod. He looked over at the boy Tobu and nodded in acknowledgement, gasping as he came bounding forward toward the two of them. He sighed in relief, realizing that he was going after Keiji instead--this was going to be comical. "IT!" The moment Keiji was tagged, Kazuo took off away from him like he had just contracted the plague. "Now you have to tag someone else and make them it! You gotta chase someone!" he called from over his shoulder at the boy, stopping only after he was a safe distance away from the boy. He laughed slightly at the look on his face, having finally caught site of it--he really had no idea what this game was about! "Come on, Keiji!" he called out with a small grin.
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 22:31:20 GMT -6
Post by foxx on Apr 2, 2011 22:31:20 GMT -6
For a few seconds, Keiji stood, watching Kazuo and the other kids speed away from him like rabbits. He looked to Kazuo as the boy yelled the simple mechanics, and he nodded as if he'd been told to do something more important.
Keiji tore his gaze from Kazuo, looking quickly between the rest of the kids and picking out those that were nearest: a girl and two boys were only a few yards away, and one of the boys seemed slow. Keiji started toward them at a mild jog, which slowly picked up into a quick run. Before long, he'd caught up to the boy he'd pinpointed and touched a hand to his back. Strangely, he felt an almost instinctive urge to run away, so he skidded to a halt and jogged in a different direction. A queer feeling coursed through him as he ran, a strange energy he hadn't felt before. The corners of his mouth pulled up into a tiny smile.
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 22:50:25 GMT -6
Post by Luke on Apr 2, 2011 22:50:25 GMT -6
As the boy ran in the opposite direction, Kazuo looked confused at the symbol on the boys back. What exactly was that supposed to be--a fan? What did it stand for? He'd certainly never seen anything like it before in his whole time in the village. In his silent thought, he hadn't been paying attention to what was going on and allowed 'it' to gain ground on him. Noticing too late, Kazuo attempted to spring backward out of the way, but it was indeed too late--he ended up being tagged on his right shoulder.
"Haha! Tag, you're it!"
Kazuo looked around in a surprised manner--feeling slightly silly that he had allowed himself to be tagged. Laughing it off, he quickly looked around for a target--but he already knew exactly who he was going after. Eyes locked onto Keiji, he gave a small smirk before speeding off toward the boy, intent on making him 'it'.
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Nakama
Apr 2, 2011 23:17:47 GMT -6
Post by foxx on Apr 2, 2011 23:17:47 GMT -6
A couple hours passed where the children ran after one another, yelling and giggling and cheering. Keiji found this new game quite enjoyable, so much that he'd completely forgotten all else that mattered. Panting and sweating, the boy sauntered off to the side, still faintly smiling as he watched the other kids. His gaze drifted above their heads, slowly settling on the orange and pink horizon. His smile faded quickly, and he ran a hand through his dark, messy hair. Oh, no... I've been here so long... he thought, his mind suddenly racing again; Father is going to be angry, Mother will worry... What if they find out... I can't let him come looking for me...
Swallowing hard, Keiji stood up straight, scanning the place for the familiar face he'd met earlier. Finally his eyes fell on Kazuo, and he approached him quickly, his face apologetic and worried. "Thank you for letting me play tag with your friends..." he said in a somewhat low tone; "I... I have to go home now... I'm...not really supposed to be here..." He took a few steps backward, and with an awkward wave, he turned and dashed back toward the hill. ((unless you had something to do/say o-O He can totally dash away after. xD))
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