Memories & Gifts [Rinne Festival]

Winter arrived slowly at first, and then all at once.

From how naturally the village takes to the heavy snowfall, it's difficult to believe that this kind of weather was unheard of less than a decade ago. Many residents of Island Country are flocking in for the novelty and festivals. The village's parks are packed with street markets and ice statues, lit in bright colors at night. Rooster Street is as colorful and crowded as ever, every shop that's reopened since the typhoon awash with advertisements for gifts for that special someone. Graves that usually go neglected throughout the year bear fresh offerings of food and chrysanthemums - from family visiting or reminded of their responsibilities, or from strangers hating to see the dead go lonely in this time.

Murata sits on the railing of her balcony, shoveling stew into her mouth as she watches people mill through the slush-mired streets. She is unsure if Snapper's, the general store that she lives above, really has much suitable for a 'special gift'... but people are showing up to the store in numbers anyway, perhaps simply as a result of increased foot traffic. Usually it isn't very busy, so she is taking this opportunity to people watch.

[204]

[This is a thread loosely covering the month of December in Kirigakure, intended as a simple setup for people to pop in and post throughout the month without being super beholden to the post order. If characters begin to interact for extended periods, feel free to spin off into separate threads.]

Kato woke up to a sight he had not seen in this village before. He was somewhat amazed when he peered out of the window of his apartment, the temperate weather he had become accustomed to had been replaced with sheets of fluffy white snow and somewhat icy winds. He looked to the clouds that usually would rumble with thunder but instead of the angry clouds were much calmer ones, showing snowflakes down upon the village. "The weather sure does change suddenly it seems, this snow really crept up on me" Kato thought to himself as he watched what goings on he could see from his tall apartment window. He could see an extra sense of life to the village. Festive stalls had been erected, fairy lights had been strung across streets and around lampposts. Kato could see decorations wherever his eye looked "its nice to see the village whirring into life, I didn't even realise there was going to be a winter festival".

After a while watching at the window Kato decided it was about time to go and experience the festivities himself. He knew it was going to be cold outside, he'd felt the cold wind on his face as he stood at his window, "Time for the warm comfortable clothes I think". Kato did not have many winter clothes, the temperate nature of the island country doesn't usually necessitate it but he had one outfit that would do. Kato pulled on a thick black wool jacket, white fur lined on the inside as well as at the cuff and collar. The rest of the outfit was pretty similar, thick black wool pants that were also fur lined and a pair of black boots. Kato completed his warm outfit by pulling a black ushanka with similar fur details onto his head covering his long crimson hair and warming his ears in the process.  

[315]

Kasumi Was walking through the streets of Kiri for the first time since the typhoon hit.  The floodwaters had clearned away and most of Kiri's buildings were getting restored or were replaced with new.  Several people had lost their lives during the storm, though thanks to Team Seven, as well as others, there were several villagers who were saved in the recovery process.  As Kasumi walked she saw the faces of those she passed and smiled to each of them.  Some wore happy expressions while others were still in mourning after losing a loved one.  

It could have been much, much worse, Kasumi thought with a sigh; her created a wispy cloud in front of her face, only to be gently blown away a second later.

The effort put into this festival was nothing sort of remarkable.  Vendors from all of the surrounding islands had showed up to sell their wares, and every kind of street food your taste buds could imagine could be smelled on the next street corner.  Hanging lanterns hung below every building which illuminated the streets below.  In one of the parks, artists were busy sculpting works of art out of snow.  The park was roped off for the time being.  They would be judged and a prize was to be given to the winners later in the month.  Several people stood and watched as the sculptors formed shapes out of snow.  Kasumi even spied on one individual who was working on an underwater scene with an octopus hiding in the rocks.

I'll have to give that one a closer look when we're allowed in, the young Hyuuga thought to herself.  Right, I came out today for a reason.  I wanted to buy a kimono for the final day.

As Kasumi walked across the street, Murata would be able to see the young Hyuuga do so as she tugged on her cloak, that she had bought earlier that week, and wrapped it over her shoulders.  Kasumi did not notice her former squadmate standing on the second story balconey, as her Byakugan was not active at the time.  Kasumi would walk towards a young teen by the look of him.  He had short black hair that fell between his eyes.  He wore a thick winter coat and had just ordered a cup of hot cocoa.  

Ooh, that looks tasty, Kasumi thought as she eyed his warm beverage.

(WC = 397)

Kato felt the cool sting of the icy wind on his face as he stepped out of his apartment. The snow that had arrived a few days ago mad not stopped, it had waxed and waned in its intensity but remained continuous all the same. Kato made his way to one of the festive markets that had sprung up with the change in weather, he'd noticed that stalls from his apartment window and it looked like a fun time. As he walked along the frost covered streets Kato smiled, there was something wholesome about the change in the village. As he walked he watched as some of the kids of the village busied themselves making snowmen and snow-women of various shapes and sizes. Kato smirked as one group of kids ambushed another, showering them in snowballs. He had to slightly duck and dodge as he walked, it seemed that a full scale snowball fight had broken out. "ah the joy of youth" Kato thought to himself as the festive market drew closer. Feeling the pull of the mischief Kato scooped up a bunch of snow, quickly made some snowballs and quickly threw them in a large arc in the direction of the snowball fight, giggling as he watched the confused faces of those who were taken unawares.

[217]
[TWC = 532]

Kasumi continued to walk down the streets with a warm cup of hot coca in hand.  Steam rose up from the cup as she took a sip.  It was too hot to take a large drink, but it was doing a good job of warming up her up from the inside.  Up ahead, Kasumi noticed some kids between the ages of six to eleven having a snowball war.  Packed balls of snow were flying in all directions.  One stray snowball came very close in knocking her hot drink out of the Hyuuga's hands.  Another almost pelted Kasmumi square in the face if it hadn't been for the kunoichi's speedy movements at the last moment.  

Its good to see kids having fun again, Kasumi thought as she stopped to watch them play.  I wonder if the kid we saved is doing any better.  Gonk would surely like to know, too.

Amongst the children playing, Kasumi spied a rather familiar looking individual who was much older than the others.  He had reddish spiky hair and his eyes were the same as Kasumi's.  Kasumi watched as her clan brother joined in on the action taking out a couple of snowball combatants with some of his own lobbed snowballs.  The kid's faces were priceless and caused Kasumi to giggle.

”Hi there, Kato!” the young Hyuuga shouted as she waved from across the street.

(WC = 227)
(TWC = 624)

Putting his book down Travin as it was not a very long book being designed for small children. He could hear the sound of laughter coming from outside the dinner. Turning in the love seat he could see a small war had broken out in the street with snowballs being the weapons of mass destructions. Turning around with a smile he finished his other biscuit and drunk the last of his cocoa having warmed up and got up to pay. After handing the waitress the money and giving a tip Travin walked out of the dinner and up the wall of the building to the roof. He took his time and made several snowballs lining them up on the side of the roof for easy reach. 

Once he had around five or six snowballs made up and looked down at the kids throwing them. Picking out the kids with the least amount of snow on them he started to chuck the snowballs at them from his high advantage point. Nailing most of the shots he took. He wasn’t the strongest physically of his class or the best with thrown attacks but he was good enough to nail kids with hardly any cover from his position with snowballs from 20 feet. Once he had thrown his ammo a few of the kids noticed where they were coming from and started to throw them at him. 

Not wanting to get hit Travin took off the backside of the building dropping down into the ally where he could make a safe escape. 

(WC-259 TWC-843)

When Murata arrives to Hondou Yono's forgotten beachside memorial, she is greeted for the first time by signs of care and love. The beachfront leading up to the cave had been much tidier than usual. She had thought that to be the work of some younger genin out picking up trash, but perhaps whoever had beaten her here had done some cleaning up. In front of the memorial, where erosion has carved a whole into the ceiling of the cave, there is a round pool of snow upon the cool sand, bathed in light. Murata steps gently around it as though it is sacred.

A small bouquet of daffodils greets her at the stone itself, along with a small photograph of a smiling young boy. Murata crouches down, leaving the packet of candies and glass of spiced wine she'd brought next to the photograph - not daring to touch it, but wondering at the round face there. Gently, she presses her hand to where the daffodils are cinched by white ribbon. The hollow shape of a memory she cannot reach tickles at her mind, like when you become aware that you have forgotten something important.

"There is still somebody out there who knows you?" Murata murmurs, smiling. "I am happy for you. Do I look silly now, being so worried?"

[219]

Kato had gotten a bit more caught up in the snow fight than he initially intended. The first couple of snowballs he lobbed had found their targets, comically connecting with some of the combatants. As soon as they had made contact the kids swivelled to see the direction they came from then that was it, no escape, just a returning shower of snowballs. Kato was quick and evaded most of the returned volley, a few did manage to make contact however and Kato laughed and giggled with the kids during this process. 

As Kato was preparing for his next barrage of snowballs he heard a familiar voice shouting from across the street. He looked up and smiled when he realised it was his clan sister "Hey Kasumi! Fancy getting in on the action?". Moments after shouting across the street Kato launched one of his snowballs in Kasumi's direction with a mischievous grin across his face. He then proceeded to launch the rest of the snowballs that he had prepared into the frosty white melee. Along with his own volley of snowballs came another, but these ones had flew from behind him "looks like more people are joining in, I didn't intend to escalate this but I guess it's hard to resist the urge when you see the snow flying" Kato thought to himself with a chuckle.

[226]
[TWC = 758]