Finding an Oasis Hidden In Iron [w/ Gonk]

”Rare Animals”:

Kasumi awoke one morning and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.  As she stretched, the young Hyuuga quickly realized she was no longer in her bed.  Her heart raced as she scanned her surroundings.  She wasn't even in her own room anymore.  She was laying down on the cold ground.  She found herself in a forest; there were snow-covered pine trees all over the place.

What the heck?  Did I go sleepwalking in the night? Kasumi wondered as she stood up, scratching her head.  No, no, that cannot be right.  This place doesn't look familiar at all.  Am I still dreaming?  I must be...

Kasumi was hundreds of miles away from Kirigakure.  And, in truth, she was even farther away than she ever dared to dream.  As she scanned the area to try and get her bearings, Kasumi realized she was not alone.  A tall, humanoid shape emerged from behind the branches of trees.  As the figure walked closer, Kasumi frowned and assumed the Gentle Fist stance – her clan's special fighting style.  While the canopy of thickly dense pine trees made it dark and difficult to see, Kasumi felt an odd presence about the figure.  He was male by the way he walked, but he had a mysterious aura.  It felt familiar...

”Oh no.  Its you,” Kasumi said with a sigh.  ”What's going on?  Where are we and why are you here?”

”Ho, ho, well met, Miss Kasumi!” the Hollykage greeted in a booming voice.  ”I hope you are well rested.  I have another task for you!  I do apologize, but I require your aid once again.  I have teleported us to the Land of Iron.  You are to help me find a hidden oasis deep within this forest.  There are said to be many beautiful creatures that live there.  I thought it would do you some good to get in touch with nature this holiday.”

Kasumi crossed her arms and closed her eyes.  She could not believe the words that were coming out of the Hollykage's mouth.  She knew that this man was probably capable of what he claimed, and, based on her surroundings, it seemed like a very likely scenario; however, Kasumi did not want to believe.  She had more important things to do than to preform the shaddy bidding of the Hollykage.

”Why me?” Kasumi demanded. ”What if I refuse your ridiculous tasks?

The Hollykage smiled and replied, ”You're the perfect one for the job.  I know you're a Hyuuga - one who possess the Byakugan, after all. And as I said before, you need to get in touch with nature this holiday season.  But if you refuse to do my task, consider this: you'll have to find your own way back home as I won't teleport you back.”

”If you can use summoning and teleportation jutsu, aren't you perfectly capable of finding this oasis yourself?”

”Perhaps, but where's the fun in that?  The simple fact of the matter is that I don't have the time to find it myself.  I have more important things to do.  Now here, take this ring.  Rub it once you've found the oasis, and I shall appear to take you home.  And as usual, you won't go home empty handed.  I will reward you for your efforts.”

The Hollykage placed the ring in the young Hyuuga's hands and gave her a wink, and in the blink of an eye, the mysterious man was gone.

Good grief.  Here we go again...

(WC = 568)

Wow, he just plopped me in the middle of nowhere didn't he? Kasumi thought with a sigh.

She was uncertain where to start her search, but knew she had to find the oasis.  It was the only way she'd ever get back home.  As the sun began to creep through the trees, their beams illuminated the dark ground below and reflected on the snow.  It caused the snow to sparkle which was quite enchanting if one stopped to look.  But Kasumi was on a mission.  After a while, Kasumi noticed movement up ahead of her.  The Hyuuga got down and activated her Byakugan, fearing that who ever it was might not be friendly.  To her surprise, the figure had a familiar chakra signature.  It belonged to Gonk!

”Hiya Gonk!  Thank goodness to see a familiar face,” Kasumi said with a wave.  ”Don't tell me the Hollykage has teleported you, too?  What is his play, anyway?  First cookies, now this?  I wish we could inform our Mizukage about him.  He could be dangerous.  Huh?  Oh, where are we?  Well that festive “Kage” mentioned something about the Land of Iron, I think he's teleported us there.  And he mentioned something about finding an Oasis.  That Hollykage was very vauge.”

As Kasumi and Gonk walked deeper into the pine forest, their steps made footprints in the fallen snow.  The young Hyuuga couldn't help but think of how far away from home they really were.  They were in an entirely different country, now.  In truth, she had no idea were exactly the Land of Iron was located on a map – only that it was somewhere north.  That much was very certain.  It was cold - much colder than the kunoichi was used to.

”Oh geez, its cold!  Brr!  You're have to excuse me, eh-hem, I'm still in my pajamas.  I was sleeping when that Hollykage teleported me.  I don't even have Tako, my puppet ninja tool, on me right now.  Though, I'm not totally worthless, I've been learning some new jutsu since our run-in with those pirates.” Kasumi awkwardly said after a few minutes of walking; if Gonk was paying attention, he would notice his friend blushing a little.

Suddenly there was a small clearing in the pine forest which was covered a heavy blanket of snow.  The sun, while blocked by some cloud cover, it still managed to shine bright in this particular clearing.  This particular clearing wasn't an oasis, but there were signs of life.  There was a deer trail that cut through the clearing.  Gonk and kasumi noticed that there were hoof prints.

”Deer tracks, our first sign of life in this forest.  If there's running water in this Oasis, then the creatures that made these prints would surely go there, right?”

(WC = 454)
(TWC = 1022)

Gonk seemed to be surprised that the Hollykage visited her in person, to which she replied, “Oh, he only sent you a letter?  He probably knows that his visits annoy me.  That's why he sees me in person.  He sent you a mission letter and after you read it, you were teleported right?  That has to be some high ranking Fuuinjutsu.  Who is this guy!?  Grr!  Oh, yeah, he also gave me this ring.  He said that if I sqeeze it, he suppose appear.  There must be some sort of summoning seal round the band.”

The pair would trudge onward, over downed trees and deep snow.  The soft powder covered the landscape and quieted their movements.  For Kasumi, it felt as if someone had placed their hands over her ears, or perhaps a pair of sea shells from one of Kiri's beaches.  The was surreal sound which played in her mind – a quiet droning that stopped only when she tried to concentrate on it.  Kasumi had zoned out for a bit.  All of a sudden, she felt something around her shoulders which nearly caused the Hyuuga to jump out of her skin.

”Ack!  Wait, huh?  W-why do I need this?  D-don't you need it?” Kasumi protested

Without a word, Gonk threw his sweater around Kasumi's shoulders.  It was warm and, to her surprise, did not smell like fish.  Even after Kasumi protested, Gonk insisted that she hold on to it for a while and that he wasn't bothered with the cold weather.

Actually Gonk has a rather pleasant smell.  This sweater doesn't smell like the sea, or fish at all.  Instead, his sweater smells like rain... Kasumi's thought as her face felt like it was on fire.  What is this all of sudden?  What am I feeling?

Thankfully there was a clearing up ahead which took the awkwardness out of the young teen's mind.  She could place all of her attention back to the task at hand which was to find the hidden oasis.  They followed the tracks which cut through the clearing as it winded and twisted through the thick forest.  They hiked for what seemed like miles and found another clearing.  This time the duo could hear water.  The duo decided to check it out.

”Hey, is this it?” Kasumi asked as she looked around.

The air wasn't so cold here and you could see steam raising up from the springs which dotted the area.  It was full of life here as well.  You could hear birds chirping in the trees as well as squirrels.  There were rabbits, too, who kept their distance – alerted to our presence.  Gonk walked over to one of the springs and noticed creatures swimming about.  Turtle ducks were swimming out in the distance, while a polar bear dog drinked from another.  None of the animals here seemed to threaten the other as if they all lived here in harmony, nor did they seem to care about the two Genin who came knocking on their doorstep.

”You think I should give the ring a squeeze?” Kasumi asked with a dumbfounded expression on her face.  ”Yeah, I guess I'll do it.  I hope the Hollykage isn't going to cause any trouble...”

Kasumi fished out the ring which she had placed in a pocket for safe keeping and held it into the air.  She looked at her friend with worried eyes as she bit her lower lip before nodding.  She gave the ring a squeeze and hoped nothing terrible would happen.  A poof of smoke filled the immediate area as a tall, round figure emerged from the smoky swirls.  It was the Hollykage and it appeared as if he were holding something, tucked underneath his arms.

”Ho, ho, Miss Kasumi and Mr Gonk,” the Hollykage boomed.  ”I see you've found my Sanctuary!” ”Ah, your faces tell me that you are confused.  As you can see, this oasis is home to many a strange creature.  You see, I care for them when I can, and look after them.  These creatures are apart of this world, and unfortunately, have had their homes destroyed by some means or another - sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident.  Too often by the hands of humans.”

”What's that in your arms?” Kasumi asked as she eyed what the man had tucked in his arms.

”Ah, why this is another turtle duck.  I found her wandering aimlessly near my workshop, the poor thing.  She will have a new home here,” the Hollykage explained.  ”This Holiday should be spent with those you care for, both friends and family alike.  Times have been hard for the ninja world. And times will likely become trying again.  I shall bring as many here as I can to help spread the cheer and remind everyone that you always have a home to go back to when you band together.  I will leave you two be, now for I have some gifts for you, as promised.  You're welcome to stay for as long as you like.  You are quite safe, here.  These animals no not of anger or aggression – as long as you treat them with care and respect they will leave you be.  Perhaps, if they like you, you might be able to pet them.  Just come find me when you want to leave.”

The Hollykage would next go the waters edge and set the turtle duck by his feet. He would turn back to the duo and smile, nodding in their direction, after which the jolly man walked around a dense grouping of trees and vanished.  The two Genin stood at the spring's edge.  The water was calming and it was like the scenery out of a pleasant dream.  Perhaps it was the lay of the land, or perhaps the sight of so many interesting animals, or perhaps it had to do with something else, but Kasumi breathed deeply and stood close to Gonk's side.  Her hand trembled slightly as it rested loosely next to Gonk's...

(WC = 985)
(TWC = 2007)

The wind was still, on this overcast day, as birds chirped and squirrels gathered last-minute nuts to add to their stockpiles.  Deep within the pine forest, Kasumi and Gonk found themselves at the edge of a spring.  Turtle ducks were floating on top of the water and swam with the carp which swam below.  A herd of sky bison cautiously made their way to the spring's edge taking turns drinking from the opposite side of the spring.  There was peace here which took hold of the soul.  

Kasumi's heart was pounding out of her chest as she stood next to her companion.  Her hand was shacking as if she had a tremor.  A nervous lump was forming in the back of her throat, which she tried to swallow.  She had never felt so anxious before – even when compared to the run in with the pirates on their first mission.

What the heck am I doing? Kasumi thought as she looked out into the spring; she dared not gaze into her compainion's eyes.

What was the Hollykage's game, and why did he wish to show this pet project to a couple of Genin?  He did not receive any reimbursement for his work – did his workshop covered the costs for both avenues?  But those questions would have to be on hold for there was something else which hung in the air.

Am I, am I about to hold Gonk's hand?  Is that what's about to happen? Kasumi wondered looking at both of their hands out of the corner of her pearly eye.  

Whether it was on purpose or by accident, for a split second, one of Kasumi's fingers would catch one of Gonk's.  If the Hoshigaki confirmed the hold, Kasumi would grab Gonk's whole hand.  But if he jumped away.  Kasumi would jump as well and apologize saying that she had accidentally been swaying from side to side from the cold.

Oh, crap! What the heck?  When did our fingers interlock with each other?  What do I do?!  Kasumi wondered as her eyes widened.

(WC = 338)
(TWC = 1360)

Kasumi was too afraid to move her head to look at her companion but squeezed the young Hoshigaki's hand while looking down in the water at their reflection – her eyes covered by her bangs.  A small smile crept on Kasumi's face as she pushed back her fears.  As they held hands, Kasumi realized that Gonk wanted to hold hands, too.  She would allow the magic of their surroundings over take her.  None of the nins could watch them from here.  No one could place judgment.  Here, in the oasis, hidden in Iron, felt the pressures on being a ninja fade away.  For the time being, the expectations, and suspicions of who she could become vanished like the wisps of steam which arose from the water.  

Gonk's hand wasn't slimy.  Nor did it have the consistency of sandpaper.  It did not feel like the average human's hand either, but Kasumi was okay with that.  It felt similar to a snake's underbelly.  His hands were smooth and cool to the touch.  It almost felt leathery.  It wasn't a bad feeling – just different.

Kasumi's breath immediately escaped her when Gonk drew her in.  His yellow shark eyes gazed back at her.  But his outgoing didn't stop, there.  The young Hoshigaki would even be so bold as to place an arm around Kasumi's shoulder.  Her pearly eyes widened as her body froze still.

Oh, no!  This is all too soon.  What's happening?  If I don't do something he'll expect a kiss or something! Kasumi thought as her heart raced and face beat red.

The young Hyuuga would take Gonk into her own arms.  Her arms wrapped themselves around Gonk's lower back.  Her head came to rest against the boy's own.  Kasumi's nose buried itself into Gonk's vibrant hair.  She would stay in his arms for a time, taking in the moment before moving her head closer to the boy's ear.

”Gonk, you have a pleasant scent.  I don't know what we're doing, but I like you.  Let's take this slow, okay?” Kasumi gently whispered in Gonk's ear.

Kasumi would call over the Hollykage, collect her promised trinkets, and ask to be teleported back home.  She would spend the rest of the day laying in her bed hugging a pillow while trying to process what had just happened...

(WC = 377)
(Exit)
(TWC = 1737)
(Claiming 17 stats, Mission Rewards: 30 AP, Chameleon Scales, 1737 words towards Chompy 5868/7400 new total)

Approved