Moving to a better place

The second week is easier to wake up in his home. Lying in the same bed, the same room, Kaimera’s final conscious moments had drawn to a close with unease. His mind yields to a dreamless slumber that passes like an instant. He rises within the hour of the sun lighting the horizon the following day. Not that he can much tell, cloistered away in his remote chamber where its rays do not reach. He owes this solely to his well-honed instincts from the years spent training under his father.

Soon after he dresses himself, he passes through the rows of ornate screens, past the smoldering irori of the anteroom. He feels adequately rested, but his stomach begins to churn indignantly not two steps beyond the doors of his quarters, and he clutches at it as though the effort would silence its aching in the slightest. Kaimera had spent the entirety of the previous day confined within the study, obsessing over its archives with the Goka Clan. To both his astonishment and relief, he had been left alone ever since becoming a full-fledged ninja. Whether it had been due to the wicked words he’d spat or his father’s own temperance, he did not know or care much, but he’d been begrudgingly grateful for his granted solitude, nonetheless.

Walking out of the anteroom, his presence was graced by the light of the sun. Its beaming rays were warm and delightful as it kissed his skin. Though he couldn’t stand there and bask in its glow for a moment, he had to get moving so that he was not late to help Izu on her move.

Following the paths laid before him, he quickly moved through the streets of Kirigakure as if he were a puppet on strings. Maneuvering through the crowds and the few isolated individuals, he descended upon the place where he would never want to live. The slums of the Mist Village. While he had no judgment of those that lived here; obviously, since Izu has lived her most, if not all of her life. It was a place that he would never want to be. Perhaps, he had retained some of his family’s materialistic sense. But nonetheless, by the kindness of his own heart, he appeared in this place when a friend was in need.

“Hello, hello,” Kaimera greeted the blonde shinobi as he immediately went to survey the decaying home and its surroundings. “While you look lovely, I can’t say the same for this place. Happy that you can finally escape the grasps from this area.” The redhead said it slowly began to finish judging the place. Oh damn, didn’t we say that he wasn’t judgmental earlier on; well, we guess we have to assume that is a lie.

“Oi, a beverage. You take such good care of me,” he said with a tone that almost sounded sarcastic when in reality, it wasn’t. Giving a tendered smile with eyes closed, he put his hand upon his heart. “Oh, how did I ever deserve this.” He said before reopening his eyes to take the cooled beverage without waiting for it to be offered.

Taking a sip of the contents, he quickly realized it was. Sweet with a hint of tartness that could only be described as a peach flavoring, Kaimera took another drink from the cup. “Ahh, peach tea. It is quite marvelous. You make it yourself?” He asked as sat his cup down to move closer towards Izu. Looking down at her well-defined abdominis, he relocated his eyes with hers. “Tragic, you have a much more muscular body than I. Does that make you my superior in this…relationship.” He said as he moved his hand upwards to caress her cheek before moving it down and slightly holding onto the side of her neck. Leaning to the side, he placed a soft kiss upon her tendered cheek before whispering in her eye, “I don’t think I’d mind that at all.”

TWC: 662

The morning light shone down on him while he was working on emptying out the last touches of an unused guestroom that he had within the Yuki Clans finer houses. Small trinkets, bits of Kunai here and there, even some small bits of paint. Yet he had mainly used the room to house his weaponry, yet he knew that there was easily enough space for a room dedicated to his actual shinobi toolset. His refined katana is housed in its dark black sheath. The blue binding of the handle matches with Shiro’s own color scheme, wearing a dark blue shirt that hangs from his body, along with black pants that could easily be used for any type of mission. He held onto the refined weapon for a moment, before tossing it softly into the other room that he’d be using for storage. He didn’t have much anyways, yet he knew he was going to need a lot with regards to Izu, yet he had spent much of the early morning rearranging his house for her to be there. The sunlight beaming through the blinds made him realize he had spent a bit too much time here, too much time was wasted when he should have done so earlier. It annoyed him, but he only hoped that Izu wouldn’t mind it. He understood her and her circumstances, his time in the slums was before he had become Kage, when the Yuki clan had graciously decided to give him a home as payment for them never looking out for him after his mothers death.

Yet he was sure that Izu wouldn’t mind it, he’d slowly begin to straighten himself, his blue and green eyes staring at the door before rushing to grab his shoes and his silver coat. The weather was simply beautiful for this type of evening, and Shiro was sure that moving wouldn’t be too hard. Not with both he and Kaimera giving a warm, and helping hand to Izu Momochi.

Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling of them missing someone, Jay Yuki, his case had gone entirely unnoticed, his clan had no idea where he was. Shiro’s mind had been racing through possibilities when he had first heard the news that Jay had gone missing. The young Yuki clan member was a part of his very own clan, yet he couldn’t have missed him. His mind ached at the thought while he was rushing through the city streets, he had searched everywhere for the boy, yet in the end there was no trace of him. He snapped himself back into reality while rushing through the streets, making it through the main epicenter of the city, greeting a few of the citizens while he rushed past. His speed was still remarkable even now, with his mind reacting fast to the myriad of different greetings that would be met with him at the slums, mostly of those who had known him and wondered why he was suddenly given so much wealth.

But in the end, he had made it to Izu’s house, the small brushing of the waves, with the sun shining a light on Kaimera’s tender kiss on his sister's cheek, it could only make Shiro make a small grin, and coughing right behind the both of them in an attempt to get their attention.

“Well if you two are done being cute with each other, Izu’s got a few more boxes to pack.”

He’d walk into the room, using his Byakugan almost on reflex to see that there was a cold cup of tea sitting on the old wooden table. The aged wood would be one of the last things moved, Shiro could easily get it refurbished. But the smell of tea made him immediately take the remaining cup from the table. The smell of peaches only made him smile more, the cold sweet taste of the peaches only made him drink more. Taking a stroll around the small house, knowing that there wasn’t much else to pack as he’d walk back into the room with Izu and Kai, asking the only obvious question.

“What else do you need help with Izu? Things seem mostly packed?”

WC:698

As Kaimera arrived and greeted Izu, the hyuuga girl felt warm from him noticing how she looked good. As he reflected on his sentence about the place being a run down decrepit poor place to live, Izu stopped a moment, shy and almost feeling guilty of bringing the closest person she had in the world to this place filled with squalor. As he rushed toward the beverage she prepared, she stopped blushing and her mind finaly uncloged from the torpor of the bit of an awkward situation.

''Yeah sorry I was in my head! Well thanks, you look good too, especially under that bright sun! Yeah youre right, I cant wait to leave this place, even if it does feel... sentimental a bit! Help yourself with the peach tea, I made it myself.'' Said Izu with a smile on her face, a bit shy still, and scratching her head.

The short and subtle moments with Izu seemed like an eternity of bliss. Never in his dreams would he thought he would meet someone that made him feel like this. Izu was a one of a kind, and that was an understatement. Through all the troubles and tribulations within her life, she became stronger and fiercer than she has ever been before. It was something that he deeply admired about the girl. Traits he wishes that were instilled within him, but however strong his mindset is, his body was not like hers. She was the epitome of what it takes to be a Kirigakure ninja. She is quick, strong, and brave. Something that he entirely lacks. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t try, and it doesn’t mean that he won’t help Izu in any way: shape or form, to support her. While he has not been entirely present for the early years of her life, due to his upbringing. He vowed to stick through with her, to witness her conquer future pressing matters.

“You’re perfect,” he muttered in between that intimate moment between the two. Kissing her was like fire meets gasoline. It was explosive, wild, passionate, and warm; all in one. It was enticing to say the least. His abdomen felt like a match was struck and it lit him aflame. Sensation washed over him and filled his veins with ecstasy. She was like a flame that came to him, and with that came the vehement flickers against his skin. But just like her body was fire, he knew how to hold it perfectly within his hands.

As the seconds lingered, their ignited passion was soon obliterated by the sound of none other than their sensei, Shiro Hyuga. A mischievous grin crept upon Kaimera’s lips as Izu lit up like she had a favor. Slowly removing his hands from her body, he could tell that the sensation still persisted on her skin. Turning slowly around, he stared intently at the white-haired shinobi. “Shiro-sensei,” he spoke with an underlying tone of seductiveness as he tried to reel his emotions back in. Giving a bow of respect, he lifted his torso up to see Shiro-sensei begin to wander through the shack.

Turning back to the new shy and blushing Izu, he spoke in a sly tone, “luckily, he wasn’t late. Couldn’t imagine what he would have walked in on,” with that said, Kaimera gave an alluring wink before turning to pack up the few remaining items that still needed to be placed in the cardboard boxes.

It wasn’t long before they had everything packed up, loaded into the cart, and on the move to the new home Izu has now been welcomed. As they journeyed, Kaimera had to practically jog as Shiro and Izu’s walking speed was incredibly quick. Either they were substantially fast, or he was really slow. Another thing that Kaimera lacked. Along with that, and those other traits that deemed him inferior had always clouded his mind. Looking ahead, he realized he was always trying to catch up to others. Especially the ones that made up his squad. Always lingering in the depths of their shadows trying to analyze his counterintuitive thoughts.

What makes matters worse is that he is not even good at taijutsu or weaponry, even Jay was before he disappeared. The three of them made a perfect team, but now the two of them made it even more so. Kirigakure was renowned for its ninja to excel in weaponry. Even secret techniques were gifted to those that had high aptitude in those areas. Areas that Izu and Shiro excel at, plus they utilize their gentle first through the usage of their weapons, which makes them even more highly regarded. Kaimera wasn’t like that, he wasn’t like them and most likely never will be. It was a struggle to come to terms with, but he eventually has. He was the weak link that made up their team. Perhaps, his family was always right. He was too fragile to be a real shinobi.

And with that, his thoughts moved back onto Izu. She had reciprocated his feelings for her, but how long will that last? She was strong and he was weak, so how could he support her on her journey when she is bound to leave him behind. Maybe that is what all love stories tend to do when they relate to fire. When the fire dies down, all that is left is the smoldering ash of what was before.

WC: 754
TWC: 1,416

He only knew that he didn’t interrupt a tender moment, only that he was able to witness it for what it was. Their warmth with each other, the way Kaimera had held her, showed care, compassion for his fellow teammate. One that he does not remember ever having one for his own. He remembered his sensei, his mother, but never something like this in front of him. The both of them were strong, stronger then they would have been. Yet it wasn’t because of his guidance that they were able to succeed. It was because they were good shinobi, with good heads on their shoulders. It was because of them that perhaps he was still walking around, not a corpse on the side of the road. Kaimera’s head had turned towards Shiro, blue eyes meeting blue while Shiro took note of his sister's flushed state, her face redder than a cherry. It was so adorable to see it. But he could tell the hint of seduction in Kaimera’s voice. How it seemed that his own student wanted a piece of him as well. But Shiro had walked around the small shack before he could give his response to the red haired shinobi.

But his ears were as sharp as ever.

“You two would probably be on the couch by now trying to rip each other out of your clothes if I didn’t come sooner. Luckily for us, I always arrive on schedule.”

Shiro’s gusto in how he moved, almost like a snake, weaving through the assorted boxes of everything that Izu had owned up to that point in her life. Most of it was weaponry, although dull, it could easily be sharpened into something quite usable. Yet Shiro inspected the house more and more, trying to find if there was something, anything that could point to the few questions locked deep in his mind. Especially one underlying factor dictating that he and Izu were related. He had taken a DNA test to confirm it, but he was still wondering deep down in his soul whether or not their father knew of their existence. Shiro had been Kage for crying out loud, but all he had found was nothing but cliff notes and empty doors. Nothing had changed when he had become Kage a first time. . . Would it change again if he were crowned a second time? What would change if he had been a Kage now? Would he have ever fostered a group like this? One that he loved so dearly, and one that he wondered had saved him from what he was planning to do in his life. . .

He waved the thought away, his hand reaching out to pick up one of the boxes, his dexterous use of his hands allowed for the last few remaining boxes to be placed onto the cart, neatly tucked together and easily able to be pulled out of their almost puzzle-like formation. Shiro’s eyes turned to look at where Izu had once lived, the small shack, the place in these slums, he would have to change it, for better or for worse. He wanted to change it into something better. Something that he could be proud to walk into and out from without remembering what had been lost here. So many died due to conflicts, without so much as a glance to the side. He kept thinking these thoughts while pulling the cart along. Although to say that Shiro and Izu were fast was an understatement. Shiro had taken off his jacket in order to make things easier for himself and to not ruin the gift from a long time friend. His pale skin shining in the brightness of the early morning sun. The outline of toned, perfected muscles from years of honing his body. His black short sleeve shirt clung to his body like a vice. But Kaimera having to jog made Shiro begin to slow down with the cart pulling. His head flicked backwards slightly to slow down and allow his student to catch up with them.

“I see that being light on your feet is not your strong suit. . . Or at least not entirely Kai,” Shiro commented, his cart pulling continued as they were about halfway towards his house, the streets were beginning to fill with people, as those who were shinobi and on their shift of gate duty were slowly walking towards the gate, with Shiro giving a small shout towards them to quickly move towards the gate, too which the guards promptly began to actually rush towards it.

At least some of the guards and shinobi still had respect for him still.

“I was wondering, if you two wouldn’t mind, I’d like to see how far you’ve both progressed so far soon, as both Shinobi and as Teammates, I’ll spar with you both if you wish?”

A big smirk was plastered on his face, issuing a challenge towards his two students the task of taking him on in battle. Shiro’s idea would be considered interesting, especially given how he had fought against Izu the last time they had gone against each other.

WC:854
TWC:1552

This moment was trully perfect. Leaving the house she grew up in, the house where all the bad memories and struggles were kept inside, representing a trully growing part in her life, as well as getting closer to Kaimera, who she was trully beguining to fall in love with, a source of warmth and confort in her hard and steel cold life, the life of someone who was a unflinching assassin. 

As they walked away from the house, her and Kaimera holding each others hands on the top of the carriage full of crates, boxes and furnitures, sitting beside Shiro, their sensei and her brother, she felt trully accomplished in her personnal life. She would live finally in a healthy and peacefull place, where she could focus on training and perfecting her skills instead of struggling to survive and eat. After a while of walking, having dropped beside the cart to walk hands in hands, it was clear to both hyuugas how Kai wasnt like them, a stealthy ninja in the purest sense of the term. He was a flamboyant ninjutsu user, strongmly mastering his chakra and channeling of it instead of his body like the brother and sisters, two primary weapon users, honning their speed first and foremost. 

After that, and reaching the gate, Shiro actually suggested a spar, or a training of some sort to see where their progress has reached and to hone themselves too, dueling both of them against Shiro, a test of their skills and combat abilities. Enthusiastic at the idea, Izu smiled grew even more, as she was finaly ready to go against her brother once again, this time with more assurance than the first time at the academy, where she simply walked into one of his attacks.

''Im down for sure! What about you Kai? Wanna go the two of us against Sensei?'' said enthusiastically the blonde kunoichi, while they almost arrived at the new house, where her brother lived.

The journey continued forward under the blue skies and the warm summer glow. It was peaceful. Especially since they were still in the slums where crime ran rampant; however, that could be because the crime really only happens at night. Still, he was thankful nothing eventful happened to them. Well, besides Kaimera almost being blinded by Shiro’s porcelain skin that seemed to glow under the sunlight. “You should probably put on your jacket. In about five minutes you’ll probably get a sunburn.” Kaimera yelled ahead with a slight chuckle as he watched his sensei slow down his pace for the scorch user to catch up.

Kaimera only let out a pitiful huff at Shiro-sensei’s notes about his slow-moving pace. “Of course not!” He loudly exclaimed as he raised his arms in the air to flail them about. “You guys go zoom, zoom, zoom.” He said punching the hair in front of him before continuing on, “and I’m like an old hag being left in the dust with her cane. Have pity on me sensei!” He dramatically shouted as he went back to his position next to his favorite Hyūga duo and seemingly wiped away a fake tear.

Next thing he knew, reality must have distorted around him as now he was in a carriage holding hands with Izu rather than helping push a cart or carrying a few straggling boxes. Although, he must say he much prefers this method of travel rather than trying to keep up on foot with the two speedsters. A gentle breeze passed through the entry point of the carriage, and it felt cool on his skin. It was nice to say the least. A nice summer day.

Soon, they began their ascent inside the main part of the city and therefore, they took to walking again. Booming city life circulated around as they moved through the few stragglers that occupied the main village roads. A few passersby smiled and waved at the traveling group, but the majority paid no heed to them and that was perfectly fine for Kaimera. Small talk was the main form of communication between them still until they reached the gate and Shiro asked if they wanted to spar with him.

“Um…sure. I do not know how good I will be against sensei, but I will do my best to support you, Izu.” Kaimera nervously said as visions flashed in his mind of being attacked by his sensei with his sword and violently closing the ninjutsu user’s chakra points. Such a terrible phantom imagery.

WC: 423
TWC: 1,839

It was cute to see his two students bonding with each other, Izu pulling Kaimera from the road and holding hands atop all the boxes on the cart. The added weight did not bother him, his arms could use the extra workout. The gate slowly began to open up, allowing the three of them to cross through into the main city. The summer winds felt soothing while he carried most of the burden. Like any good teacher should, taking the burden as best as possible before things could get worse. Kaimera’s words about him and Izu’s speed were surprising to say the least. He didn’t know if it was because of his physical prowess, or Kaimera’s lack of physical prowess, but all he could do was continue to move the cart at the moderate speed they were going.

The main city square was bustling with people, vendors, traders, warriors, and merchants all scattered around the main circular situation inside the centerpiece. The roads had slowly been replaced with stone, which allowed for much easier travel, and allowed for those with more “Economic” influences to begin setting up shop within the village. Yet Shiro focused on moving the cart, with Izu and Kaimera having left the top of the cart, it allowed for a much easier amount of movement for the young jonin. In a matter of moments, they had reached the second gate that would allow them safe passage towards his own home. The answers to his question left Shiro proud to see that his two students wouldn’t mind sparring with him.

“I thank you both for that offer, now let’s go along, we have some unpacking to do.”

He’d begin moving faster, passing Izu and Kaimera and allowing them some alone time while he began to rush towards his home. Boots slammed against dirt and stone while he made his way home. An estate given to him by the Yuki clan upon his ascension to Mizukage, and one that he was allowed to keep as a gesture of good faith should he take up the mantle again. He placed the carriage right by the front of his home. The cart shuffled from the sudden absence of Shiro, right before he’d begin to move the boxes away and into his house. He had more rooms than he could think of and a whole bunch of space he could use for storage. When or if Izu and Kaimera arrived back home, Shiro would be sitting on the couch, fast asleep, all of the boxes having been placed in one of the rooms that he labeled with a carving on the wooden frame as “Storage”.

WC:443
TWC:1995
Exit and Claims

Sky Shredding Dragon:1875/1875

Shiro Hyuga wrote:

WC:443
TWC:1995
Exit and Claims

Sky Shredding Dragon:1875/1875

Approved!