Daraku made his way through the village, stiff after an uncomfortable night's rest. His month sentence had finished and his time behind bars was now complete, but he still felt as if he was sleeping on stone. His back and neck were in constant pain and he felt near three times his actual age; miserable, to say the least. He'd been back to the Ishido stronghold for about two days, working out things with the rest of the clan and explaining that he was now a Suna-nin again. Even in his comfortable bed back there, the place he called home, he found himself ailed by physiological problems. Maybe it wasn't the way he slept. Maybe he was just under a lot of stress lately. He needed to unwind. His steps in the sand were slow and steady, his eyes staring at his feet as he walked. He was noticing every detail that he usually didn't. The way his feet seemed perfectly in rhythm with one another, the way the sand rose around them as they pressed down, the sifting sound it made. He'd missed being in Sunagakure, and nostalgia left him with a smile on his face. As much pain as he was in, he felt somewhat happy, at least.

The ninja looked up, finally, and paid attention to his other surroundings. The villagers seemed to all be moving towards the Bazaar, which shouldn't have been any surprise to him. It almost relieved him, as the less people he had to deal with, the better. No one had recognized him or even approached him so far, in his time back in the village. He wanted to keep it that way. He hardly liked people in general. He wondered, for a moment, why he had even bothered getting out of bed to go for a walk? It was only around 11 AM, at the time, which meant he could've easily stayed inside and slept for...well, another 3 hours. Nothing was stopping him from doing so. Yet he still got up and went on, and there he was. He reached the Standby Station, which seemed to be empty, as he always remembered it being. Jounin hardly went there, even when they had missions pending. He entered the building more so out of curiosity than anything, as he'd never been inside of it before.

Interior-wise, the place was plain. Its walls were a slate white color, with paint chipping from them. It was probably the dry Suna air, but it wasn't flattering to the sight. Gave the building a run-down, decrepit feel. There was a board on the west wall with missions posted, most of which were quite old and long-gone. How odd that this place was even still standing if nobody ever used it. Daraku made his way around to a pale blue couch near the window, and laid down. His back was perched on the pillow and he faced the ceiling, taking a moment to relax. He had no real purpose there, as he hadn't taken a mission yet since his return, but it was pleasant nonetheless. It's quiet here. I like it. I think I'll start hanging out here between missions, get some peace when I can... he thought to himself as he let his eyes close.

Training:

The emerald haired teen walked bored through the vast sands of Sunagakure. His distaste for the scenery of this village had grown the more time he stayed here. The people were rather boring, as was the village. He needed something to keep him from leaving the place for Konoha, his long time dream home. He hadn't taken a mission in a while, avoiding people in general. His laziness had really come to a maximum, bringing his development as a shinobi to halt as well. He didn't really have any friends either, which made matters only worse. He simply moved through the busy streets of the village, avoiding conversation and looking at the ground. He was on his way to his usual hiding place, the Standby Station. No one ever went there, so it was the perfect place to keep from being asked to do anything important. Did that make him a bad shinobi, probably. He didn't really care though. He had no reason to be a good one.

He finally arrived at the station, opening the entrance and stepping inside. His eyes widened with surprise to see someone laying on the blue couch he was so familiar with. Someone was actually here? He didn't recognize the man either. He would moved to one of the tables and set his bow down, followed by his quiver of arrows. He would flop on the chair across from the couch, relaxing. "It's not every day that someone is here. I'm Kenshin Mori." He said attempting at being social. He really wasn't the best with interacting, but he could at least try to break the awkward silence. His jaw came to rest on his hand as he was fully lounged on the chair. This was perfect. He didn't need to move until he was hungry.

Training Raiton B-C: 564/2000 (Continued from this thread)

Within moments, the door to the building swung open and light flooded in for a moment only to die out again as the door closed. It was a bright day, to say the least, and although the window provided some degree of natural light to the room, too much was uncomfortable. Daraku was facing the ceiling, so he couldn't well see who had entered, but it was clear that someone had. His eyes moved to spot the person; a man with dark green hair and a rather complacent expression. He was attractive. Well, maybe not all that attractive, but at the very least he was within Daraku's definition of attractive. He fit the three key points that Daraku found in a sexually-compatible person: 1.) has a face, 2.) breathes, 3.) is cute if you look really fast. So, Daraku perked up, sitting up on the couch a bit to pay attention to the guy. "It's not every day that someone is here. I'm Kenshin Mori." he said in a nonchalant tone. Daraku nodded. "You're telling me. I hardly expected anyone to be around."

Daraku stopped himself for a moment before jumping onto the flirt train. As much of a horndog as he was, he didn't know anything about the guy, and he technically wasn't all that safe in Suna just yet. If people knew him, and more importantly, knew of his past and criminal background, he could get caught in a bad situation. He even contemplated giving Kenshin a fake name to hide his identity, but ultimately decided against it. He instead decided not to reveal too much about himself unless he could prove that Kenshin was trustworthy. Or maybe he was looking way too far into this; the look on Kenshin's face seemed as if the guy didn't care at all, and was there just to relax as well. Daraku let out an uncomfortable cough. He was so tense. What happened to how smooth he used to be when in social situations? People used to think he was charismatic and suave. Was that Daraku gone and replaced with this unstable, anxious mess? Probably. Why did he even care? "I'm Daraku Ishido. Nice to meet you, Kenshin. So you're a Jounin, then? I haven't seen you around the village before. Then again, I have been gone for a while..." he trailed off, cursing himself silently for even mentioning that. It was irrelevant to the conversation and essentially led him into a trap where he either had to reveal his previous missing ninja status or make up some bullshit lie. He laid back on the couch again and hoped that Kenshin would simply reply without any follow-up questions for him. Being social was far too difficult. Why hadn't he just stayed home and slept?

Letting out a sigh, Daraku removed the straps from around his torso and let his swords, one by one, slip off. He set them down in a heap next to the couch along with his pouch of ninja tools so that he could get as comfortable as possible. The sunlight in the room was not overbearing, and was actually pretty nice. Daraku's mouth slipped into a tired grin and he tried to calm down. Fucking relax. I need to stop stressing over every little fucking thing. It's pathetic.

Training:

Kenshin gave out a sigh of bliss as he fell deeper into the chair. He was completely comfortable and could probably take a nap if someone wasn't in the room with him. The man followed up with a question, ending it in a way that Kenshin was very familiar with. "I'm a Special Jounin. The reason you haven't seen me around is because I tend to be anti-social. I'm kinda lazy, to be honest." He said with a shrug as he thought about the last sentence Daraku said. He had been gone for a while? That sentence made Kenshin perk up, but for different reasons than most. He didn't care why the man left or if it was sanctioned or not. He just wanted to hear where he went and what it looked like. "So you traveled some? Where all did you go? I got to admit I'm a bit jealous, as Suna is kinda ugly. I've always wanted to go visit other places..." Kenshin had to stop himself. This was the most he had talked in quite a long time.

He couldn't talk to much though, or he might reveal that he is thinking of leaving. That would probably end up in someone dying or him being arrested. Both options sucked, so he would try to be careful. "Sorry about all the talking. It's rare that I find something I want to talk about." He said calmly as he decided to look at the floor. His mind went back to the memories he had of Konoha and they beautiful forests that grew there. It's luscious plant life was a wonderful sight. The more he thought about it, the more appealing it was. He needed to be much stronger if he was going to leave though. That would take time and motivation. For now, he would simply relax and try to make small talk with Daraku, who was actually kinda attractive. He was interesting enough at the very least.

Training Raiton B-C: 904/2000

Daraku listened close as Kenshin answered the previous question, claiming himself to be an anti-social and lazy Special Jounin. Made sense as to why he seemed to be the only person who ended up coming to the standby station on purpose. Kenshin's facial expression had just shifted and he looked interested in what Daraku had to say. "So you traveled some? Where all did you go? I got to admit I'm a bit jealous, as Suna is kinda ugly. I've always wanted to go visit other places..." he went on to apologize for talking too much, but Daraku didn't mind. Daraku gave the guy a playful smirk. Travelling was not was it was cracked up to be, in his perception. It was tiring, and long, and boring. Three things that he hated with an intense passion. Sure, there was the whole scenic experience aspect to it, but not worth the tradeoff to him. "Yeah, I've traveled far too much in this past year. First to Iwagakure no Sato, then to Konogakure no Sato, and then back to Iwa, and then back to Konoha again, all within the span of that year. I did return to Suna for a brief period, but for the month before this past one, I was in Kirigakure no Sato. So yeah, I've been to every one of the five nations except Kaminari no Kuni. Kaze no Kuni isn't really all that ugly compared to them, but hey, if travel is your thing..." his voice trailed off as he got distracted.

When Daraku's attention returned to him, he faced Kenshin and let his smile return. He had relaxed significantly; something about Kenshin's carefree personality was calming, almost therapeutic. Daraku went on again, pushing on the conversation casually. He wasn't usually a fan of social interaction without a set purpose, but this was different. It was still classified as small talk, but it was nice. "I'm surprised a Special Jounin like you hasn't been outside of Sunagakure before. How old are you, anyway? You come across as an older guy, but you can't be all that old if you haven't gotten the chance to travel." he gave Kenshin another glance, trying to discern a guess at the man's age based on physical appearance. The green haired Special Jounin was somewhat muscular and toned, and his features were set, but Daraku couldn't pinpoint anything specific. He eventually stopped trying and instead awaited a reply while swinging his leg off the side of the couch lazily.

Training:

Kenshin became more intrigued as Daraku explained where he had gone over the the past year. He had been to every village except Kumogakure, a feet that Kenshin wanted to match some day. His next question made Kenshin smile involuntarily. "I think it's awesome to travel. I lived in Konoha when I was younger, but we moved to Sunagakure. I love nature and miss Konoha's forests immensely. I want to return there to live one day...maybe when I retire as a shinobi." He trailed off as he realized that he did exactly what he didn't want to. He talked too much and revealed that he wanted to leave Sunagakure. Damn, what a stupid thing to do. At least he tried to save it with the last comment, though he doubted Daraku would believe it. Kenshin wondered if the man would take offense to the fact that he wanted to leave. Would he confront him on it? The idea of it made him do a mental sigh.

The second question caught him by surprise, but he was happy to answer. "I'm 16, by the way. I haven't traveled because of different circumstances. I still don't think I'm strong enough to leave for an extended amount of time, as I'm kinda weak for my rank. I wanted to train a bit more so I could survive out there, but that's where my laziness gets in the way." He said with a chuckle, as he thought about it. He was his own worst enemy. He would do great things if it weren't for himself. Oh well, he would figure it out eventually. Maybe he just needed someone who would push him in the right direction. "So, what kind of stuff can you do battle wise? Ninjutsu? You can probably tell from my bow that I use Kyujutsu a lot. Ninjutsu too. Wind and Lighting are my elements." He didn't really know why he was telling this guy all of this information. Something about him put Kenshin at ease, like he would understand Kenshin. He just had a hunch.

Training Raiton B-C: 1261/2000

Kenshin explained why he wanted to travel so badly, bringing up his past in Konoha. Daraku understood the feeling well and listened wholeheartedly. Kenshin went as far to say that one day he would want to return to Konoha, but Daraku didn't think twice of it. It was natural to want to do so...Sunagakure wasn't Kenshin's true home, simple as that. Just as Daraku was thinking about it, Kenshin went on to answer his question. "I'm 16, by the way. I haven't traveled because of different circumstances. I still don't think I'm strong enough to leave for an extended amount of time, as I'm kinda weak for my rank. I wanted to train a bit more so I could survive out there, but that's where my laziness gets in the way." Daraku suddenly felt guilty for his previous sexual thoughts about the kid. He was 6 years older than the boy. Was that creepy? Or was he overthinking it? Either way, he couldn't help but find the guy cute. He blinked a few times in disbelief before giving a smile and brushing it off. Hopefully Kenshin hadn't noticed.

"Wow, you look old for your age. I suppose that's a good thing, implies maturity and whatnot...and I don't blame you for your laziness, I get the same way too. It's not always a bad thing, helps you focus on yourself and get some time to take a load off." Daraku went on, talking with his mouth still bent into a confident grin. His former self was coming back, the egoistic asshole, as he was often known. It was a relief to him; he didn't feel nervous or awkward anymore. It was just talk. Kenshin gave Daraku a question in return, and even better, it was one that Daraku loved to talk about. "So, what kind of stuff can you do battle wise? Ninjutsu? You can probably tell from my bow that I use Kyujutsu a lot. Ninjutsu too. Wind and Lighting are my elements." He looked over Kenshin one more time, taking note of the bow that he had put down as well as the arrows. It made sense that he was an archer, obviously. Daraku's eyes went back to the ceiling as he spoke, his back relaxed against the soft couch cushion.

"Stuff I do, battle-wise...I try to take up a lot of things. I feel it balances my skillset out and grants me specialized talents that are useful in a variety of situations. Combat has always been a focal point for me, my father raised me as an assassin and so I've been accustomed to bloodshed and death from a young age. Getting into specifics, I'm an expert swordsman. I've been using swords for as long as I can remember. Also, my mother taught me Medical Ninjutsu before she died, so I've come to excel in that as well. And of course, more recently I learned Ninjutsu to gain an edge in ranged fights. In terms of chakra affinities, I'm naturally a Wind user, like yourself, but I also can use Fire and Water." He felt like quite the warrior, explaining all these feats to Kenshin, but he knew well that there was always room to improve. "I wouldn't mind training with you some time or another, seeing you in battle would be interesting. Archers aren't all that common nowadays."

Training:

Kenshin would release a mental sight of relief as Daraku didn't suspect him of defecting. The guy was pretty easy to talk to, so Kenshin didn't need to worry so much. It's not like he was being interrogated. Daraku also admitted to being a tad lazy at times, which made Kenshin smile. They way he spoke about it made it seem like the right thing to do. He certainly was a gifted conversationalist. Kenshin didn't even notice Daraku's reaction to his age, as his mind was racing with thoughts. It's weird, usually he wasn't like this, all thoughtful and nice. He usually kept a peaceful mind and didn't speak. Maybe this guy would show Kenshin just how nice it would be to have a friend. "Thanks! How old are you?" Kenshin responded to the complement about his looks. From the way Daraku looked, he was probably a few years older than him. Despite that, he was attractive. Kenshin liked the unique hair cut and colors as well. It made him stand out in a sea of rather dull people from Sunagakure.

Daraku started telling Kenshin about his abilities, making Kenshin smile once again. He didn't lack confidence, that was obvious. However, he liked that the man took pride in his abilities. Kenshin did the same thing internally, he just never communicated it well. "Training actually sounds good. Yea, Archery seems to be a dying form of combat, but I love it. I'm a long ranged specialist, so it's the perfect weapon for me. Maybe I can give you some tips on bows and you can teach me about swords. It's always good to be able to do both." He said with a nod of encouragement. The more he thought about it, he needed a way to defend himself in close combat. He could probably learn how to use a sword much faster than he could improve his taijutsu. Man he sucked at it. Plus, he really wanted to learn Puppetry next, as he always thought it was cool.

Training Raiton C-B: 1611/2000

Kenshin listened intently and gave Daraku a warm thanks before asking the man's age. Daraku had to think about it for a moment, as he was so used to saying 21 despite his birthday having been five months prior. "I'm 22." Kenshin later focused on the idea of training together that Daraku had said previously, suggesting that he teach Daraku the art of Kyujutsu and Daraku teach him Kenjutsu in return. It wasn't a bad idea, but Daraku didn't have a need for Kyujutsu. Despite this, he still entertained the suggestion in his head; even if they were to train together, he didn't have to learn Kyujutsu. He could just teach Kenshin Kenjutsu and call it a day. But he didn't worry about it, that was for another day. His hand moved to his head as he ran his fingers through the golden-blonde streak in his hair. His left foot hung, idly swinging back and forth, while the rest of his figure was still sprawled out on the couch.

Daraku's mind was left to wander as he pondered various topics of conversation. What did people talk about usually? The weather? Too generic for his tastes. "Oh, let's talk more about Konoha. It is a pretty nice place, trees everywhere and all. What made you and your family move to Sunagakure? Not that Sunagakure is terrible, I like it here, but you get what I mean." His stark blue eyes were centered on Kenshin's as he spoke. He always liked to keep solid eye contact when speaking because it was a sign of confidence and it was expected in most forms of conversation. It was interesting; his eyes were always a bit steely, with their glare cutting right into whatever was in his line of sight...if it wasn't for the complacent grin on his face, he would've looked like he was ready to kill. He had always looked like that, ever since he was a kid. He didn't mind; it made him look intimidating when he wanted to be.

Training:

Daraku answered the question about his age, making Kenshin blush a tad. How did he find someone attractive when they were six years older than him? He had never thought much about finding another person to settle down with, as his mind was obsessed with other things. He didn't hate the idea though, as long as they would leave with him when the time came. The way Daraku talked, he didn't seem to like the idea of leaving again. Only time could tell if that was true. Daraku continued the conversation by asking about Konoha and why they left. Kenshin thought back to those days and smiled involuntarily. "I was born in Hi no Kuni. My father is a construction worker and was helping rebuild a town there. My mother always traveled with him when he would leave town for long periods of time, so they lived there for a total of 9 years. During the first year they were there, I was born. I stayed there until I was eight years old. That's how long it took to finish the job, considering we didn't have much help. Since the job was done, we returned to their home, Sunagakure."

His mind wondered to the days him running through thick forests with his friends and playing pranks on innocent animals. He could remember seeing Konohagakure's ninja in the distance. "My parents always joked that I got my green hair and eyes from being born there. I loved the forests, animals, and everything about that country. I went back for a couple of years after I became a Genin, which just made me dislike Sunagakure more. Not that the people aren't great, I just don't like the scenery. I know it may sound dumb, but I'm happier when I am surrounded by breath taking sights." He finally shut after talking for so long. He had spoken more to Daraku than he had to anyone in a long time. It was a good thing though, as sharing his thoughts was therapeutic at times. He would sit back and wait for Daraku to respond, as he probably had something to say. That was probably the reason he liked talking to him. Daraku could manage to find something to talk about, even with how boring Kenshin was.

Training Raiton C-B: 2001/2000 COMPLETE

Kenshin was invested in the topic of Konoha. He explained his childhood there; his father was a construction worker who was tasked with rebuilding a town in Hi no Kuni, and thus Kenshin spent a majority of his first decade living there, including his birth. Daraku could completely understand why Kenshin had such a bond with the place, Kenshin having practically been raised there. Kenshin continued to list the various things that he loved about Konoha and it was clear that that was his true home. "I see. Konoha is where you were born, it's your past and your childhood. I don't blame you for wanting to go back." Besides, as Kenshin had addressed, Sunagakure wasn't as aesthetically pleasing to him. It lacked the vast forests and greenery that Konoha had in abundance. Daraku was more a fan of the sunset over the Sunagakure horizon and the desert night sky with its hundreds of stars. It was the same prospect; Daraku had been born and raised in Sunagakure, and therefore he couldn't see any other place being his home in the near future.

Daraku suddenly had a question in mind. He had met a plethora of people who were passionate, hardworking, and dedicated. They spent their whole life preparing for the moment they would become ninja, and they became absolute powerhouses. Those motivated by personal achievement, or external reward; either way, those ninja seemed to be the strongest with a clear set path for reaching the top and being the best. He wasn't quite sure if he himself was one of those ninja or if he had just began climbing the ladder to become best because it was part of his thirst for competition. Kenshin, though, didn't seem so motivated. He even said blatantly that he was lazy, and his past wasn't one that pushed him into the path of a ninja. So, Daraku was left to wonder what made Kenshin become one. "So you grew up in a small town in Hi no Kuni rather than in the village of Konoha? Did you still attend the ninja academy? I guess what I'm asking is, what made you want to become a ninja?" he asked in a curious tone.

Training: