He simply stared at the building once again, having been here the night prior, yet he found himself here once again, with similar attire to the one he had opted to wear the night before. Once again, he had chosen to wear a coat, a casual black blazer, one tingeing towards being black, yet when the light caught it in the correct angle, it would shine a dull navy blue. He felt the breeze grazing across the skin of his forearms, for his sleeves was slightly pushed up, leaving half his forearms bare. A plain white shirt, with a medium V-neck cut graced the remainder of his upper body, the light material barely protecting him from the incoming gust of air, though that wouldn’t be an issue for soon he would be indoors, within the realm of the Golden Horn Casino.

Black shoes padded against the pavement, none too formal, before moving on to the tiled floor that layered the bottom of the foyer for the casino. There, he would once again, have to go through the process of being ID’d before entrance was granted to the native of Sunagakure no Sato. He reached in to the pocket to withdraw the wallet that would contain the materials that would allow him to enter. He felt a bit bare without any of his shinobi tools, yet there was no need for them here, nor would he be allowed in with them, so he left them all in his room at the Mt. Ikkyu resort he was staying at. Not even thirty seconds later was his piece of ID returned to him, immediately being placed back in his wallet. Storing the wallet back in to the right pocket of his navy jeans, he headed off to the carpeted floor that hoisted the main attractions, the various elements of a casino. There would be the cash out area, one he didn’t need for the time being, the actual stage where the various games of chance were played, and the bar where most went to grab a drink before starting, or they simply started and had drinks brought to them.

For now, he would make his way to the bar, though his vision went about the casino, once again taking it all in. He had been here the night before, having walked out with more money than he initially came in with, though it didn’t provide him with the feeling of hitting a jackpot. Rather, Seiryū walked out with enough satisfaction to be able to come back again, having left before he committed himself too much to the realm of gambling. He sauntered as he made his way to the bar, the loud resounding cheer coming from the craps table effortlessly reaching his ears. While he often went to the craps table, solely to see what was going on, there was always a certain confusion that lingered in his mind as to how to play the game. From simple observation, he was usually able to read a person, due to the kekkei genkai of the Kōga clan, his father’s line, yet it never aided him in the game of craps. This placed him at a complete loss for how the system worked. Perhaps, one day, he’d be able to figure it out.

As he approached the bar, he took a place next to a female, one whose face he couldn’t see, due to her facing away from him as he approached, though he caught a bare trace of her features, not until she’d turn around to face him. A smile tugged at his lips, as his head angled the slightest in her direction, eyes flickering over at her. His white hair had been messily groomed back, like usual, though a bit more presentable than the common state he kept it in. If she gave any signs for him to back off, he would know well enough to keep his distance, though for now, he would test his luck. “Hey, how are you?” He looked over at her, seeing how she would react to a simple greeting. For now, he’d settle with a simple conversation, to see how things would go. If there was a simple rejection, or being completely ignored, he could simply get his drink and move on with his night.

---

729 of 729 Total Words

Shinako was tipsy. There was not much occasion for her to drink back home in Konoha, but she was much accustomed to the taste of beer and wine with dinner. Her day had been relatively uneventful. With her Inton techniques returning to at least a semblance of their normal fuction, she had gotten in a bit of light training before deciding to pack it in. The exams were approaching too quickly to really receive any gains to anything other than confidence from training this close to the actual event. Therefore, nothing made more sense to Shinako than taking a little bit of time away from her squad, her training, and her troubles to simply kick back.

After returning to her room from the training grounds, Shinako had ventured out to buy a fancy kimono in red and gold, adorned with a fierce dragon, substituting the silken sash for her Konohagakure headband. She had showered and perfumed herself in her traditional fashion of Orchid and Mint. She tied her hair into an intricately braided bun, clipping it in place with her jade comb, decorated with the symbol of the Nara clan. This way, her hair would not fall down around shoulders, tickling her in the sleeveless dress. She kept her make-up light and wore a set of plain white spanks under her kimono, as it had a long slit in the side, leaving her left leg exposed. She completed the outfit with a pair of red heels.

Evaluating her appearance in the mirror, Shinako decided that she looked good enough for a night out at a casino. She wouldn't have been caught dead in this outfit in any place where people knew her father's name, but only because he would have been disappointed, not because she was uncomfortable. She had arrived before the casino had gotten truly crowded and began sipping on whatever fruity drinks caught her eye, which led her to her current state.

Her cheeks had developed a natural blush, and she was glad that she had put her hair up to keep cool. The couple to her left had adopted her, recognizing her as a distant traveler and telling her all that they could about Kumogakure's many attractions. The man was a local doctor who had just patented a drug and cashed in massively. His fiancé, of course, was not employed. They were very excited to meet a Shinobi, especially from the Land of Fire. After a few drinks Shinako began regaling them with descriptions of fire jutsu that she did not have the affinity to use, figuring that she would never see them again. She planned on filling the Village Hidden in the Clouds with little white lies about herself, all through the night.

Before she knew it, she was a few drinks in and her company was leaving for the gambling tables. Shinako had never gambled before, and was excited at the prospect. However, for the moment she was content simply to watch. Her newfound friends were excited for the fast-paced action at the Blackjack table, but Shinako had been raised to believe that card-games were for harlots. She wasn't sure that she believed that, but didn't want to dive in too soon.

And so, she watched the world of excitement and enchantment from afar until she heard a voice sound behind her. Turning, she shot a smile at the man seated beside her. She was taken aback at first by his shock of messy white hair, but when she realized that he was not an old man decided that she wouldn't judge this book by its cover.

"Hey there..."

Shinako's smoky voice betrayed her state of mind. It had a jesting tone to it, as though she were about to start a game of tag on a playground. She didn't bow or extend her hand to shake, but she figured that those things were out of place in this setting anyway. She hoped that her naked smile would do.

"I'm doing just fine, thanks for asking. How about you?"

The young woman in the golden kimono swiveled around to her right gracefully to face her new conversational partner, gripping the remains of her fruity wine in her right hand and balling her left under her chin to lean on the bar. She leaned in so that she could hear better over the din of gambling and music. Her forehead protector was clearly visible, wrapped just around the top of her hips at her natural waist. She smiled, teeth and all, deciding that meeting strangers was the flavor of the night.

777/777

His inquiry was met with a response in return, one of the more fortunate ones that Seiryū could hope for the time being, though it was usually easy to get a read on people within the first few minutes that one conversed with another. A smile was usually the first thing he tried to get out of anyone he wished to know, or simply talk to, her being no exception. Though he certainly could say she had a pleasant smile. The smile she shot at him made his own widen in the slightest, glad that the present company would be far more favourable as a conversing partner for the time being, though there was one thing that slightly put him off in regards to her, solely due to the minor moment of surprise that flittered in her features when she looked at him. He simply rose an eyebrow as this occurred, though it only lasted for two seconds, as she went on to return his greeting. He briefly wondered what about him could possibly make her have such an expression for a brief amount of time.

The tilt to her voice enticed him to listen, though he would do so regardless as there was no one else present for him to talk to. It wasn’t to say she was his only option, but definitely a person he would likely enjoy talking to for the next little while, and possibly more if the fates allowed it. As she shifted around to face him more fully, the movements elegant, Seiryū looked on he caught sight of the drink currently sitting in her right hand, the flush of her cheeks becoming more transparent to his eyes. Seiryū, who only wore his facemask during missions, felt odd without it, as he had gone for so long without wearing, but it didn’t seem to affect him in the slightest. Perhaps, he could simply go on without it from now on.

She radiated, that much was for certain, yet Seiryū was awfully caught in one of his moment of blanking on his thoughts, simply watching the woman seated beside him. Ever so slightly, he shifted in her direction, though barely a considerable amount. For one, he was unsure of how much she had to drink, so perhaps it may not be the best of ideas to push his luck, as an intoxicated mind wasn’t something he completely sought after. While he also indulged in alcoholic beverages, he only took in moderate amounts; never trying to drink more than what would give him a slight buzz. Her kimono stood out to him, the red and gold shining bright, mixing in with the numerous lights high above on the ceiling, though the bar was one of the few dimly lit areas.

His eyes modestly gleamed as he took in her features, noting that she hadn’t heavily applied make-up to her features, as he could appreciate the beauty just from the light coating she applied. His eyes flicked back over to the bar, denoting that the barmaid was busy at the other side of the counter with a group of people.  He wasn’t in a rush for a drink, so he leaned in the slightest amount towards the brunette, as she leaned in towards him. Still testing the waters, Seiryū hadn’t come in bodily contact with her, wanting to ease the transitions to something natural and something they both were comfortable with. When he was leaning in, his eyes travelled slightly downward on their own accord, taking not of two things immediately. One of the two was a sight one could see on most women, and not wanting to let his eyes wander too far, he merely took a quick glance to her hips. Where his eyes did linger was at the forehead protector, stating her allegiance to a major shinobi village, though the hips were still within sight. He hadn’t brought his with him, but he would easily answer such a question when it came up.

Lifting his purple eyes back up after their short five second travel downward, he was met with her dark brown eyes along with her smile which displayed her teeth. The character of her greeting flickered through his mind, enjoying the playful tone that was presented. If he hadn’t noted her earlier tilt, her answer to his question could have been taken by Seiryū differently, though with her follow-up question, Seiryū felt there was nothing to worry about.

“I am doing fine. Taking in everything Kumo has to offer.” He spoke as his eyes once again travelled to the barmaid, noticing she was busy still, though he wasn’t in a rush to intoxicate himself either. “So, you’re from Konoha? Are here to see the Chuunin Exams? Or entering them?” It was an honest inquiry from Seiryū as he could believe her here for entering or participating. Just from looking at her, and the aura that surrounded her, Seiryū was sure she wasn’t of the age of most genin; then again, he had been one just a few weeks ago.

After she would answer, he’d lightly gesture with a nod to the bar, still aware that she had been drinking before he had. Feeling like she could hold her own, he simply voiced out, “Now, what brings you to a bar to drink alone?” He lightly teased, his body once again angled slightly towards her, though his eyes completely focused on her, yet he was curious about the answer as well. He’d wait a brief moment to see if she would respond to his comment. “If you’re up for it, the next ones on me.” Seiryū easily supplied right after, referring to having drinks.

“My name’s Seiryū.” He smoothly uttered out, loud enough for her to hear as he leaned in a bit further, wanting to be able to refer to a name. He doubted a family name would be needed given the environment, and the possible likelihood of only being able to meet this person once. Though, if he could always have what he wanted, he’d be able to meet most people he came across more than once during his stay in Kumo.

---

1048 of 1777 Total Words

Shinako watched as the stranger's eyes wandered down her body. She was accustomed to this sort of interaction, even when she wasn't dressed so fashionably. Since she had been fifteen her chest and hips had been drawing looks. Shinako simply continued to lean on the bar, allowing the man to take it all in. There were some things that she was perfectly fine with giving away for free tonight, and an unabashed appraisal of her physique, she found, was one of them. Her eyes remained on the man's face as he took his time discovering her Hidden Leaf forehead protector. She met his eyes with a coy smile when they returned to a more polite position.

“So, you’re from Konoha? Are here to see the Chuunin Exams? Or entering them?” He asked. Shinako had, in her time in Kumogakure, gotten used to people posing this question. Even when she had conversations only in passing the Chunin Exams came up. She wasn't nearly as nervous about the whole ordeal as she had been before. "Yes, I'm representing the land of fire in the Chunin Exams this year." Shinako said it with a casual tone, as though it was no big deal. She wanted to seem as calm and collected as possible. In her current state, it did not occur to her that she may have been conversing with a shinobi from another village.

When asked why she was drinking alone Shinako let out a slight giggle and looked off into space bashfully for a moment, as though caught in a ridiculous pose, or with food hanging out of her mouth. When she recovered she shrugged and gave a self-depricating smile. "Well, I wasn't exactly drinking alone. I did come alone, but you know, sometimes it's nice to escape from your familiar company for a little while." She shrugged and giggled again. Then something quite expected came: “If you’re up for it, the next ones on me.”

Shinako lifted the remains of her drink in thanks and downed the last few drops before pushing the glass back toward the serving portion of the bar. "Aw, that's very sweet of you. I'd be honored to have a drink with you."

The man introduced himself as Seiryu. She liked the sound of the name, and it somehow seemed to fit him. She noticed for the first time that his eyes were a shade of purple, which was unusual. She had seen the lilac eyes of the Hyuuga clan, which always seemed to stare as though seeing nothing while seeing the world more clearly than her own eyes ever had. As the shadows of the bar played over Seiryu's features, and as she looked into his eyes, she wondered what amount of clarity they possessed.

"Shinako..." was all she said next, offering her right hand to shake his in a delicate gesture. After the introduction she shot a glance around her left shoulder to locate the bartender, who appeared to be busy. Noticing that Seiryu was leaning in ever closer, Shinako sat up a bit straighter. If she was going to be taking advantage of his hospitality, the least she could do was the lady-like thing and give him a proper chase.

It was best to keep the man on his toes. Straightening her back, she reached out her left hand and placed it on the bar, turning back to Seiryu. With a slow and measured gesture, she lifted her left leg from her seat, freeing her knee from the slit of her gown and crossing it over the other. The posture didn't expose anything too risque, but left both of her legs exposed to the open air. Shinako fanned herself with her right hand as though attempting to cool off.

"Well, Seiryu, is it just me, or is it just a bit warm in here?"

Just then, the tip of her left foot just happened to brush the white-haired man's leg. Shinako looked downward as if embarrassed, taking note of the man's build, his clothing, his shoes. She couldn't say that he had invested particularly well in his appearance, but his toned musculature was apparent even beneath his jacket. He was a few inches taller than she was, but not quite so tall as Joruri. Shinako estimated that, in her two-inch heels, she would more or less look Seiryu in the eye. Once she had finished checking him out, she gave another nervous laugh, indicating the spot where their legs had touched.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Seiryu-san. I must be just a little bit clumsy tonight."

She watched and waited for his reaction. Of course, to someone well versed in the art of social interaction, her actions might have been immediately transparent as a more subtle attempt at flirtation than Seiryu's own wandering gaze. Shinako had done this before just a few times, and wasn't a stranger to one on one interactions with gentlemen, though she normally knew the men she spoke with quite a bit better than she knew Seiryu.

860/1,637

So she certainly was here for the Chuunin Exams and would be representing he village, and country, in the upcoming exams. Noting in his mind that she was indeed a genin, yet more importantly a kunoichi, he stored that piece of information in mind. Even in his home village of Sunagakure no Sato, he noticed a deep distinction from civilians and shinobi, both male and female, so he supposed that things were vastly similar in other shinobi villages. The Exams were unquestionably the easiest way to converse with another, since most foreigners came to the village to view them, as Seiryū himself had. The locals of the Land of Lightning, the hosts of this year’s Chuunin Exams would talk about it, spreading countless rumours as to how the rounds of the Exams would play out this go-around. He’d leave the conversation about the exams at that, though he certainly would keep an eye out for her during the second stage of the exams, should it be a tournament.

The shortened laughter that escaped her was not missed by his ears, nor would it be from the short distance between them, as they were simply seated next to one another. Her response made him curious, though not so much that it needed to be delved in to, no. He was intrigued by her, though that could go for being pleasant company for the past minute. Her comment on familiar company wasn’t what usually applied to him, as he never found a person whom he could consider a true friend, no, he simply jumped from group to group, person to person, trying to find people he could relate with, though it was often proven difficult in Sunagakure. He didn’t fit in with the higher class, and never would. Same would apply to any who originated from a clan, as he had be thrown out by the man who was his father. The most he could ever identify with anyone was those who were raised in the Sand Dunes and managed to make their way out. Yet, even then, he was never able to develop a personal connection with anyone. Regardless, she had agreed to have a drink with him, as it was a gesture of both kindness and his intrigue towards her. Simply put, it was an easy way to continue on the conversation however it would go.

Often used to the simplicity of target practice, both with kunai and his bow and arrow, he usually noticed the slightest bits of movement from the corners of his eye. Seiryū had caught sight of the bartender still busy making drinks at the other end, yet he knew she would be making her way over towards them soon enough. As Shinako extended her right hand towards him, he would accept the gesture, allowing her to set the precedence for the level of strength he would use. The woman, whom he now identified as Shinako, sat up straighter after he leaned in towards her, a slight small formed on his lips, replacing the one that was far more visible. If this was how things were going to play out, he would conform to this bout of interactions, for a while.

She was tempting him that much was obvious, though he supposed she knew what he was playing at when he approached her to start. The slow movements she was making, made it obvious to his eyes what she was trying to do, yet it worked anyhow. It was just a moment, yet it complete registered in his sight that both her legs were exposed to the naked eye, though the low lighting of the bar aided in obscuring for him to see clearly.

Her comment of the heat in the area did not go over his head. While one could easily take it as a literal comment, as there were countless people within the casino, the crowds adding more to the heat, the comment, to his ears, wasn’t meant as such. “It’s not just you, believe me.” He lightly admitted, a hint of truth to his comment, yet not playing upon the literal. The brunette’s left foot had brushed against the back of his left calf. Looking over at Shinako with a slightly playful smile, he notice his sight cast downward. Inwardly, he briefly thought about his clothing, yet with his current situation financially, he never could spend much on fancy clothes, as he invested more on the things he would wear on a daily basis, or for training and missions. Perhaps one day, he could indulge himself in such clothes, but that time wouldn’t be now, for a chuunin left on his own could still not make as much to buy themselves luxuries.

Seiryū heard the slightest bit of worry in her tone, mixed with the laughter she released a moment before, as her eyes travelled back up towards him. He didn’t mind in the slightest, as it wasn’t a rare occurrence for someone else to just barely touch him, whether the implications were flirtatious, aggressive, or something entirely different. Given the atmosphere surround them, this one he truly didn’t mind. He noted the addition of ‘-san’ this time she had said his name. “No need to apologize, Shinako.” He easily waved off with his left hand; the edge of his fifth digit would lightly brush past her arm.

As the barmaid would finally come around towards them and ask them what they would like, he would raise a brow at Shinako, seeing if she would order hers first as he fished for the wallet in his pocket. Pulling out a bit of ryo, enough for both their drinks and a tip, Seiryū would supply his answer of a double whisky with ice, knowing he wouldn’t be drinking too much for the night, or his stay in Kumo, unless he won big somehow. Once the female bartender took both their orders, along with the Seiryū’s supplied currency, Seiryū’s attention would travel fully back to his female acquaintance.

Knowing there was a bit of a wait for their drinks to come in, Seiryū shifted in his seat once again, moving a slight bit towards Shinako, his leg just a bit away from grazing her. Instead of having to constantly stretch his neck, it was simpler for him to do this. “I doubt you’re here just for drinks, He heard the clink of the slot machine being played, along with the noises protruding from the remainder of the building, “seeing as we’re in a casino.” He was slightly curious, though this was mainly to get the ball rolling once again, as the short lull that occurred from the appearance of the barmaid slightly grated him.

His right hand would travel forward, rotating so that it his forearm would parallel to the barcounter where it would rest, barely on the edge. His left hand rested lightly upon his knee, knowing that if he moved it forward it would easily graze Shinako’s person. “So, after you win the Chuunin Exams, where’s your next goal at?” His question was simply, inquiring to know more about the woman seated next to him. “Tokubetsu Jōnin?” Was his immediate assumption, as that would be the goal for most people who wished to rise in the ranks of shinobi. Yet the possibility that the answer could be something more made him ask.

After receiving an answer, he leaned forward slightly; though barely noticeable, his left hand moving just to the edge of his knee. The cheers from the craps table at the other side of the casino ringing through the large interior. “Still warm? Seiryū smoothly implied, going back to her earlier comments. With the roar dying down from across the room, the curiosity of a game he had no clue about, Seiryū briefly looked past Shinako in the direction of the uproar before his eyes returned to her person.

---

1337 of 3114 Total Words

"Oh, Seiryu, I don't want to talk about those pesky exams tonight."

Shinako made an airy waving motion with her hand as though literally brushing the topic out of the space between them. Seiryu's touch of her shoulder did not go unnoticed, but it was such an odd move that she chalked it up to an accident. Shinako had not yet reached the point in her life when she began to consider that a man could see through her attempts at flirting and reciprocate. When the waitress stopped by with their drinks, Shinako immediately raised the martini glass by way of thanks, sipping it carefully so as not to spill any of it.

The drink was a little bit stronger than what Shinako was used to, but she didn't have a curfew tonight, or anywhere particularly important to be in the morning. The young woman looked over her shoulder to where the bulk of the gambling was going on. At the same time, she reached out with her right hand as though not thinking about the gesture at all, blanketing Seiryu's left hand as it sat on his knee. As she turned back around she heaved forward excitedly, leaning in and almost whispering to the man's chisled jaw.

"Are you feeling lucky?"

With that, she grabbed her drink in one hand and Seiryu's hand in the other, sliding gracefully off of the stool and allowing the hem of her kimono to fall back down around her ankles. She flashed her brightest smile at her companion hoping that he would follow along easily. All of her life Shinako had had a sort of thrill-seeking side that constantly threatened to pull against the reins and run free at any moment. Very few people in Konoha knew what lurked below the surface, but Shinako had an urge, both literally and figuratively, to roll the dice.

Looking around, she saw that most other women on the gambling floor were wearing far more revealing gowns, but she didn't let that bother or intimidate her. She was relatively confident that she could keep Seiryu's attention for as long as she wanted it. The Golden Horn Casino was a dazzling wonder unlike anything that could be found in Konohagakure. As Shinako had heard it, the massive building with no windows or clocks had been built specifically for the Chunin Exams. She couldn't say that it was a bad idea, as many rich and powerful people would be in town.

Shinako gripped Seiryu's hand tightly as she approached the floor, shooting him a backward glance that she hoped was meaningful, a hint of mischief in her eyes and impish smirk.

"So...what's your game?"

458/2,095

He took a sip of his drink, taking in a careful amount as he felt a light touch upon the hand resting on his knee. A simple glance downward indicated that Shinako’s own right hand was resting upon his left, her hand trying to cover his own. Seiryū’s own hand would slowly turn, his fingers slowly curling around the hand which now laid in his, still resting his hand upon his thigh and knee. Taking note of this action, his eyes were still focused upon her; he noticed her attention was driven towards the area where the casino hosted the various casino fixtures, upon which many were occupying or simply watching. Focused upon her, he noticed her tilt towards him, letting the words she was saying be for his ears alone. The words Seiryū heard made him wonder the true intentions behind them, whether she was referring to gambling or something entirely different, something he didn’t expect, but wouldn’t mind either. For now, he simply wanted to enjoy his time here in the casino in the company of Shinako. To see anything else wasn’t something he was worried about, simply just a lingering thought that may never be achieved.

“Pretty lucky so far.” He mentioned in a low tone, not needing to move an inch due to the close proximity initiated by Shinako. In just an instant, Shinako had slid out of her stool, her hold of his hand, and his on hers, made him immediately follow, his free hand firmly grasping his drink. The smile she graced him with only added to his conviction to accompany her, as he would’ve done so regardless. His initial reason for going directly to the bar was to simply get a drink before he began his take on gambling, though finding pleasant company was far more pleasing than a night alone. Seiryū would follow her lead, though stepping just in line with her as they weaved through the crowds of people littering the giant room.

His eyes noticed the throngs of people, men clad in far more formal wear than Seiryū had chosen for this particular night and woman more scantily dressed compared to his companion, though Seiryū could appreciate the allure given by a woman whom had more covered, leaving his mind constantly think about the possibilities. His eyes would always catch a glimpse of those passing by him, easily noting the dress of the women passing him by, though his attention would be given to the woman walking next to him, gripping his hand as they moved through the casino. Feeling Shinako’s grip on his hand tense, his head swivelled to face her, her smile’s implications ringing in his mind, making him think that this night would be worth the cost of his original plan of sitting at either the blackjack or poker tables.

He returned her smile with a grin of his own, showing his teeth. Another roar he heard, once again coming from the craps table. Maybe today would be a good day to learn, with Shinako bringing him luck, to a game he knew little to nothing about. “I think it’s time to try my luck at Craps.” He responded to her inquiry of his game, picking one he rarely, if ever, played. In this setting, most card games were off the table, with the exception of Blackjack; his immediate conclusion left it to Roulette and Craps. Roulette he was familiar with, yet his luck only came from playing the outside rather than the inside. Craps, he figured, wouldn’t be too difficult to learn on the fly.

“Let’s see how lucky you are for me.” He jested, a hint of curiosity mixing in his voice with his inexperience with Craps. The only thing he could wish for was that he wouldn’t act like a fish caught out for water.

Seiryū took the lead, stepping ahead of Shinako and would gently tug on her hand, which would draw Shinako a bit closer to his body. One of his motivations could certainly be accounted as wanting to be closer to her, the other would be to make their way through the crowd as the crowd was a bit larger, leaving just enough room for two people to walk by simultaneously. The hand holding his drink drew a bit closer to his body as they maneuvered through the assembly.

---

740 of 3854 Total Words

As Seiryu led the way, Shinako allowed herself to be pulled closer to him, letting go of his hand and wrapping it around the back of his waist so that they could move as one through the shifting crowds of the casino floor. It appeared as though the noise and motion of the craps table appealed to her companion the most, and she could not fault him. The rattling of the dice, the sheer anticipation of the outcome, and the ultimate realization of either triumph or disappointment seemed to be the pinacle of the gambling experience. Shinako was glad that he had chosen that particular game. The young woman downed enough of her drink that she did not have to worry about it spilling as they moved.

As the two approached the table, Shinako noticed that none of the people standing around it were shinobi. As out of shape and intoxicated as they were, she would have been incredibly surprised if a single one of them had spent a day in academy. Most of them were obviously in pairs or groups, gambling almost as organized units. A single, elderly man in a sharp suit stood almost sleepily alone, making room for Shinako and Seiryu as they approached, filling the table to capacity with their presence. Smiling in thanks at the man, she put her drink down at the lower lip of the table and picked up a pamphlet explaining the rules.

"So, have you done any of this before?"

She used her question mostly as a place-holder as she read up on the rules herself. It wasn't her usual style to learn things secondhand if there was a primary source available. After a few moments she thought she had a relatively firm grasp on the rules. The gamblers would either bet that the shooter would either Pass or Fail, and depending on the numerical value of two dice rolled, either they or the house would win. For every roll but the first, the House owned the most common value.

Sidling up to Seiryu, Shinako reached into her make-shift sash to ensure that her purse was still there, but looked expectantly at the man beside her, as though waiting for him to take the lead. She shot him a doe-eyed glance, stopping just short of actually batting her eyelashes at him. The gesture was intended to be humorous, and her tone betrayed that.

"Well then. This is a lot of excitement for me. I usually like to start off...a little bit slower."

Just then, the elderly man declined to be handed the set of five dice, offering them instead to Shinako. The young woman raised her hand to her chest in a bashful gesture before turning to Seiryu and indicating the proffered dice.

"It would appear, Seiryu-san, that it is our turn."

She grabbed her drink and took another sip, looking over the edge of it with that familiar hint of playful troublemaking in her eyes.

501/2,596

The hand that was in his hold has smoothly slipped out, as the Suna native had felt the tug, loosening his grip in the slightest letting it to fall out of his hold. She hadn’t needed to move in closer for them to get to their destination, though with other travelling against their direction, Seiryū figured it was solely for that purpose. He had attempted to get a read upon her, though his mind addled thoughts led him to think in circles, his father’s clan’s kekkei genkai not aiding in his cause to understand her true intentions. The only thing Seiryū knew for certain was that she wanted to be in his company, for what purpose or reason, he would likely never know.

Stepping up to the table, with the brunette still at his side, he examined the green felt fabric that displayed the layout for the game, where they would need to place their bets to either come out as winners or losers. The dealer wore the same outfit he had seen the night before, similar to all the other dealers, of a white dress shirt with a black vest and bowtie. Seiryū glanced at the rest of the table noticing people organizing themselves in to smaller groups within the large group surrounding the table. An elderly man had stepped aside for them, allowing them to step up to the table. A small smile graced his face as he nodded in the man’s direction as a sign of thanks. He stood before the table, his right hand still holding his drink. He took a quick glance at the layout of the table, having only been in front of such a table a few times before.

“Just a few times.” He answered the question honestly, as the few times he had been before one was when someone had dragged him to one. Craps wasn’t his normal style, much preferring the card games, yet here he was, willing to give it a chance. He briefly noticed her glance at the pamphlet that was resting upon the table. Seiryū’s own stubbornness never let him look at the book, often believing that if he wanted to learn the game, he’d do it through trial and error, though doing so with money wasn’t the best idea he ever had.

He lifted his drink to his lips, taking another sip of the familiar liquid inside. He felt the lightest of nudges, feeling Shinako move closer to him. He looked over at her, curious if she had finished with the rulebook, which was now closed as it had been before. Seiryū reached in to his pocket to fish out his wallet once again, needing the money to even be able to play the game. Looking at the minimum buy in, he pulled out quite a bit of ryo, though only took a few to bet with at the moment, the rest was deposited back in to his pocket. He noticed the near innocent expression on her face, though her voice implied differently.

“I’m sure you can handle more excitement than this. We’ll start slow, but don’t think it’ll stay that way for long.” Seiryū suggested, the second half of his comment implying something completely different, as he knew his gambling would be restricted to the ryo he had freed from his wallet, the majority of his ryo remained pocketed in his wallet. The dice that had been offered to Shinako remained in the elderly man’s hand. She turned to him, gesturing to the dice. Once she had taken a drink and would lower the glass, Seiryū angled slightly towards her. He had no inclination to be the first one to take them, thus he leaned towards her, such that he could simply whisper in her ear.

“I believe you should go first, as I may not be able to go as… slow… as you want me to go.” He hinted, shifting his drink in to his left hand he took the dice with right hand, tossing them lightly in his palm as he thought about what would be his next course of action. Turning back to fully face the table, Seiryū would place the minimum amount of ryo to place his bet on the pass line. “Shinako,” He drawled out the name, looking over his shoulder at Shinako, “are you up for it?” He offered, as he would roll the dice if they remained in his hand, though if she would take it, he would simply let them out of his possession.

---

769 of 4623 Total Words

Shinako took the dice in her hand as Seiryu made his comment about pacing, setting her drink down on the sunken lip around the edge of the table. She blushed a little bit, recognizing the obvious ennuendo. She didn't quite understand the betting yet, but she was sure that Seiryu did. The other patrons had all finished betting and looked at the kunoichi expectantly.

When Shinako was a girl, her father had often told her of the Seven Lucky Kami, and how their hands reached down and shaped everything that they touched. They were often fickle, but her father had always said that by asking in the right way they could be persuaded to favor you. Mostly they favored the humble, those who, through their words and actions, showed that they were deserving of good fortune. Closing her eyes, Shinako hoped that the Kami would forgive her for acting so imprudently that night.

"I am up for it."

Casting her hand out, Shinako let the dice fly. For a split second, the men and women gathered around the table leaned in excitedly. Shinako felt powerful. All of the Lords and Ladies of the Land of Fire had at some point envied power like this. The lights and noise dominated the scene, and for those few short moments Shinako, standing in her golden kimono, with a regal man at her side, was an empress, keeper and ruler of all that she surveyed. The men and women were merely subjects, vassals. The glittering coins and chips were countless treasures brought from distant lands for her pleasure. She was beautiful and terrible, with seldom a breath of transition in between.

The dice bounced, their red and white tumbling over the green felt of the table, almost, to her excited senses, moving in slow motion. The young woman had never experienced a moment quite like this. She reached out with her left hand and gripped Seiryu's bicep almost as if to brace herself as the dice skipped and somersaulted over the numbers and money.

Shinako almost held her breath as the dice collided with the patterned end of the table, bouncing back at her and Seiryu. They seemed, at that point, to lose all of their momentum as they fell to the table as though stricken with some hidden force. The silence around the table matched entirely the increasing langour of the objects that everyone's attention now hinged on. The only thing that seemed to remain unchanged was the expression of the old man who still stood to Shinako's right, the same almost taciturn expression stretched across his features.

Coming to a stand-still, the dice showed eleven. The crowd around the table roared and clapped with excitement. One of the middle-aged men leaned around and kissed the three young women around him in turn. They were scarcely older than Shinako, but that scene didn't hold her attention for very long. Before she could even turn to celebrate with Seiryu, Shinako noticed the stillness at her right arm. When she turned, the old man was gone.

The kunoichi pressed herself to Seiryu, kissing him on his right cheek as seemed to be the customary celebration. She whispered in his ear as the man in charge of the table collected and counted pay-outs.

"Your turn. This is too much excitement for me."

Of course, she was only using this as an excuse to disengage from the game-proper and people watch. She wondered where the old man had gone as the next group moved in to fill the space. Perhaps seeing her eyes searching, a well-dressed blonde leaned in to her and spoke in an excited tone.

"Don't worry about the old man. He's here every night, and always bets the 'Don't Pass' line. In fact, it's said that ,if he doesn't bet against you, you'll have good luck all night."

The blonde nudged Shinako and looked over the kunoichi's shoulder at Seiryu before offering a scanadlous wink. It was only then that Shinako realized that the cane-man had not collected any money from the old man. He had not bet against her.

704/3,300

The light weight in hand left him, the burden being taken away by the person he had offered them to. Seeing the lingering effects of his statement on her face for a few seconds was enough for him to divert his attention to the dice, and the green felt they would soon enough land upon, holding the outcome for many in such a simple action. As the rest of the patrons placed their bets, deciding their best course of action, Seiryū lifted his glass back up to his lips. Upon the cool liquid hitting his taste buds, his mind had come to a decision for tonight, knowing that it may not likely be his usual course of action, but he simply wished to keep the night as enjoyable as it was now. The words exchanged between him and his brunette companion, though mostly him, were laced with multiple meanings, yet he’d simply only go as far as she wished. Like he’d been doing before, he’d converse with her, for the fate of his betting at Craps wasn’t truly in his hands, especially when the dice where in the resident of Konoha’s.

Feeling the eyes around the table finally settle in their direction, knowing everyone’s success or failure rested in Shinako’s hand, he stepped back an inch, as her hand flew out, allowing the dice to fly for a few moments before the met the emerald felt of the table. His ears picked up the noise the dice created as they clashed with one another for a brief second before making their way down the board. His eyes were focused on the dice, for while he was still new to the game of Craps, he had a basic understanding that the number that showed up on it would hold the fate of the entire table. He hadn’t noticed the movement, but felt it entirely for when a hand latched on to his bicep, which he figured was a sign of anticipation for the number that would come upon the dice.

The silence around the table was noticeable when the dice began to slow down, making a return path towards himself and Shinako, all the momentum they once had fading away with the distance they travelled. The semi-transparent pair of red die caught the dim lighting, noticeable upon the green felt of the flooring for the table; a blur of white caught his eyes as each side of the die faced him, before becoming even slower. Now, with the majority of the table quite, the sounds from around the casino ringing in his ears, time seemed to be at a complete stop as everyone gathered around the table anticipated the dice to stop. As he looked at the two red cubes, almost as if they were cut rubies in the current lighting, Seiryū saw the white dots that faced up on each of them. The die on the left showed six white dots and the one next to it displayed five, indicating that Shinako had rolled an eleven.  

A roar resounded throughout the table, every individual excluding him making a noise as soon as the dice stopped rolling. The sound was eerily similar to the one he heard not long ago, back when he had been grabbing himself a drink and first began talking to the woman that stood next to him. Instead of hollering like the majority of the table, a pleased smile formed on his features expressing his agreement with the rest of the crowd. Though, his smile widened and his eyes gleamed curiously as he felt a feather like touch upon his right cheek, for a warm and soft sensation was felt in that particular region. His eye caught the neatly styled hair of Shinako as she shifted and whispered in his ear.

His response was but a simple wink towards her with no real meaning behind it, he turned his head in her direction slightly. “We’ve only just started, Shinako.” Seiryū drawled out, keeping his volume low enough for only those in their direct vicinity to hear. He reached forward to collect his chips, the one’s he had just won, for he’d bet the money he put down originally once again. From the corner of his eye he noticed a change, for the elderly man standing next to Shinako was no longer present and was replaced by a group of five, three males and two females. Internally, his mind was at working getting rid of the excess noise that he heard throughout the casino. His mind registered that one individual from the new group seemed to be conversing with Shinako in a low voice, though Seiryū opted not to strain his ears to catch the words. Instead, he fiddled with his chips in his hand, putting them back on the indents of the table directly in front of him, his minimum bet once again on the pass line, for that was his only choice.

The small objects now in his hand gave him the sense of control around the table, for it was not solely his fate that rested in his palm. He took a glance to his right, aware that the short conversation between Shinako and the other female was at a halt, for there was just a wink from the blonde towards Shinako. Tossing the light, red objects in his hands a few times, catching them as they fell back down, something he often did with his senbon, Seiryū glanced around the table, taking in each figure as the noise around him began to die down, the table littered with chips.

He glanced once more at the table, taking in the green felt and coloured chips. His hand was no longer in his control, for his hand let them gently fly across the table. One was released a few seconds before the other, which would result in one settling before the other. The eternal seconds ticked as the table sought out the results on the small cubes which held no significance outside of a casino. One came to a stop, five small white circles facing upwards. Then, just a mere moment later the other stopped, a three being shown. With an eight being rolled, a point was set for the table, now it was just a mere matter of time before Seiryū either rolled an eight again, or the one number he didn’t want to roll.

The dice found his way back to him; he repeated the same procedure of letting the dice fly across the table. He hadn’t taken much time to think about the action, for it was simply a roll of the dice. The only thing that determined his fate was how he threw them, and even then, it was best to simply let things be, so there wasn’t a point to analyze anything. As if on cue, both dice came to a stop, showing a six and a three. A nine. He’d have to go again, regardless. Once more, the dice were released from his hand, the dice landing in slow-motion to his eyes, both dice displaying the same number, four dots upon each die indicated he had rolled an eight.

The noise around the table came up once more, Seiryū turning to the lady whom was accompanying him for the time being. A smile played at his lips, though he didn’t join in the hollering that went across the board. He inched downward, the short distance he needed to, his face hovering beside hers. “I believe a small celebration is in order.” He whispered, before simply repeating the action she took earlier of kissing her cheek. He found that sometimes it was best to keep things simple, for while he was in Kumogakure no Sato, a complete stranger to the country, he’d still be keeping his base mannerisms intact and that was simply being friendly.

He pulled away, returning to his full height, his eyes going back to the table. For what felt like merely a few minutes, he felt he’d been at this table for too long. Two bets in and here he was thinking on what he’d do later on. Perhaps this would be one of those days, where he’d call it in early. His left hand, the one holding his drink, rose up so he could finish up the contents within the glass.

---

1417 of 6040 Total Words

The time he spent at the table with his companion seemed to fly by, the drink he once had had emptied long ago. Now, no longer having a glass in hand, nor the dice either; for eventually he had failed to continue his streak of rolling, Seiryū was left to place his chips, holler out a joining to cheer with the crowd around the table while keeping his eyes alternating between the green felt top with multitudes of chips scattered about it and his temporary companion for tonight. He didn’t know how much time had passed since he and Shinako had arrived at the table, but the native of the desert country felt it was time for him to part ways with his exquisite companion. His drinking hadn’t stopped at the first glass, but rather at the second glass he consumed shortly after the first. Those two would be it, for tonight. Seiryū could hold his alcohol, but tonight just wouldn’t be the night in which he allowed himself to divulge in it. For one, spending excess amounts of money right now wouldn’t be the best situation for Seiryū to place himself in. His finances were already tight as is and thus far he was coming out of tonight with a steady profit. Nothing too drastic, but enough that it would make up for a night or two of splurging, should he allow himself to do so. Though he preferred keeping his earned money for a future occasion, for something which would give him more satisfaction than getting far too drunk to recall the events of this night. Seiryū found that while the night had been enjoyable, all things must eventually come to an end and tonight, to him, was coming to its untimely end.

Seiryū had gotten what he needed out of this evening so far, though he could’ve easily had an entertaining evening without the drinks. The next round of betting took place, the dice now on the other side of the table, eventually making its way back to where Seiryū and Shinako stood, the Suna native opted not to betting further, deciding now was the best time to end his evening. Aside from gambling and drinking, the casino only had socializing left as an option, all three of which Seiryū had partook so far. The company he had kept was limited, to a sole individual, yet enjoyable nonetheless. Shinako, while they would still remain complete strangers to one another once one of them had decided to part ways, at this point it would be upon Seiryū’s initiative as he figured it was time for him to call it a night, was pleasant company and the experience of conversing and bantering with her left him with a good impression of the genin female. The night while it certainly was still young in comparison to the usual nightlife Seiryū partook in, tonight was one of those nights where he simply wasn’t feeling it, where he felt like calling it in early and heading straight to bed in his hotel room.

Kumogakure no Sato was vastly different than Sunagakure no Sato, that much he had realized once he arrived in this village. The change of atmosphere would certainly take a bit of getting used to, for this was the first time he had visited a different country, one that he could easily remember with his own eyes. He had grown so used to the endless sand of Kaze no Kuni that the transition between countries showed him the vast difference between nations. None of it was bad per se, but it certainly wasn’t his home village.

Slowly, he began gathering his chips, fingering through them to get a rough estimate of how much he was up in comparison to how he started out the night. After collecting the chips, stacking them so it would be a simple task of carrying them in one hand, he figured it was time now to part ways with Shinako. Turning once more to face Shinako, Seiryū leaned forward so that Shinako would hear him without his words not needing to float around them. His departure wasn’t anything private, for everyone would eventually see him leave, but announcing it would only be right if he did so to the person who kept him company on a night that otherwise would’ve been uneventful. “Shinako, it has certainly been an enjoyable evening.” He ushered out the words so they would remain between the two of them, difficult for those around them to make out, yet they’d be able to get the gist of it if they truly wished to hear them. “I’m sure we can have a more… enjoyable… night sometime in the future. It was a pleasure meeting you, Shinako. Perhaps if we ever run in to each other again, there’ll be more to do, aside from gambling and drinking.” The grin etched on Seiryū’s lips was similar to the one’s he displayed earlier. Teasing. There was no guarantee of Seiryū ever crossing paths with Shinako in the future, for Kumogakure no Sato was quite a large country, and the shinobi world was far larger. With the lives they ran, crossing paths in the future was highly unlikely, but still a constant possibility. “Until next time, Shinako.” Seiryū uttered out, slowly removing himself away from Shinako and slowly the table as well. He made his way through the slight crowd gathered around the table itself, his goal was simple. Cash out his chips and then return to the hotel in which he was staying and fall asleep.

---

-exit thread-

961 of 7001 Words

Training: