It had been quite some time since they had had the conversation of their originations, yet Tei still recalled the name of the town that Nanashi had told her he had originally been from. A town named Nakinagarish. A town that Tei really hadn’t imagined setting foot in much before she had left the village of Iwagakure. After all it was known for their Geisha houses, and as such drew little interest to the woman that had very little interest in what they offered. Besides, the only relationship that she’d managed to maintain over the years was her relationship that she had developed with her former pupil Nanashi who was simply one year younger than she was. And that was why she was visiting the village today.

After deserting Iwagakure, Tei had found a young Geisha by the name of Suzune in Nanashi’s village who knew her beloved. And as such, she had decided to use her to her advantage in order to keep the communication between the two continuous. Though, of course there were sometimes long spaces of time between their meetings, like now. It would be the first time that she had communicated with her pupil for probably what had been a few months – she didn’t really pay attention to time anymore. With Tei being a nuke-nin there wasn’t really a lot of time for her to be open about things or continuously go to the same places in case she was noticed. She couldn’t afford risking to be seen, for Nanashi’s sake or her own. She didn’t want to lose the ability that she had to freely work on her experiments outside the village.

So here she was now in the village making her way to Suzune to ask the woman to retrieve the silver haired man for her. Though the buildings in the town were bright and cheery looking – they would have to be to invite customers inside – the streets themselves were dusty and dry, the dirt roads cracking because of a drought that currently had it’s grimy death like grip on the region. The dust stuck to Tei’s shoes as she walked the streets that had become familiar to her and finally came across the familiar red haired woman.

“Suzune.” Tei smiled as she wandered next to the woman and leaned against a pillar of a building, a folded slip of paper in her grip just between her index and middle fingers. “I have a job for you, would you mind?”

The woman, having not expected to see someone next to her nearly jumped out of her skin as she always did when shinobi approached her. Shinobi had the eerie ability to be much to quiet than they deserved, she thought. Jumping out at people like they did. Taking a deep breath Suzune turned to look at Tei, giving a quick little nod, trying to not show how pink her cheeks had become at the embarrassment of being spooked by Tei. “Sure, what do you need?”

“Well, Suzu, darling, could you take this to dear Nana for me?  Tell him it’s from his dear friend Shitai. Like always, he’ll know what it means.” Tei gave a small smirk as the woman paled a bit, but she took the note anyway and quickly rushed off to find the man that Tei wanted to meet with, not wanting to deal with the strange woman more than she had to. She did hope that he wouldn’t take too long. She was only going to remain in the small northern village for the night. If he was any later than that, poor Nanashi would have to wait a lot longer to meet with her. Smiling, she wandered over to a café to wait for the man.

WC: 641
Raiton B->A :641/3000

"Please, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." the words of a battered and bruised man fell on deaf ear as the assailant continued to beat the chubby individual mercilessly. The sweet musical of fists connecting with flesh sung loudly in the poorly lit alleyway, and it was only amplified by the begging and sobbing of the main instrumental. If, Daiko, a merchant of Iwagakure, believed that someone would come and save him from the savage beating then he was surely mistaken; no one dared interfere with the workings and happenings going on in these alleyways. People tend to shy away from conflict when it doesn't pertain to them, keeping their noses out of traps that can quickly turn on them at a moments notice. This was especially true in some of the more seedier districts. A woman could be getting mugged at knife point, and no one will bat an eyelash, going on about their day as if nothing had happen. So, it was futile for Daiko-san to be calling out for help.

The beating only lasted ten minutes but for Daiko-san it felt like hours went by before assailant finally stopped the beating, stopped thumping the instrumental that expelled beautiful music for the alleyway's and the assailant's ears. And with the last cord thumped, Daiko's face no longer resembled that of a human. His chubby visage was now heavily bruised, resembling a banana peel having stayed out in the sun to long. His mouth no longer had any teeth in them, they being knocked out, and his draw had been broken in multiple locations. However, the worse came in the form of his tongue being ripped out, and his eyes gouged from their sockets. The assailant left Daiko-san with the inability to speak and see. But to had insult to injury the assailant picked on a cement block, that was conveniently laying near the man, and smashed both of his hands with it - shattering all the bones and with that Daiko-san would no longer be able to write,

The assailant would look at the man one more time before turning around, and leaving the alleyway with a young girl, who was covered in a large cloak that covered up her modesty, and disappearing among the crowded streets to never be seen again.

Blood. It was such a hard thing to scrub out of clothing, it took someone who knows what they are during to effectively remove the life essence. Luckily, Guanyin Nanashi, knew exactly what to do, however, the silver haired male was to lazy and simply burned the blood soaked kimono before stepping into the shower to wash off the grim from that particular encounter.

It was while taking the shower did his mind drifted to an interesting topic - Tei. A nuke-nin of Iwagakure, his former sensei, and current lover. It has been sometime since the last message had been sent between them or the last time they seen each other. The couple, unbeknownst to the public, had been communicating with each other from the moment of Tei's defection. There letters were filled with nonsensical talk that hid and meant a variety of things to them. Yeah, it had been awhile and he wonder how she was during?

His question was answered later on with the arrival of Suzune at his door. The geisha, and messenger between him and Tei, handing him a letter from Shitai that was quickly read by the male.

It didn't take long for Nanashi to appear a front of the cafe that the letter talked about and spotted Tei sitting by herself. Without wasting any time, Nanashi walked into the cafe.

"It has been sometime. You missed me?" the last part coming out as a joke as he slid into the seat a front of his lover, and ordering a thing of sake "How have you been?"

---

WC:: 657

Sitting idly wasn't something that came easy to the Jugo woman when she had nothing to distract her hands or mind. It was something that came as the nature of her volatile clan that they needed to be doing something. Meditation and sitting still and keeping their rages in check was always something that could use a balancer, and really, Tei’s balancer had become Nanashi, not that they were commonly together or that she would admit it to anyone, even herself.

Sure, over the years Tei had controlled these natures that she knew were within herself as she’d gone through her life as and Iwagakure shinobi and then even after that in more recent times as a nuke-nin. Still, sitting idly was all that she could do currently while she sat at the cafe waiting for the man that she was hoping to meet, so she had to. If she drew out one of her weapons or scrolls or began working on information pertaining to her experiments it would likely let on to someone who she was, and that wasn't what she wanted to do. Not that she'd mind if someone came after her. After all, if anyone came after her she'd likely just add them to the cadavers that she was working on in her cave.

Tei sighed and leaned back in the chair that she was sat in, legs crossed, as she continued tapping the side of the small green tea cup that was positioned in front of her when she wasn’t sipping at the translucent liquid in the cup. She was drinking tea of all things, a white tea – which was a little sweeter than the green teas that were usually more common in the region. The light seasoning of the water nice for a change compared to the usual alcohol that she would usually order. Still, there was a reasoning for it. Until Nanashi was present with her, she wasn’t going to relax and allow herself the pleasure of ‘letting lose’. No, there was still a chance that over time Nanashi would decide that he’d had enough of the nuke-nin and would turn her in. Not that she thought that it was likely it would happen, but it was still a thing that had a small chance of happening. She hummed softly as she observed the bustle within the café. Such happy people weren’t they? Oblivious to the darkness in the world. It was almost laughable.

A smile bloomed over her face when Nanashi finally arrived, ending her wait. It wasn’t a smile of joy really, but one that did display a grand like for the man who moved to sit in front of her. One of knowing understanding and grand secrets that only the two of them knew about each other. The killer and the mad scientist. It was a smile that only Nanashi could get from her while everyone else got a grim smirk, usually edged with sarcasm or distaste. She chuckled lightly at the joke and lifted her cup to her lips, sipping at the tea, an eyebrow raised in greeting as he sat down.

“Of course I’ve missed you Nana-kun.” She replied, smirking slightly as she placed the cup back down and motioned to the waiter that it would be two bottles of sake that they’d be needing. Tea was such a muted taste, and now that Nanashi was there she knew that it wasn’t possible that he’d betrayed her. Her previous student and lover was simply just too loyal to her to betray her to Iwagakure. “I’ve been well, nothing really spectacularly new on my end, Nana. You know me, experimenting, new techniques, training… avoiding certain… undesirables.” She paused with a soft chuckle, waving it off with a hand. “I’m more interested in hearing how you’ve been. Moving up in the hierarchy?”

WC: 662
Total WC: 1303
Raiton B->A:1303/3000

As Tei's smile blossomed like a flower, opening it to reveal it's secrets to the world, Nanashi too returned the simple gesture. His smile spoke of the commitment the two had for one another - a mad scientist and a killer. It spoke of the relation they shared; how they loved each other,but rarely uttered the words, instead using other gesture and subtle body language to convey their more deeper feelings.  The smile spoke of the secrets that were shared between them, only them knowing the others' deepest and darkness secrets,  cherishing them like some expensive wine or jewelry. To the average person it was just a smile, nothing nor less, but to the two of them it was so much more. . .

Easing into the seat adjacent from Tei, he let loose a soft chuckle at how quickly the female Juyo ordered a second bottle of sake, forgoing the tea that she had been drinking upon his arrive. Having known her from quite sometime, Nanashi knew about Tei's neutrality when it comes to teas. While she do drink them, she isn't the biggest fan of them, and Nanashi suspects that she only drinks his  due to him making it. Her dislike for tea is a start contrast to Nanashi, who finds the brews to be enjoyable.  Nevertheless, it was Tei's neutrality towards tea that caused him to order the bottle of sake, which apparently wouldn't be enough given by Tei's mentioned order.

"I missed you too, Shikai-chan." the words came out softly, as his gaze looked at the woman sitting across from him "Must have missed me dearly to travel all the way out here, unless it's(referring to her hideout) is around here?". How long has it been since the last time they had met or even wrote to each other? Days? Weeks? Months? Nanashi didn't know for sure, having been busy with his shinobi career, removing some scum, and other things that somehow took precedent over seeing and communicating with Tei. Although the same could be said about his lover, for she is undoubtedly on the move constantly along with playing with her 'toys' back in her hide-out. Maybe. . . just maybe he will get her a new toy soon. The body in the alleyway could have worked but it was damaged; Nanashi never give Tei a damaged toy, she is more precious than that.

"Those undesirables haven't been give you any trouble as of late?" He inquired, being glad that she was in good health.  Even though he knows that Tei is capable of handling herself well, she did teach him after all, it doesn't stop him for expressing some form of concern for the woman. Nanashi wasn't to thrill on the notion of Anbu hunting down Tei, though he early inquiry didn't showcase this, Tei would know anyway. He did allow himself to be open around her . . . only her.

" Things has been well - made Chuunin two days ago. Been spending a lot of time working at the hospital, advancing my skills, dealing with the sudden bore of this occupation, and remove scum who touches the angels.Nanashi spoke, making reference to his killing of those who wanted a little more from the geisha than what they ask for.  It was one of the secrets that Tei knew about him, Nanashi killed anyone who dared to hurt an angel(geisha),

The two bottles of sake would soon arrive with the waiter disappearing soon after. "I thought about bringing you a new toy, but it was too bad damaged. " he stated. making an off comment about the man he left in the alleyway, as he pour himself and Tei a drink. "You got me a gift for making chuunin?" he asked with a smirk and twinkle, after taking a sip of the sake. The soothing and warming sensation of it being a welcome feeling.

---

“Ah-ah. No prying, my dear. You know I keep where I live a secret for my sake as much as yours, Nanashi.”  Tei chided in good humor, a light hearted chuckle following her words.  “And, I always miss you dearly, don’t doubt that.”  Feeling as if she needed to assure him of it. “I know it’s been quite some time since I called you to meet, I’m sorry about that.” She paused in thought for a moment and gave a hum, shifting so that she was no longer leaning back from the table, but was closer to it, and closer to Nanashi. It was an unconscious notion of love for the man in front of her that she wouldn’t agree to if she was told it was such.

 “Perhaps we can devise a way for you to get in contact with me as well. Perhaps I can come to this village more often to check if Suzune has messages for me. Of course, it’ll still be difficult to meet like this until I contact you, as I cannot insure that I’ll visit here under specific durations.” She mused, studying the man before her, taking in the slight changes in his appearance. He was aging well, and he was showing more experience than he had once had. It was good, and she found herself slightly missing having been his teacher, in spite of not normally being a nostalgic and sentimental person.

“No, those silly undesirables haven’t been.” Tei smiled and tapped her headband with one deft finger as if making a point. It was a blank one that she acquired after abandoning the village, there was no point in displaying that she had abandoned the village that dominated the region. It would only create unnecessary trouble.  “I’ve become quite skilled in avoiding them, Nana-kun, trust me. You needn’t worry about me.” She promised then listened to the brief tale of Nanashi’s life that caught her up on all the goings on circulating around him.

“See! I knew that you were making progress. There’s a certain air about you now, Nanashi. I’m glad you’re doing so well.” She praised him, her dark eyes holding a certain mischievous sparkle to them when he said that he was still working at the hospital and continuing his work on the side that no one else knew about. The killing; the death… It was all good. He’d be able to tell her the goings on in the village from that place that she’d left in a much similar perspective to what she’d had. Of course, it would be some time before he met her previous rank, but it would still be good to know information. ”Tell me, was it through the exams or on your own steam? I imagine that it was on your own steam as I didn’t notice anything particularly busy going on in the region. No heightened security, or anything of the type. ”

Tei gave the waiter a brief little nod of thanks before turning her attention back to Nanashi when he brought him the bottles of sake before reaching to take the drink that Nanashi had deftly poured – something about being a connoisseur of tea she liked to imagine – a bit of a teasing pout on her lips at the mention of the damaged toy. “Now, that’s a shame. I love the toys that you bring me.”  She chuckled before grinning and nodding.  “Yes, I did indeed.” She replied when Nanashi asked her if he had gotten him a gift. “It’s not every day that someone becomes a chuunin is it?”  She smiled. “However, I don’t have it with me currently. It’s outside the village, well-hidden of course. We can go for a walk later on and retrieve it. Didn’t want to carry it around in this little village and get asked what it was.”

WC: 668
Total WC: 1971
Raiton B->A:1971/3000

"You could always blindfold me and take me there." pausing to take another sip of the sake, eyes dancing with mischief as he spoke once more "Although, I don't know if I could trust you not to ravish my body on the way there. You missed holding this warm body, no?" a chuckle escaping his lips. He wasn't surprised in her refusal to answer the given question. For she, as was stated, was simply looking out for the well-being of them both. It wouldn't do neither of them any good if the higher ups in Iwagakure caught wind of Nanashi knowing the location of Tei's hide-outs or find out that the former had been meeting up with the nuke-nin on occasions. It would spell trouble for them both, especially Tei, and Nanashi would be damn if something like that happen. But one can never be so sure about anything within the shinobi world, and it was this reason why the pair never met in the same place more than twice. Sure, Nanashi's birthplace was ideal due everyone minding their own business, not sticking there noses in places it doesn't belong, however, it only take one time for something to fall apart.

"The same can be said to you. I missed my Shikai-chan a lot. Things are so dull nowadays without your presence." an exasperated sigh escaping his lips. Nanashi founded his body mirroring the black haired beauty before him, leaning in ever so slightly. A part of him wanted to capture those lips which he missed so dearly, but he resisted the urge for now. Nanashi hummed in approval of her suggestion in finding a way him to contact her "Yeah, you been scaring pour Suzune half to death with you appearing out of nowhere. I think she might even gotten some grey hairs from all of your 'surprise' appearances." he stated, chuckling softly before calming down "You know my mother's offer still stands about us using that cabin for our meeting, instead of during it like this."

"Who said I was worried?" he jokingly stated before briefly looking at the blank headband. It amazed him how easy it was to come in possession of one of those. Yet, most missing-nin never used them, preferring to keep their original headband, letting everyone know what village they deserted, and holding on to it for sentimental value.

Her praise was genuine, and he soaked it up greedily. It had been awhile since he heard such words for someone that he cared about. It felt . . . nice. "Yep, it was through my own. You know me better than to believe that I would do the farce known as the chuunin exams. It's just a stay for the village to show off their goods."he stated, finishing off his saucer and pouring himself, and Tei if needed, more of the liquid.

"I know you do. This one had just pissed me off, so I broke the toy badly. You understand, right?" an eyebrow raise "I might have to capture those lips if you keep teasing me with them." he stated taking another sip for the saucer, eyes focusing only on her. Kami, how he wanted to kiss her right now.

"Shouldn't you say; it's not everyday someone survives to this rank?" He chuckled at his morbid sense of humor, something that only seems to come out around Tei. He was surprise that she actually had gotten him something for his advancement and wonder what it might be "Oh?" his eyebrow raised "It's outside of the village? Are you sure you not just trying to get into my pants?"

The gasps from the waiter , returning with their bill, didn't phrase Nanashi at all. However, he did chuckle at the woman's flush face as he paid for both of their sake, along with buying an additional bottle for Tei's travels. "This gift has piqued my interest. Want to show me, now?" removing himself from the seat, and offering Tei a hand.

---

Tei couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped out of her at the notion of blindfolding Nanashi to take him to her little hide out. The hide out that she found herself commonly found herself using was in Itami Mountain, she’d found a suitable cave. The mountain was outside the Tsuchi no Kuni border, and as such, it served her purposes well, even with young shinobi wandering into the clutches of the Mountain. More often than not these young shinobi met their deaths within the grasp of the mountains, or at her own hands in her efforts to collect bodies. It was common for deaths and disappearances to happen in the mountain, and it meant that not many would come there looking for a killer hidden in one of the mountainside caves. She hummed as she sipped on more of the sake, enjoying the pleasant burn it made down her throat.

“Perhaps someday I’ll take you to my little hide out, but not right now. You’ll have to wait. It sounds more like you miss my hands on your body.” She mused and raised a teasing eyebrow, smirking contently as she teased him. It was true though, she did miss being with the younger man more than she revealed. It got lonely on her own, and long distance relationships were always difficult. “Though… perhaps it’ll be your present for becoming a Jounin. You think you can wait that long, Nana-kun? Or perhaps you can become a Jounin quickly.” She shrugged. “It’s not a promise though. I’ll have to think on it, of course.”

“Mm… you can’t let my lack of presence effect you, Nanashi.” She scolded a little bit, frowning just a moment at the mention that things were dull without her in the village. “You can’t allow yourself to change if things are dull. You can’t think of them that way – at least, don’t let the others see, anyway. You’re more than careful. You keep your killings on the down low, so you’re going to have to keep this on the down low too. You can’t let on that you miss a murderess traitor of the village you are loyal to. ” She paused to drink more Sake briefly, admiring Nanashi as he spoke.

“Weren’t you? Trust me Nana, as much as you appear to be heartless as the shinobi code dictates you to be, I can read you like an open book because I know you so well.” She hummed and leaned forward a little teasingly as she raised the glass to her lips again and swallowed more of the clear liquid, licking her lips just to tantalize him. There was a time once where she had abhorred drinking sake, the taste of the alcohol itself a huge turn off, but now she savored it and that time before she liked it was long forgotten.

“Yes, I suppose I could say that, though… chuunin is actually the rank were most shinobi initially lose their lives, Nanashi. You’ll be getting many more difficult missions. Don’t get cocky just yet. I lost many friends and team mates while I was a chuunin.” Tei replied, a slightly grim note in her voice and for the first time she gave a slight frown in his presence. It may have been a joke to Nanashi, but their lives were serious when it came to life and death. One could lose their life just as easily as they took them. Even now at her rank, she could lose her life in a blink of an eye if she wound up against the wrong opponent. But she didn’t dwell on the dark things for much longer, she couldn’t in the presence of her silver haired prince, and she chuckled at the next tease he struck with.

“Maybe… maybe not. You’ll have to see once we get out there.” She replied, smirking, and her chuckle turned into a full blown giggle at the look from the waiter. “Poor girl, Nanashi. You must learn to be more virtuous in public.” She teased as she stood and took Nanashi’s hand. Touch. Skin-on-skin after so long of not touching someone because she avoided society to some extent – at least, a living and warm someone whom she had a relationship with – was enjoyable.  Nanashi’s hand was warm and larger than hers by a little bit, and it was comforting. She had missed the touch of her lover, even if she was one to not normally think of sensual things like that. But now that they had initiated skin on skin contact, it was lovely.

“Thank you for paying and the extra bottle, love. You didn’t have to get that for me, though I must admit I am getting low in supplies currently.” She hummed then began to lead him away from the village and out into the wilderness surrounding it.  Much like the village itself, the area was dry and dusty, practically begging for water as the ground crunched under their shoes. Though as the lighting began to dim, the scenery remained beautiful.

When they arrived at the place that she’d hidden the box for Nanashi, she knelt and uncovered it. She’d made sure that it wouldn’t be tampered with or found, so as she pulled it out she simply handed it to Nanashi without a second thought. Inside the box was a pristine white tea set that was practically shining. It was one that Tei had made herself that had morbid origins, as the tea set itself was made of bone. “I hope you like it, my love.”

WC: 956
Total WC: 2927
Raiton B->A: 2927/3000

There is some truth in her words: he really did miss Tei's hands roaming across his body. Hands of a mad scientist, usually used to perform variety of tests on experiments, dealing death blows to all that threaten their master, and moving around the corpses of the fallen, felt so good roaming across his flesh. The coolness of her fingertips idly tracing lines of dissection across his body sends shivers down his spine. The hint of curiosity, and danger that lingers when she finds apart of his body interesting and began to explore it renewed vigor is enough for him to come speechless. She is a mad scientist, and Nanashi knew that his body was her favorite and most prized in her collection. But lately her favorite toy has been missing the intimate times they use to spend together, and she knew this well.

"Resorting to bribery are we? Of course I can wait that long, can you?" he retorted, a smirk plastered across his face "But, I have to ask. Is there another reason why you want me to rank up quickly?" There had to be some hidden reason behind her words. She wasn't the type to be careless with her students, well at least not with Nanashi, her lover. She wanted him to become Jounin, and it seems like she wanted to be done quickly. And the question remains, why? Why the sudden rush to that particular level? What did she wanted from her lover that she was denying him answers to? Hopefully, she would tell him, but it matter not if she didn't, he trusted her after all.

Throughout the scolding, Nanashi's visage didn't change at all, the smirk from before still being present. Despite the smirk on his face, the silver haired male was indeed listening to his lover's words of wisdom and soaking it in. Yes, he did missed her greatly but he couldn't allow that to effect his performance in the shinobi field. It did neither of them any good if Nanashi winded up dead to his mind be preoccupied in thinking about his mistress. Nor that he miss a murderous missing-nin of Iwa.

"Do you even need to ask that question? Like you said, you can read me like an open book. From the first glance into my eyes, you knew that I had missed you. Sometimes words doesn't need to be said between us, no?" he stated, outside of immediate family, Tei was the only one who could read him so openly. It was kind of unnerving how she could understand his feelings even when his words didn't convey them.

"I'm well prepared for the trials ahead of me. After all, you was and still is an amazing teacher." He said, complimenting on Tei's stellar job in training and tutoring Nanashi into the shinobi that he currently is "I won't die soon. I still need to reach you." the last words were a whisper but audible enough for Tei to hear them. After that incident Nanashi had made a promise to catch up with his lover. A promise to one day no longer need her protection. A promise to one day be able to stand side by side with her.

He hummed in acknowledgment of being more aware of his surroundings, but also chuckled at the situation " My comment wasn't that bad. People say worst things in public. " he said waving off her comment "Besides, you didn't deny the statement." he retort stealing a kiss on the cheek as the pair exited the building, together.

"Your welcome. Consider it a gift of sorts." his hand intertwining with her as they made their way into the wilderness. As Tei led him to the destination of his gift, Nanashi couldn't help but to marvel at Tei's body "Did I mention how beautiful you look?" He said, breaking the comfortable silents with like banter.

The path that she led him own was dry and dusty. The area haven't received an ounce of rain in months, causing the scarce flora in the region to wilt and die from the lack of water.

Citrine eyes watched closely as Tei knelt down, uncovering item, checking to make sure it was tamper with, before handing the box to him. Nanashi didn't waste any time in carefully opening the box, revealing a pristine white tea set in side. He examined each piece, eyes looking over the detail involved in creating such an exquisite set, before placing them back in the box "Who was the poor victim that became this tea set?" He asked, eyes dancing with mirth at the morbid nature of the gift, but also showing signs of happiness and acceptance of it "Must have taken you awhile to design this, hmm?"

It took some real talent to make a tea set out of bone.


Nanashi quickly sealed the gift within a scroll on his persona, would do no good if he accidentally break it. Closing the distance between to two, Nanashi's arms snaked around her waist, bringing her against his body, resting his head on her shoulder and taken in the fragrance of her hair "I love the gift." he whispered, hot breath rolling across her exposed neck "Thank you."

---

“Bribery? Perhaps. Don’t act like you’re disappointed with the bribery. You know you love the outcomes when I bribe you.” Tei chuckled and teased the man in front of her. She her eyebrow raised as she took one final sip of sake as it came down to the point that they were about to leave. “I can certainly wait. All I commonly do now is wait. You’d be surprised how little there is in the schedule of a shinobi like me when not a lot of people request your services. Undesirables, experiments and traveling are what my days are usually comprised of now. I’m learning to have more and more patience.”

Tei blinked as she was asked if she had a reason for what she asked. She did have a reason, she wanted more up to date information about the higher ranking people in the village, but there was no need to pressure Nanashi for it. It wasn’t a life or death sort of thing. She just wanted to sate her own curiousity about the village that she had long left behind.  “…Reason? No. Not particularly, being a Jounin is a lot better than being a simple chuunin though, trust me.” Tei paused and looked over Nanashi. He had always been a more leisurely person. Perhaps she would be waiting for quite some time before he succeeded in becoming a Jounin. She’d have to see, but it didn’t bother her. She could wait.  "You'll have a lot more opportunities as a Jounin. Perhaps you’ll even take on students of your own during that time… there are actually times that I miss teaching. “

The smile that was on her face in the presence of Nanashi bloomed for a moment then faded as her face took on a more contemplative nature.  “That’s true. We’ve both gotten quite good about knowing what the other wants, Nana… it can be both a blessing and a curse that we can do so in our profession. I do hope that it’s something that doesn’t come back to bite us some time in the future.” She knew that there was always a chance, but this time she did hope that it wasn’t going to change, and she vocalized this, her smile now back in full bloom again. "Though, I don’t imagine it will with our love for each other.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Nanashi And you better be prepared after the grueling I gave you.” Tei murmured then nodded. She had been a good teacher, and she knew this. She’d only really failed with two of her students. The two that she had killed when she had left the village. Perhaps though… was that really failing? Out of their loyalty for the village they had attempted to stop her from leaving. Perhaps she had done a good job in teaching them of loyalty and love. Perhaps the living student that she had cherished because of his dark nature was the failure. Still, if he was a failure, she loved the failure and wouldn’t change anything for it. For her, he was perfect.

Tei hummed with a soft chuckle and nodded.  “That’s true that people do say worse in public. And I didn’t. You know I was teasing you.” She grinned and leaned lightly into the kiss as they left the building and walked together. She did arch an eyebrow at the comment that she looked beautiful. Being away from him for so long, she’d often forgotten that the man complimented her a lot. She hummed softly in reply and nodded with a soft chuckle of almost amusement.  “I’m not really though. Not right now, Nanashi. I’m rather grungy right now, living away from regular society, don’t you think?”

Tei smiled as she watched Nanashi look over the tea set, examining each of the pieces. She found joy in watching the look in his face. “It’s probably no one truly important. I’m not entirely sure who it was who I crafted into the tea set as I have collected more bodies since leaving Iwagakure.” She said openly. They were out of earshot now from most people, and really it was safe to talk about such things now, and she couldn’t sense anyone around them. Talking about things like this openly was something that she was fond of.  “ You know I’m collecting more and more bones lately… there may be  some  of the bones was one of the old Tsuchikage’s in there somewhere if you want someone important to be in the set. The bones got mixed up. I don’t really have a reason to keep them separate from each other once they’ve decomposed and I’ve stripped them down.”

Tei gave a breath as the taller man closed the distance between the two of them and held her close. It was a thing that she savored because this closeness with another individual was so rare. Even while she had been a shinobi within Iwagakure before her relationship with Nanashi began it had still been a rare instance that she got so close to someone. This was her kind and loving Nanashi that she knew well. An intimacy that only the two of them shared together. Or at least, Tei only shared with Nanashi. Her own arms wrapped around the man gratefully, hands resting gently on Nanashi’s broad back.  “You’re very welcome, Nanashi. I'm glad you like it. ” She hummed softly and tilted her head back a little bit, revealing her neck more to the man in front of her, awaiting his lips to greet her skin as his breath was already so very close. It was tantalizing. Teasing her.

WC: 975
Total WC: 3902
Raiton B->A: 3000/3000 [complete]
Fuuinjutsu B->A: 902/3000

"Come on now. We both know that you also get some pleasure out of the bribes. And who said I was disappointment? The outcomes always favors both of us." Nanashi retorting, chuckling softly on how Tei attempted to make it seem that the bribery's outcome only benefited him. Preposterous! The black haired beauty also get something out from those outcome, and if not there, from the actually making of the bribery. Tei knew it didn't much effort to bribe Nanashi into during her bidding. There wasn't much the silver haired male wouldn't due for his Corpse-chan. Of course, she knew this, but rarely took advantage of it, though knowing she could, if she wanted to. Nanashi also knew this but didn't care at all. For she is the only one who allowed to use him like that, now. No one else.

He nodded at her comment. There wasn't any reason to disputed her claim of being patient. If there needed to be an example, an epitome, of the word; Tei would be it. During the times of his genin days, apart of her Squad, she was always the patient sensei. The one who demanded much from her students but had the patients to show them the correct forms, ideology, etc. Her pateints was also seen outside of team meetings, when she and Nanashi spent time together. Back then, despite his cool demeanor, he still dealt with some unsavory problems which came to ahead when things got too steamy between them. His lover was patient, and caring enough to help him slowly heal those scars. And that ultimately help their relationship immensely. "Just don't get to patient on me, okay? Or I will end up missing some of your impatiences" he spoke, eyeing his lover, a smile on his face.

"I don't know." the words coming out of his moist lips, having taking a sip from the sake saucer beforehand "I wouldn't mind becoming a teacher, but not many would, or could, put up with my particular teaching style. They would most likely ask for a transfer after receiving a few broken bones or the sour words of truth behind the meaning of becoming a shinobi. Although, maybe, others could handle it. . . I did and I came out fine. Right?" he chuckled at his own joke about his mental state. One paper, there wasn't anything wrong with Nanashi, but paper lies constantly, and his lover knew this. One doesn't quick being the toy for men and women a like, along with being a killer, without getting a few mental scars along the way. At least, Nanashi kept his under wraps for the most part.

Nanashi couldn't think of any words to retort to her comment about their love. For it was truly something unique. It was morbid, twisted, cruel, but yet so beautiful. A killer and a mad scientist. A man who can kill someone in a thousand different ways, and a mad scientist, someone who knows the body, through experimentation, better than some high class doctors. They were two devils waltzing through hell's ballroom floor. And nothing was a more terrifying, beautiful sight.

"You forged used in hell's flames, with only me coming back alive. If that didn't prepare me than nothing will." he, exiting the building with her "Mhmm. . .You tease me a lot, you know?"

"That might be so, however, you are still beautiful." He said, waving off her comment about being grundy from the lack of living in regular society "Come now. I done call you beautiful when was knee deep working on one of your toys. So, do you really a little dirt and grim would change my opinion?". The dirt or grim didn't bother Nanashi at all. The man having gotten use to frequently seeing Tei cover in such. it was a common sight even before her defection.

"You did an excellent job in making the set. Guess making a tea set and experimenting on a body have some parallels." leave it to Tei to care about the bones used in making the tea set. Wait . . . leave it to Tei to also be crazy enough to make a tea set made out bones, most likely of the human variety. But wouldn't that mean, Nanashi, himself, was crazy for accepting the gift? Maybe. Just maybe. "We should share a drink out of them later today."

Talking about the possibility of the former Tsuchikage, Tomio's bones being apart of the tea set, didn't cause Nanashi to loose his composer. It was a little unknown fact that Nanashi and Tomio was romantically involved till she was, presumably, killed by Tei. Did Nanashi know Tei killed her? Yes. Did he care? Yes. Does he hate her? No. What was done was done. Nothing can change the past. Besides he's no longer in love with Tomio but instead with Tei. And that all what matters. Yes, Nanashi fell in love with the one who killed his former lover "At least she is getting some usage. She can now explore the world without care." he chuckle at his own black humor.

Nanashi wrapped his strong arms around her waist, bring Tei flush to his body, allowing him to feel every curve hidden by her clothing. His eyes closed on their eyes, nostrils inhaling the scent of her hair, and for a moment Nanashi was lost in the past. His brain thought about all the times they spent snuggling in the bed together. All the times when they were in each other arm, watching some movie late at night. He thought of the happier times they had before her defection. Oh how he missed them.

Nanashi didn't waste no time in planting tender kisses along her neck, tasting the sweat and grim that had clung to her skin - none of which phrased it. The man simply just missed the taste of his lover. They were soon followed by him playfully nibbling on her ear "You still taste good." he spoke, having stopped nibbling on her ear, and planting kisses along her neck, to whisper those words to her. "Sure it's safe to do this in such an open space?" he asked before his lips connected with her neck, suckling on it, while his hands lovely caressed her stomach

---

“Mm… I’ll try to avoid getting too patient with you, my dear. I will try.” Tei smirked. There were certain things about her that wouldn’t change. Tardiness had always been something that she had not tolerated from her students, sending them on laps or giving them other menial tasks while she and the other students simply watched, or continued to work so that the student who had been late would have to work extra hard to catch up to the others. By all means she had been a tough sensei, but she had been sensible about it, logical, meticulous. She had loved each one of her students in her own way and had done her best to make sure that they would be good enough for the times ahead of them, whether they were students that she had taught in the academy or as Genin.

“Hell’s flames?” Tei laughed, eyes sparkling with mirth. “Well now. That’s an interesting way of describing my teaching style, Nanashi. I did push you, but some sensei’s and villages can be a lot harder than how I pushed you. Your teaching style may be looked down on by some, but to others it will be looked at as good. It’s important to teach your students for what will come ahead. You know just as well as I, Nanashi that there is plenty of bloodshed and lives taken in our occupation. Death is not uncommon.” She shook her head slightly and squeezed Nanashi’s hand gently. “Teach your students, when you get them, the best way that you see fit and you will not have a problem.”

“Of course I tease you!” Tei laughed again, smirking and as they walked she moved so that she swung her hip to hit his for a moment before walking normally again. “If I didn’t tease you, you’d tease me to death. I have to retaliate you know.” Smiling she nearly moved to press a kiss to Nanashi’s jaw, but refrained from doing so just yet.   She shrugged a little bit at the comment that Nanashi had seen her knee deep in her experiments. That was true, he most certainly had seen what she had been up to while she had availability to the cadavers of Iwagakure hospital. There were moments when she had been covered head to toe in blood though she had kept a meticulous effort to stay clean and he had seen her during some of these moments. She wasn’t one to like being unclean, though dealing with corpses was usually messy.

Nanashi was the only one who knew how deeply she had gotten into her experimentation with dead bodies while she had been in Iwagakure, there had been a few others who had known as well, but they were dead. Though of course, there probably had been information revealed when she had suddenly just disappeared and killed a few people when she’d left. She wouldn’t be surprised if the village had some idea of what she’d done and was still doing.

But now, living away from the village, her experimentations had taken an even darker turn that Nanashi had never seen and probably would never see for some time. Experimentation on her beautiful corpses and developing new uses was exciting for her. However, there wasn’t much reason for her to display her abilities to the man that she loved because they never fought, or fought together within the same area. She wasn’t even wearing the armor that she had bought and stolen when she’d left Iwagakure today. Of course, he’d seen her in the dark armor before, how it made her into an evil shade in appearance, cruel and violent in even looks. The only skin showing when she wore it the top half of her face and her hands. Though, she wondered though if he heard rumors from the ANBU and jounin who had met her in battle as they tried to kill her. She had left a few of them alive to cause a stir.

She mused a little bit about sharing a drink out of the tea set, thinking that since she had had tea earlier that she might just have had enough of drinking tea for the day. She wasn’t even thinking about the fact that the set was made out of bones. After all, she had made them with the intention of being used to drink tea in the first place. They were perfectly sterile and ready to be used. She’d made sure of it. After all, what would be the point of giving a gift of a tea set that couldn’t be used? She nodded, agreeing with him. “Mm… I did try.” She commented. “They took some experimentation before I got it just right. I actually made a couple of failed sets before settling on this one. Alright, Nanashi. Though, you’ll have to make it some pretty good tea for me to enjoy it, you know how hard it is for me to be sold on drinking teas.”

Pressing against Nanashi’s body like this was something that she missed. There was still clothes separating their bodies, but if this was all she got during this meeting between the two of them – even though she wanted plenty more – she would be content with it. She loved him, and as such had the astounding ability to wait for certain things. She closed her eyes for moment, leaning into him, resting her head on his chest and took a breath, breathing in his scent that she had so missed before tilting her head back again as Nanashi’s lips began to caress her pale skin. She opened her eyes and looked up into his with a soft smile, giving a sigh of pleasure as goose bumps formed on her skin at the tender kisses.

It was so pleasant to be kissed like that again. She tilted her head as Nanashi nipped at her ear, giving a breathy chuckle at the comment. “I’m glad I still taste good. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t.” She teased lightly before turning to catch his lips in a slightly bruising kiss. It took a few moments to release Nanashi’s captured lips before nodding. “Open space? It’s dusk. We're outside. I’m sure most people are in their pleasant little homes having dinner right about now. Besides… we have the darkening sky on our side, don’t we?” She laughed and pecked his lips again. “Though, if you want, we could simply just go have dinner now… and I believe they’re shooting off fireworks later. I suppose that might give us a better cover if you can wait.” She chuckled, placing a single finger over Nanashi’s lips.

WC: 1153
Total WC: 5055
Raiton B->A: 3000/3000 [complete]
Fuuinjutsu B->A: 2055/3000

Nanashi had expected it. The beautiful, haunting sounds of Death's bell dancing in a light morning breeze, Tei's laughing,  an ominous sound for many but a welcome one for him. Though only a few months had passed it felt like eons since the bell's last toll was heard by him, how he missed it greatly - like everything else about her. It took some will-power to suppress the involuntary shiver sliding down his spine. The sensation not being caused by fear, but rather an indescribable sense of happiness or was it delight? From hearing her chuckle again. How insanely deep in love did someone had to be to missed the laughter of their significant lover? How long did it take before one missed something as simple as a chuckle from their better half? Was it even normal for him to miss such a small thing about Tei? Who knows, he surely in hell didn't. The only thing that's is relevant is he indeed did miss that haunting laugh of Jugo, Tei.

"That soft laugh of yours. . . . I missed it." words more genuine than the finest silks and soother than richest wines flowed out of his lips with practical ease. Apart of him knew the comparison between her teachings to that of being forged in hell's flames would elited laughter or a chuckle from her, and that was apart of the reason why he made such a statement. The other part being that he truly felt that Tei, his sensei and lover, had taught him better than anyone else, except his mother, could have. A sensei, in a metaphorical sense, is the unsung blacksmiths of the village. They are in charge of moulding and tempering the precious metal of the village into blades that will slice down all in it's path. And in Nanashi's opinion, Tei had been and still is the best example of an expert blacksmith.

"Even now you are still giving me words of wisdom. " he chuckled. Even after becoming a missing-nin, Tei still manage to teach and give him words of wisdom "I will teach them like you taught, and still is, teaching me. Of course with some tweaking here and there." the last part was added as an afterthought, his hand light squeezing her's as well.

It's was nice. To walk among the denizen of a town without having to worry(much) about someone recognizing them as anything but a young couple spending time together. They weren't shinobi. They weren't criminals. Just two people who was enjoying a stroll among through town. This was all they were to the people of Nakinagarish

He didn't miss a beat in returning the small contact of his hip bumping into hers "It's fun tease my Shikai-chan. You make it so easy at times. And besides. . ." he paused, eyes staring at her in a whirlwind of lust and mischief, watching, also daring her to take the plunge and kiss him like she so wanted to "I can tease you way worse. You should remember, I have no problem in teasing you in public." his hand having untangled itself from her grasp and inched deadly close to her backside, but instead of groping it, returned back to holding her hand. The message was sublte for clear; Nanashi could tease much worse.

She was something else. Instead of buying a tea set, she took time out of her heretic life style and created a special set for him. She didn't have to do this, knowing that he got something out of simply spending time with her, but yet did so anyway. No wonder he loved the woman before him "Of course, I do. I know you only tolerate it because of me. " he stated with a smile.

He wanted to remove her clothes. He wanted to roam his hands across her naked body, touching and caressing every inch of her. He wanted to trace over some of the faint scars that adored her amazing body. He wanted to plant kisses along her every crevasse and forbidden area. Kami, he just wanted to take the plunge right then and there, connecting their bodies and do the age old dance that all humans do; having sweaty, raunchy, sex.

Let's forget about the fact that she's a missing nin and is being hunted down by Iwa. Let's forget about the fact that he could be trial for treason if word got out about him dating her. Just let all the worries go for one moment, and simply have sex, and not none of this passionate crap, but pure, untamed, nasty, hair pulling, back scratching, mind-blowing sex. That's what he wanted. And by kami it was taking all of his mental fortitude to not succumb to those primal desires.

Even though he was holding back most of his urges, a certain very noticeable and HARD to miss one did POP up and it was nestled firmly in her backside." I always enjoy your taste. Maybe if we had more time, I could taste one of my favor areas of you." He teased. Her kiss was forceful, aggressive, untamed, and returned it back with the same out of passion. The need for air would be forgotten by the two for a few moments, before being remembered as they both retracted from the kiss "What I want? I want to strip you of your clothes and have my wave with you. That's what I want." his hands having founded their way underneath her shirt and caressing her stomach, and his hips were subtly rocking into her backside "However, having dinner, followed by fireworks seems nice. And besides, not like we can't have dessert afterwards." he stated, his arms still securely wrapped around her.

---

Tei chuckled lightly at the mention that he had missed her laugh. Of course he had. He was the only one who heard it in a pleasant way since her father revealed the truth of what had happened in the village that she had lived in as a child before he had ‘saved’ her from certain death. That moment had been the one where the darkness that had been hovering over her head finally swooped down and made her into the cruel mistress of death she was currently. Most others heard her laughter now took it as the laughter of a deranged kunoichi in battle or witnessing some atrocity that she had created just before their death bell tolled. Nanashi was the only heard it in such a comfortable loving setting. She loved him and liked what he said, it was that simple. He made her laugh and she loved him for it, and the many other reasons that he loved her. They were a good pair. They had had a few rough patches of course, like any other couple would, but like any other couple, they were a good match. They were healthy for each other.

“It’s the job of the teacher to continue to give their students words of wisdom, Nanashi, even if the student has moved on from said teacher.” Tei hummed with a soft shrug. “Expect to continue to have words of wisdom from me as you continue to rank up, even in a relationship with me, my dear.” She nodded. She was glad that Nanashi had taken he style of training to heart. Teaching had been something that she had enjoyed while she had been able to before her desertion. She wondered if she would ever have individuals to teach again. She hoped that at some point she would. She mused a little about the two students that she had had to kill in order to leave the village. Where would they be now if she hadn’t killed them? She felt a modicum of regret for ending their lives so early, but hindsight was always 20/20. The moment had called for their deaths.

She didn’t stay on such thoughts though. There was no point in thinking of such things when she had her boyfriend next to her, and his words pulled her from her thoughts. “Easy? I make it easy to tease me?” Tei asked, looking slightly incredulous, one eyebrow raised as she looked at the man who’s gaze clearly held such an astounding amount of lust for her. Then the words and the subtle movement came behind her and Tei became a bit cross with the chuunin. She wasn’t one to be so easily teased in that manner. She wasn’t one to allow such groping in public even if it was meant in a lighthearted way, and Nanashi knew this. “You may have no problem teasing me in public like that but you do know you’d wind up on the ground with my knee digging into your back if you so dared to do something like that to me with the eyes of others looking on us.”

That being said, Nanashi could tease her worse than she teased him, but it wasn’t something that Tei would simply let happen. If he did tease her like that in the public, Tei would be one to retaliate. It would be him that was the spectacle, not Tei. She hummed, letting the subject drop as Nanashi mentioned that she only tolerated tea because of him. That was very much true. When she was younger she had sometimes enjoyed the taste of Tea, but that had been changed much before she had deserted Iwagakure. “That is true my love. And it is still puzzles me, how you, as interesting as you are enjoy such a mild drink so much.” She chuckled. It was true. She found it odd that someone with such a dark nature like hers could like such a tame drink. Then again, it had been the way that Nanashi had been raised, so she would leave it to that.

“Mmm…. Perhaps I may let you if we do have more time, Nanashi.” Tei smirked a little bit. She wasn’t going to promise him anything. Leaving things like this more open ended was one of her favorite ways of teasing the silver haired man. He was so very eager to touch her and make love to her, and she was… almost nonchalant about it. Yes, she had missed his touch, and yes she wanted to do more with him and knew how to merge their bodies together in love so that the rest of the world would not exist for a few moments, but there was a certain amount of detachment that Tei had to it until she was tangled up with Nanashi, the one that she loved. It was something that came to her as a woman who identified as someone who was grey asexual. She had to be truly in love with someone to want to have sex with them, and Nanashi was the one that had won her heart.

She was breathless from the kiss for a few moments, the passion between them gushing like blood out of an open wound. She could feel his want and his need for her, but she wasn’t sure if she would allow if just yet, even when his hands slipped under her shirt and caressed her stomach, the hands warming the flesh there soothingly. She took a deep breath and leaned back into Nanashi’s hold, her head resting back against his shoulder. “Hmm… Yes, I do know that that’s what you want. You’re body is giving you away.” She teased and began to move away from him once more, moving in a manner that would only arouse the man more, swinging her hips gently. “Lets have dinner and watch the fireworks, Nana. Then we’ll see if I will give you what you so desperately crave from me.”

WC: 1016
Total WC: 6071
Raiton B->A: 3000/3000 [complete]
Fuuinjutsu B->A: 3000/3000 [complete]
Senjutsu C->B: 71/7000

A teacher's role doesn't end at the student's graduation, in fact, it never actually in, at least for the more competent teachers. Someone who truly love teaching continues to be a mentor, providing words of wisdom to their former pupils, even when the latter have some of their own. If one want to be specific, death is the only time where teacher stops teaching their pupils, but even then, a lesson can be taught. So, does teaching truly end for those who take up the major responsibility? No, it doesn't.

Jugo, Tei, is an example of a competent teacher. A rare diamond among the other useless minerals in Tsuchi no Kuni that has everything an eager student would ever want within a teacher. Nanashi were lucky in being granted the opportunity to learn underneath the woman's care. She didn't teach them unless things, always teaching them the necessities needed to strive and survive in this hospitable world and the proof shown in all three of her students when the other two, Ima and Yua, were alive.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from you, my love. While I might not always use or believed in them, I will always take your words to heart." he valued her opinion greatly, but he is his own person and will use her teachings in a way suited for him. He is a man who doesn't blindly follow anyone, rather it be words or actions, and Tei knew this. He will take what he learns from her and apply it in a manner that suits him. But isn't that what a student suppose to do with the teaching of their teacher? Take the advice, and apply it in a manner that suits them.

"We were taught well and it showed during the incident. . ." he left the sentence hanging, knowing that Tei would understand what he was referring to, and unknowingly hitting on a subject that had surface. The incident being a reference to one reason of Tei's nuke-nin status. It dealt with the death of Nanashi's team-mates when they, including him, tried to stop Tei from fleeing the village. During the conflict, they all came to the realization of them most likely dying, but it didn't detour them at the slightest; Tei was dear to their hearts, more so to Nanashi, and they were willing to die to save her. Having the fortitude to die for someone wasn't something taught by Tei, for she was more practical than anything else as were they, but it came from their love and respect the genins held for Tei.

Humming in accordance t her being an easy tease, Nanashi's impish smirk never left his face, even when she became cross at his other comment, While he knew that her threat is genuine, she didn't have no problem in hurting him in public like he had no problem in teasing her in said environment, he didn't fear it . . . much.  "Guess it could be worse. You could always drop a knee on my balls or simply remove them, turning me into an eunuch" it came out calmly, like he wasn't just giving Tei other ways to cause him physical harm, like he was simply talking about the weather or something of little importance.

The comment on how he could drink tea caused Nanashi to chuckle some " Thank you for the compliment, love. " he stated before answering her question " For me, making and drinking tea is relaxing. It gives my mind something else to think about other than how to kill my next victim. It also was my sliver of 'peace' during my childhood. And besides, who would expect the man drinking tea as being a wolf within the room?" the words were spoken in a nonchalant manner, but Tei would know that there were emotions buried within them. Excluding other activities, the process of making and drinking tea was the only time Nanashi had peace within his dark childhood. It also served as a decent cover for him when during certain missions.

While Nanashi is well versed in teasing Tei in an open and non-subtle manner, Tei was the total opposite. The dark haired beauty teased him in a way befitting of the best assassins; unexpected, quick, and subtle. She could come up with teases from any angle, wording her words in away that promise more and also promise little. They were so teasing, tantalizing, and left him wanting more - to see where it might lead. She is a better tease than Nanashi, not like he would admit it to her anytime soon.

Nanashi never lost himself in primal lust before, having also had the self-control to lock it away before something drastic could happen. So, it's a little surprising that he had almost lost himself to one with Tei . . . in the middle of no-where. But, could you blame him? He hadn't seen her in months, and he was in desperate need of her. And that's why, for a moment, he allowed his urges to run wild - not like Tei was complaining any. "Yes, it is what I want, but what about you?" he asked, having stopped kissing her neck, hands having moved from underneath her shirt and now interlocked around her waist "What do you want?"

Hands unraveled away from her waist, yellow eyes enjoying the sight of her swaying hips, and him humming in agreement with her statement "Seems like you had all of this planned out. You will at least let me pay for the dinner, right?" he asked, right hand interlocking with her's "Can we walk there a little bit slow? It wouldn't do no good if we walked into town with me sporting a hard-on." he inquired, briefly looking down at the bulge in kimono, and trying to will it to disappear.

---

Tei gave a small inward sigh at the mention of the incident coming from Nanashi’s lips. It was vague, but she knew precisely what he was getting at, even when she knew that he didn’t blame her for it – not anymore.  She knew that it was something that he was not likely to forget her doing any time soon, even into old-age, if he even happened to make it that far. It had been a grim day that the incident had taken place, and ended with quite a few deaths on her own hands. Deaths that she would have initially not wanted to cause, but had had to because the moment had called for them. Deaths of individuals she had once called friends and family. Once.

Once upon a time, yes, the people she had killed had been friends. People near and dear to her heart. But, that had been a while ago. Her mentality regarding that sort of attraction to others had splintered during her last year there, within the village, until it fractured beyond repair – almost. There was one modicum of that mentality left within her. One shard, who had lasted, just one, and the one who held it was currently standing with her. She had stayed her hand from taking his life during her departure, allowing her love and sentimentality for him to guide her movements and keep herself from giving him a fatal wound.

And she knew fatal wounds like the back of her hand, considering that most of her time within Iwagakure had been attempting to heal those who were injured, and giving those she could not save peaceful deaths with her knowledge of the human body. So, keeping herself from giving one to Nanashi while giving them to the others who had attempted to follow her had been considerably easy, though of course they had varied depending on the individual’s abilities. Her students though, they had fought valiantly in an attempt to get their teacher to stay. To say that she hadn’t cared about their deaths would be wrong. The blood of the people she had taught were on her hands. Talent that she had pulled from the cores of Ima and Yua and into a flame, snuffed out within moments, their blood dripping from her hands.

It was highly likely that the images of their shocked faces would stay in her mind for all eternity. It wasn’t guilt that kept them there, however, it was respect. She had given them respect by watching them die warrior’s deaths and not turning away from them. Their deaths had been regrettably needed.  That was what was regrettable, the need for their talent to be crushed, to be whisked out of existence before they could grow and blossom in their entirety. Again, she turned her mind away from thoughts of the incident, away from the memories of the shouting of her students, their desperate cries for her in their inability to understand what she was doing.

Nanashi was here with her in the here-and-now, with that characteristic impish smirk on his face. The one that she had grown to love. She grinned, raising an eyebrow at the way of tormenting him left his mouth. He knew very well that she wouldn’t do such a thing to him, but she was still going to tease him about it. “And how would that benefit me, turning you into a eunuch?” She started, her grin turning into a knowing smirk, “Come now, Nanashi, I may be numb, but I can still enjoy the heat of you being inside of me.”

Tea, dull as it was to her tastes was something that she was gaining a tolerance for, if only for Nanashi. Perhaps one day she would surprise him by drinking a cup of it every day. Perhaps one day when they were together for more than a simple day or evening at a time. “Hmm. You do have a good point there. There aren’t many wolves who’d go among the sheep with tea in their hands and in their stomachs. And, your fondness for it has a certain endearing nature.” Tei spoke gently. She knew that it was something Nanashi cherished, and it wasn’t something she would ever tell him to get rid of. It was something she didn’t quite understand, and she voiced it, but it was a part of Nanashi that she did cherish, and would, she hoped, for quite some time. After all, wolf though he was, there was a certain goodness within him that she loved, and his loyalties never wavered.

Tei hummed as the heat of Nanashi’s hot breath’s caressed her neck, tilting it ever so slightly so that he had more of a surface to work with. Her sense of touch was something that left much to be desired, though it was an advantage in battle, she did wish it was better in moments like these. However, what she was able to feel, the heat of his skin against hers, was nice, and she raised an eyebrow as Nanashi stopped his motions. “You know I always want you, my love.” She murmured softly, licking her lips just a little before lacing her hand with his own when he prompted her to do so.

“I may have for all you know.” Tei hummed, let letting him know quite whether she had actually planned it or not. Sure, she had known the events going on in the little village. Maybe she had planned meeting Nanashi for fireworks and dinner. After all, it was a good evening to have to celebrate his rank up. “Mm… if you insist I suppose I’ll let you pay for dinner. Though, you know this is supposed to be your night, love. Not mine.” She smiled and moved to kiss him gently on his jawline before falling into step with him again, moving towards the village. She glanced down at his kimono and chuckled. “Why?”She teased a little. “You embarrassed?” She asked, though she did begin to slow her pace down for his benefit. Considering that the village was the one Nanashi had grown up in, she wasn’t going to make him embarrass himself in front of those he knew.

WC: 1057
Total WC: 7128
Raiton B->A: 3000/3000 [complete]
Fuuinjutsu B->A: 3000/3000 [complete]
Senjutsu C->B: 1128/7000

Have you ever been betrayed before by someone you cared for looked up to? Was it brother, maybe parental figure, or perhaps a mentor? What did they do to shatter, like a rock thrown through a glass, completely destroying any and all respect you had for them? You understand the feeling of betrayal - don’tcha ya? The windows to the soul - your eyes - they speak the truth of what you diligently try to deny, try to cover, try to hide, from the rest of the world. It is crying to be heard by someone or something - anything that will listen. And it’s about time those silence voices be held.

Your betrayal was like poison. And you were the deliverer.


If I didn’t know you better, I would’ve thought you was a shinobi of the old - of the era that predates the Sage of Sixth Paths. A female assassin, wearing sweat smiles, speaking honey-soaked words, waiting,  just waiting for the perfect opportunity to slice my throat. But no, you aren’t like that - it isn’t your style to play that role. You are not sweet nor are you innocent looking. While you don’t have a problem in getting your hands dirty. The process leading up the finality is something you find tedious, pointless even, and the ending is far too fast for your tastes. Way too fast.

You didn’t try to hide it. You had a dangerous feel to you. I knew this, WE knew this, but yet we accepted you anyway. We got close far too close.

You never did try to hide yourself from anyone. You wasn’t fake. You showed the world who you were, and if they didn’t accept you then tough shit. You didn’t care one way or another. A beauty you were not - at least to most. Yet, there was an alluring charm about you that, if you wanted, could captivate the masses with ease. Still that wasn’t your style. A blind fool is no fun, but a cautious one is. Caution. . . it’s something you instill into others upon entering the room. You let them know that you are dangerous, and if given the chance can kill anyone who gets close to you.

Of course, I knew this, and I would like to believe they knew it as well. Yet, despite that, we accepted you knowing full well what we were getting into. We got close far too close and paid for it.

A satisfying ending starts with a good beginning and a nice and steady build up that covers all the bases without boring the audience with unimportant, meaningless, details. And the ending? It should be slow, dragging out every ounce of goodness, and still leaving you begging for more. Even after the years go by, it should still be memorable, and still cause a shiver to run down your spine. Yes, this is what you crave, isn’t it? It’s your perfect ending, eh?

There was no denying it - we were poisoned. I knew this, and so did they. Did it stop us from being by your side? No, even when we felt it slowly corrupting, killing us, our loyalty didn’t waver. We were your students, and even when the world was against you, we would stand by you. But soon it became too much, and the poison took two of us away almost three.

Yes, Jugo Tei, your betrayal was like a slow poison; it killed two of us but left one alive. And just like the rare cases where the body adapts to foreign substances, building an immunity to it, so did Nanashi. Wait. No. That wouldn’t be right, Nanashi didn’t build an immunity, he evolved. For your betrayal changed him.


To those who knew the pair in their professional lives, it would be a shock to seem them acting in such a flirtatious manner. While Nanashi has notoriety of being a flirt, Tei not so much. She was the stern one of the pair, and so to see her acting like this in public well, it was an eye-opening experience. Who knew Tei could flirt? “It has been awhile since I visited my favor tight place. I miss the hot and wetness of it dearly. And nothing can compare to the juice it bears.”, his words were hardly subtle, the double meanings were not being missed by anyone who dares to listen to their conversation. His implication was simple, crudely so: he wanted to fuck her.

It’s no secret amongst those who knew him - Nanashi’s libido is high. His sexual need being more than one expect someone his age would need/want. He wasn’t a nympho by any stretch of the world. He just had an above-average sex drive that, like an itch needed to be scratch. But, unlike many who would take any piece of ass to satisfy their need - Nanashi doesn’t. There is only one woman who can scratch the itch and it’s the one sitting before him. She is the only one who can give him what he wanted - the hot steamy sex and the love only found in a lover. And it was that what he missed dearly and needed more than anything, and hence why he almost took her then and there in the middle of nowhere.

Nanashi’s chuckle, dark, but saturated with wanton lust for her flesh “I might know this, but I like to hear you say it. It has been too long since I heard you say those words.”, fingers interlocked with hers, hot breath danced across her skin, carrying his words on a faint whisper.

“I would like to think you had planned all of this out. . . even the small make-out session,” he commented. While she is a missing-nin. It didn’t mean that Tei wasn’t in the know of the happenings in the village; either through her own connections or one shared between the pair, she would know everything of importance going on  - at least Nanashi assumed so.

A kiss on the jawline? No, that wouldn’t do at all. Before Tei could move back to his side, she would find herself pressed against his chest, and her lips being hungrily devoured by him in a passionate kiss. The kiss wasn’t the dainty, sweet variety. It was fierce, rough and hard, but still manage to carry his love for her within it. Nanashi knew that Tei wasn’t some type of wallflower, easily breakable and that the kiss would be something she could definitely handle and enjoy. However, reluctantly, Nanashi broke the kiss “Yes, I know tonight suppose to be my night, but allow me to do this for you. Besides, my night truly starts behind closed doors with the two of us.”, he stated with a knowing smirk.

An eyebrow raised at her comment “Me embarrassed? About what? We both know I have nothing to be embarrassed about. I just assumed you didn’t want any other woman looking at what’s yours. Unless you have no problem flaunting around what fills you up behind closed doors.”, he replied.

Thankfully, Nanashi’s problem had subsided by the time they reached the outer perimeter of the town. There wasn’t any tent nor visible reminder of their previous actions.

Fingers still interlocked with one another, the couple walked through the town in silence, enjoying each others' presences; every now and then this silence would be broken by Nanashi as he pointed out various places of his childhood and significant landmarks. The moments, while rare, showcased the love he had for the small town that he grew up in.

Time passed by quickly for the pair, and Tei would find herself being guided to a restaurant on the outer northern fringes of the town.

Chijō no, is a restaurant owned by Shibuya Saionji who had inherited from his father with the latter inheriting it from his forefather and such. Public records show the building having been owned by the same family for 100 years, but a few of the older dispute that claim and says it has been in their possession longer than that. No, matter how long the establishment been in their possession, one fact remains: it has some of the best sake and food in this region of Tsuchi no Kuni.  But there was a problem. One needed reservation for the place which,if you didn’t know the right people, was incredibly hard to come by, and it was only through proxy of his mother that Nanashi manage to get reservation.

Walking through the two doors, the mouth watering aroma of food being prepared and cook would flood their senses, as well as the chatter of fellow patrons enjoying their meals. Despite the modern interior, many of the patrons were dressed in traditional Kimonos with their clan/family symbol embossed on the back.

“Well, I be damned. If it isn’t little Mayuko’s son. “, exclaimed an elderly man and with the help of his cane walked up to the pair, clasping Nanashi’s hand in a strong handshake “I couldn’t believe my ears when she asked me for that favor. Mayuko’s brat wanting to eat at my establishment!? Ha. . . finally got a taste for sake, eh?”, he asked.

“Yeah, well you already know that I became chuunin.”, Saionji confirming this with a nod wasn’t needed for Nanashi had an inkling the man knew this “ Well I wanted to celebrate proper with my. . . “, he threw a discreet look at Tei, to convey the message “And what better place to come here? While I might not enjoy sake like most, my girlfriend Tei does. So, why not take her to the best place for sake in this region of Tsuchi no Kuni?”

“Tei, aya? So, you are the woman who managed to sink her claws into the brat? How interesting. . .”, he chuckled, as he walked them deeper into the restaurant before finally coming to a table for two that’s away the noise and eyes of other patrons “Well, here is your table. The waitress will be here shortly.” He said, disappearing along the way he came.

“Seeing how you drunk tea earlier I thought about changing it up. It’s only fair that I drink something you like, right?” He asked.

Thus started the couple evening.

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Word Count: 1748
Total Word Count: 7683 
Unused Word Count: 1748 + 85 = 1833