A cool breeze gushed past him, letting his body cool down, reminiscent of the cold winds that graced Sunagakure during the night, when the crowds were similar to the one milling about now, though far less crowded as it had been a while since his home village had an event reminiscent of this, the last one on his mind was the previous Chuunin Exams. Seiryū’s eyes skimmed over the various figures passing him by, rooted in his seated spot on a wooden bench for the time being. The bench was vacant of individuals excluding himself, though he had solely taken up the left corner, at least his left, leaving the room for two more people to fit upon the bench. His right hand raised, his thumb placed upon his right cheek while the remaining four digits were on his left, not feeling the fabric of the facemask he once used to wear often. Slowly they travelled down, feeling the absence of any facial hair, as he never preferred it due to the colouring of his hair. His fingers floated briefly in the air as they passed his jaw, no longer wanting to touch his skin, then his hand came down to rest back in his lap.

He took a brief moment to simply absorb the occurrences taking place before his eyes, knowing he wouldn’t be able to recall much of the minor details once he was back in the desert village. The change of scenery provided by the Land of Lightning vastly differed from that of the Wind, wanting to take it all in, knowing it would likely take some time before he’d be able to see such things again, unless he was able to make time to do such. Once again, Seiryū opted to forgo any weapons or a forehead protector, feeling there was no need for him to display such things, especially when he was solely out tonight to enjoy it all, opting for a calmer night than he was usually used to. So far, he hadn’t done too much in terms of partying, or such, just simple trips to the casino, and he enjoyed the change of pace they brought, making him enjoy even the most silent of occasions, though he still much preferred being in the company of others.

The chatter and footsteps mingled in with the serene sound of music that was coming from a street performer just two buildings away. While it was a bit difficult for him to hear it completely, he could still listen to the melody, aware of the bare minimum from his current position. Standing up, leaving the bench completely unoccupied, Seiryū began walking in the direction of the street performer, knowing that such talents should be recognized, even if he was often pressed financially, just the smallest amounts could go a long way. A small round of applause echoed from the direction he was sauntering towards, knowing that the majority of the crowd would disperse, with a few staying to listen to more.

Another song began to play, from more romantic than the last few he had been listening to from his previous position. Not romantic in the sense of happiness and joy, but rather of something that would likely never come to fruition, a hope dispersed without a thought. Songs, while they could write stories about life, could only write about specific chapters, before a new song had to begin for the next. Often was the case for shinobi, having to live a dangerous life due to the occupational hazards that came along with it, thus never truly having a love to come true, though there always was a chance for anything to occur, for anything to become a possibility, so dwelling on such thoughts wasn’t always the only option.

He stopped as a new crowd began to form, standing next to a shorter head with dark hair, with a contrasting white bow tied to the right side of her head. That was the only thing he saw of the stranger to his right, his eyes looking towards the performer, just briefly dwelling in his own thoughts.

After the song would finish, he’d already be reaching in to his pocket to fish out some money to drop in her case, though he’d wait just a bit for the others to fiddle out of his way. “Beautiful songs don’t always paint the prettiest pictures.” Seiryū mentioned to himself, though audible enough for those next to him to hear, though he knew for certain that no one was standing to his left.

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His mind was occupied by thoughts that related to his statement, picturing various events that his eyes had never seen, yet only read. Songs could be created from a person’s happiness, joy, success, or from the anguish, despair, destruction and failures that they suffered at one point in their lives. For him, as a shinobi, he required no song, not one that fit the job description of a shinobi, nor would any shinobi need a song for their own story. They were meant to protect the village they associated with, not for fame or glory, but solely to keep their lives going and protecting those who couldn’t protect themselves. The only few bouts of glory a select few shinobi would reach were designated to the positions of a few, the fantasy of many, yet so many dreams crushed before they could even be achieved. For a person to become a Kage or a Sannin meant embracing the prestige the titles brought along with them, though those weren’t what a shinobi should ever aim for, only peace for their nation.

Seiryū had chosen then to stop his thoughts, as he heard a choice of a select few words escaping the girl standing next to him, as she had made no movement like himself to step forward to drop a bit of ryo for the blind woman, nor had she smoothly stepped away as people left. He expected silence, waiting for the rest of the leaving audience to disperse, before she too would merge with them, disappearing in to the night to whatever she had been planning on doing. Tragedy inspiring beautiful things? He wondered if that could be true in most cases, as the sights themselves wouldn’t be appealing to the eyes of most, nor would he expect one to look at such things looking for the beauty in the cruellest of forms. When in reference to literature, in this case songs, he knew the beauty she spoke of, though some could also see the horrors that came along with such a thing. He assumed that’s what the fates determined, for one couldn’t be truly found without the other behind it.

“Ah.” Seiryū would briefly pause, looking at the female standing next to him, though not turning his head to do so, only allowing his eyes to travel. After a few seconds of silence would pass, he would utter out once more. “Though, tragedies themselves aren’t beautiful when they’re your own.” This wasn’t his usual spiel, as such sophisticated thoughts weren’t what he ever aimed to deal with, much more preferring to deal with each day as it came, actively seeking out something to do, instead of simply thinking about the possibilities the world had to offer him, both good and bad.

His own story, while not overly tragic, certainly wasn’t one he wished to reiterate, feeling that it would change others perspectives on him. He was fine being a person living on his own, no known family, even if his father lived in the same village, in a far more glamorous part, leaving Seiryū to deal with the lonesome nature he had put him in to. After all, the entire reason for his existence was due to his father’s simple mistake, followed by his willingness to atone for his sins, then, finally, abandoning his only sin, his son. There were few occasions were Seiryū wondered what could have been, though it had all been for naught, since it was his father’s decision to throw him into the orphanage at the age of eight. He could vaguely recall the face of the man who sired him, only recalling the hair colour similar to his own. Often times, Seiryū wondered why he kept it the same colour through the years, a constant reminder of him, yet the memories dulled, clouding his memory of the select few times he had seen his father. His mother was a completely unknown entity, only aware of her last name, as it was the one he now had. The thought of food entered his mind, deciding to leave his train of thought behind.

Turning his head to get a better look at her, he was met with a smile, returning a genial one in return. He noticed her attire, having only ever seen a few people dressed in a similar fashion. He wouldn’t say he understood the reasons behind the fashion, while he didn’t hate it, he neither was a fan of it either.  It fell to the simple category of neutrality. She appeared roughly his own age, perhaps younger, the height not deceiving him for he had met shorter individuals before. A simple conclusion formed in his mind to describe her, cute.

He decided a conversation with her wouldn’t hurt, yet his mind stumbled as to how to continue.  Would this be a simple exchange of words, barely even a combined five sentences before they made their separate ways, or would there be the simplest of introductions? Supposing he could take the initiative, he bowed his head in the slightest, so he no longer looked straight forward, nor would his eyes need to travel downward. “I’m Seiryū.” He supplied, wondering how he went from his usual social self to one who had to force out an introduction. Perhaps it was due to scenario he was unused to, as it hadn’t been with the initial intention of meeting another person, but acknowledging the woman playing music. He’d wait for an introduction before, saying anything further.

Deciding it felt more natural to keep thing on the side of music for the time being, he wondered if she played an instrument. He used to play the viola quite a bit, though over the years he had not played it as often, for he could not afford one for himself. With managing his finance between rent, food, clothing, and the other necessities he needed, he never could buy a viola, for he couldn’t justify the purchase, for he had no idea how much time he would commit to it. His times playing such an instrument was rare, for the last time he touched one was nearing a year and a half. “Do you play?” He asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice, “An instrument, that is.”

His right hand went to his hair, to sweep it away from his sight, the sleeve of his black long sleeved shirt falling down an inch and a half, exposing a bit of his skin to the cool air. The shirt fit snugly, not tight upon his skin, though taut enough to display a rough figure of his physique. Seiryū’s other hand reached in to the left pocket of his denim jeans, fishing out a few coins which he would give to the performer who had stopped playing. Both his feet remained planted, though he’d likely move to deposit his coins in the performer’s case soon enough.

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With a name now in memory to put to a face, Seiryū repeated the name mentally, for while short names weren’t hard to get wrong, they were often simple to forget. Or at least when he was slightly intoxicated, which didn’t seem to be the situation on this particular night. Though the chances of him recalling a name depended on the lasting impression one left, along with meeting the person on more than one occasion. The chances of that seemed slim, for the majority of the shinobi world had gathered in Kaminari no Kuni, from all the major and minor shinobi villages and included the ronin whom received word that the Chuunin Exams were hosted by Kumogakure no Sato this year. As such, the chances of Seiryū seeing her again were slim to none, since it was far more likely she hailed from a different village than his own.

His initial assumption led him to believe she at least dabbled a little here and there in playing an instrument, yet he was proven false by her few words. One could understand music without needing to play it, though most didn’t talk of it like how Mari initially described music. Though, this could also be attributed to the fact that Seiryū hadn’t sought out such conversation, one’s which delved in to a deeper meaning. While she had laughed slightly at her own comment, Seiryū’s own expression turned a bit curious, as a response had already formed in his mind. While she denied not having the ability to play an instrument, Seiryū felt it could be ascribed elsewhere, perhaps never having attempted to learn. Of course, he didn’t know her well enough to make such assumption, so he kept them lingering in his mind briefly, as they would fade away slowly.

As Mari stepped forward to drop the coins in to the case, Seiryū would follow suit, though bending over slightly as he dropped them in, the clinging of metal upon metal quietly ringing in the air. His mind slightly lingered on her comment about her lack of playing an instrument. “I’m sure it’s not as tragic as you think, Mari-san.” He went back to her comment about her own musical talent. It seemed that their words would simply go full circle, as those were the thoughts to once again enter his mind. “Your own tragedy may not be beautiful to you, but it may inspire something in someone else.” Turning to step away from the scene, he was met by Mari’s blue eyes, looking at him curiously as she aired to him the question he had asked of her. Returning to his full height, his eyes stayed upon her, taking just a moment before answering her question. It was only right if he answered the same question, no surprise for him, as this had been expected.

“I don’t mind. And I do play an instrument.” He answered with playful grin on his face. She hadn’t specified her question to ask if he played a particular instrument, though neither had he. If she wanted a real answer, she would simply have to fish it out of him. Anything could refer to a broad spectrum, though his answer solely answered the question of ‘do you play an instrument’. He didn’t intend to make a game of it, he just simply wanted to make things a little more interesting, rather than going back to their initial words to each other.

His left hand slipped back in to his pocket, simply for the warmth and comfort it provided from the cool air. Taking in a breath of air, his eyes slowly travelled across the horizon, looking at the various places one could dine, trying to find one that appealed to him, though with numerous options, it was difficult for him to choose. Simply, he’d wait for Mari to respond, if she had anything further to press, such as his inadequate answer about playing an instrument. He’d figure out where he would dine for the night sooner or later, as he found their earlier conversation a bit intriguing, even if it had been more sophisticated than he would’ve liked’ even if he was responsible for being the one to comment first. He was satisfied in her company, thus there was no need on his part to be on his way for the time being.

“So are you going to seek out more musicians all night?” He casually asked, almost as if he was simply asking about the weather. Only the slightest of mischievous grins on his face as he asked.

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Curious eyes looked at the young woman standing before him; his violet orbs watched her as he answered her question about playing an instrument. His interest was piqued by the possible response he would receive to his imprecise answer. The answer wasn’t something Seiryū kept hidden, though rarely anyone had seen him play an instrument, nor had he admitted such to anyone before. Out of all his past experiences of talking to people, those he knew or met for a sole occasion, Seiryū couldn’t recall a moment where such a detail was discussed. The only exceptions were the vague memory of his father, the director of the orphanage where he stayed at, and the elderly gentleman whom had taught him to play. Outside of those instances, there wasn’t a single person who ever learned, though he never had a discussion delving in to the subject of music beforehand.

Seiryū favoured light-hearted topics and friendly banter when becoming acquainted with a stranger. It was something he preferred as deeper conversations could result in a confrontation.

The smile continued to play at his lips, as took in her raise of an eyebrow as a sign of minor frustration regarding his answer, he hoped she wasn’t someone who was easily provoked. He knew some of tendencies could aggravate others, so it would be unfortunate if that were the case for him today. The worst that could happen, in his mind, was simply her removing herself from the situation, simply walking off.

Visually, he remained in his relaxed state, though mentally he breathed a sigh of relief when Mari had posed her question once again, this time specifying him to tell the instrument itself. “I used to play the viola.” He knew what his words meant, for he had included the words ‘used to’. That was the truth in itself, for he hadn’t touched the instrument in a year and a half, and he just couldn’t see himself picking one up in the near future, for he was determined to climb higher in the shinobi ranks of Sunagakure no Sato. “Though, I haven’t played it in some time.” He offered as a way of explanation after a brief pause, for there were a few factors that made his time with the musical instrument limited in the years he lived on his own. Him picking it up once again, while an option, wasn’t at the top of his list of priorities, though there were times he debated on choosing otherwise.

Seiryū hadn’t expected Mari to be out tonight to listen and watch street performers, as Mt. Ikkyu seemed to have a wide variety of events to offer. Aside from the music, there were the other entertainment aspects available, such as plays, movies, comedy skits, etc. There were areas where one could relax and simply enjoy themselves, whether it be at a park, spa, or a hot spring. Restaurants and cafes offered a wide variety of foods for one to delight upon, and the addition of numerous food stalls open on the streets brought in an even larger variety, for the entirety of the shinobi world practically gathered here, bringing in cooks from all around the globe to bring in their delicacies for a huge chance for profit.

At her question for a recommendation for a place to eat dinner, Seiryū was as slightly lost as she, seeing as how was just as unfamiliar with the Mt. Ikkyu as Mari had admitted to be. Fortunately, Seiryū had visited a few restaurants during his time here, though he knew Mt. Ikkyu had far more to offer than what had already been tasted by his taste buds so far. He supposed, it all depended on what she preferred to eat, if there was anything really specific. He didn’t mind what was on the menu, as he was always trying to try something new if he’d been given the chance, and Mt. Ikkyu currently provided that due to the Chuunin Exams. From her words, she hadn’t outright offered him an invitation to join her for dinner, just aiding in helping her find a place to eat, though he was willing to help her. “I’m not too familiar with the restaurants here, so I’d be more than happy to help you find a place to eat. Though it depends on what you wish to eat.” He offered with a sincere tone. Perhaps he would join her, though he hadn’t exactly received an open invitation. “Did you have anything particular in mind to eat?” Seiryū figured it best if she knew what she wanted, otherwise he could help her find something that appealed to her mind and stomach.  He figured if she truly wanted him around, she would have invited him along, or would sooner or later. Regardless, after he helped her, he’d be getting food himself, as it was solely left to a matter of whether she offered him an invitation. He figured that she preferred to dine alone than with a stranger she met while talking of music in tragic terms.

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"I was thinking about... Something traditional to this land."

A traditional place to eat with food common to the land of Kaminari no Kuni, was difficult for Seiryū to pinpoint, for being as unfamiliar with the layout of the Land of Lightning, he was just as lost when it came to the culture as well. He wasn’t well-versed in the realm of travel and the various aspects that were associated with it, the most noticeable one at the time being food. With the amount of street vendors and actual restaurants available to tourists and denizens, there was bound to be more than a few establishments that served food staple to the land of this year’s Chuunin Exams. All it would truly take was a bit of walking and examining to find something traditional.

Thinking briefly on things, keeping things limited to what he knew wouldn’t be traditional to Kaminari no Kuni, such as curry; a specialty of Sunagakure no Sato, Seiryū was drawing a few blanks when it came to actual food that originated from this land. The resource used would need to be abundant to the land, one of the indicators of a more common food to those who lived in these lands. Maybe it was far more practicable for them to wonder for a bit to see what there was to offer as well. Of course, Seiryū had a few lingering ideas of what they could eat, as he knew that yagisashi, rafute, and soki were somewhat common in Kaminari no Kuni.

As he was about to supply the idea of walking about to see what vendors had to offer, in regards to Lightning Country specialties, he heard his companions voice once more.

“Ah... Seiryū-san, I know we have just met, but if you are going through the trouble of assisting me, then I think it would be rude of me to not ask you to join me with dinner. It may be odd to have meal with a stranger, though I think it is also true that all friends begin as strangers to each other.”

A smile graced his lips as he heard those words, a polite and pleasant one, for he knew those words in different terms, but the meaning remained the same. To make a friend, or an enemy, they would have to start off as complete strangers. Everyone was a stranger from one’s one first breath, including their parents, though experiences would be the only thing to form such connections with another person. Seiryū wasn’t one to push himself in to someone’s life if they hadn’t wished it, though he often was the one to keep a certain amount of distance no matter the case. His own personal connections were proof of that. He was glad, however, that Mari had wished, more or less, to be friends. However, the chances of running in to her again, after leaving Kumogakure no Sato were slim, as the shinobi world was vast. Her soft, blue eyes no longer looking at him after her statement, veering off to the side in the slightest. If she wished for their interactions to continue tonight, who was he to deny her request? After all, he also wished to get to know her a little better, for the chances of them crossing paths once everyone returned to their home countries was near impossible.

“I’d be glad to join you Mari-san.” His words were honest, for he was intrigued by her and wished to figure out as much as he could before the parted ways. “Everyone is a stranger at one point.” Seiryū alluded to, truth being within his words as he had made a few friends; he never really liked the term acquaintances even if the people he met would fall under such a category. “So, best we try and remedy that.” Seiryū added with a friendly grin, voicing his wish to get to know her in a good-natured method.

He’d take a quick glance around at the nearby buildings and street vendors, taking in what they had to offer, from the minimal amounts he could see. One thing was for certain, the restaurants would definitely be the more likely option for finding food that one would be a custom to this land, though it would definitely offer for a more expensive occasion. From his own experiences, the stands and vans on the streets would provide, more than likely, a more affordable experience and a unique taste one couldn’t find elsewhere.

“Well, let’s get going then.” The white-haired male voiced out, wishing to find a place to eat to sate his hunger. He would wait a moment before turning and strolling casually down the street, a pace in which it would be easy for Mari to catch up with his longer steps, though he started off slowly enough for him to fall in to step from the start. Seiryū himself wouldn’t choose a place unless she strongly insisted so, for he simply wished to alleviate his current hunger, and trying something different never hurt him before, just his taste buds.

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As expected, it wasn’t long before the person whom invited him along fell in to step with him. He was unhurried in his steps for three reasons, one of his own and two applying to specifically tonight. The first of the three fell to his companion’s shorter height, thus the need for him to take a slower pace to accommodate her steps. It was simple manners and the company he wished to keep that made him take on a leisurely pace. The second of the three reasons was more generalized, for he wasn’t accustomed to the layout of Mt. Ikkyu, barely having a clue of the inn he was staying in. Clues that were abundant to him were the around the building itself, for he had made a mental note of the things offered around such a place. For Seiryū to rush or walk unhurriedly made no difference whatsoever, as he would likely to become more lost the faster he went around the place, even if it wasn’t the largest area, when comparing it to a shinobi village. The final, and most common, reason for Seiryū’s current pace was that he never really rushed anywhere, taking his time when it came to going out. Even in Suna, knowing the streets inside and out, Seiryū often went about taking his time when going from point A to point B.

Seiryū enjoyed the atmosphere presented by Mt. Ikkyu when the sun had set and the only source of light in the sky was from the moon and stars. The street lights illuminated the path, the people, the street carts and the buildings. Escaping the buildings was the dim lighting of the inside, made even dimmer by the lightly tinted glass windows, providing for a more private experience for those dining inside. Then there were the shops that had bright lighting escaping them, adding a brighter source of brightness for the streets, though only in much smaller patches. The sounds coming from the streets were numerous and boisterous, coming from all sorts of people, a few children still running through the crowds with their parents as the night was beginning to fully set upon them.

While he was still looking for a place to eat, he had fully decided on letting his new found decide where they would go. If they were in Suna, he would’ve taken the initiative, for he knew a majority of the restaurants there and the general consensus of good and bad places to eat. Sadly, he had no control over such an unknown variable here, so Seiryū figured it was best to go with what caught ones eye, and that eye would be Mari’s tonight.

"Ah... Seiryū-san, how about some food from that vendor over there?"

They had been walking for a bit, though not too long at all. The silence that fell between the beginning of their short journey and now was a silence that he felt he could enjoy, for the area around them remained noisy. Often times, Seiryū preferred idle chatter to a common silence, but this one was one he found he could accept, for Mari didn’t seem like a person who spoke too much. As her question about the takoyaki stand arose, whether they should get their food from there or not, Seiryū wordlessly glanced over in her direction, the smell of the food immediately reaching his nose upon he mentioning of it. His eyes went to the vendor, just to take in the site, acknowledging slight line leading up to the stand itself. The wait wouldn’t be more than a few minutes. His eyes went back to Mari’s

“If that’s what you wish to eat Mari-san. I don’t mind what we eat.” Seiryū stated, slowing his steps even more, seeing if she would veer off towards the stand first, or if he’d need to be the one to do so. Either way, they’d end up in the line with four people in front of them, each being a pair on their own, much like Seiryū and Mari currently.

Not wanting to stand in silence, though he still could appreciate it from before, as he never felt a need to interject a word, he turned to face his companion, as they wouldn’t be moving much for the time being. Feeling to get the most wondering question off his mind, one that would surely either provide a common ground between them or difference between them that neiher would understand, Seiryū looked down to meet her eyes once more. “Mari-san,” he began, a curious look taking over his features once again, “do you mind if I ask if you’re a shinobi?” It was difficult to tell at times, for even civilians seemed to look forward to the chuunin exams, even if they didn’t possess an inkling of knowledge of what it took. Perhaps she was a civilian who was intrigued by the exams.

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You win this round, Mari.

The likelihood of meeting a shinobi at the current time was far more probably than meeting a civilian. Civilians, while they would spectate, were more caught up in the commercial and entertainment value brought to them from such a significant event. They wouldn’t understand the meaning behind the exams themselves, as they knew that shinobi were able to become a chuunin outside of the exams as well. For them, the Chuunin Exams were nothing more than event for them to spectate the future generations of shinobi, as well as those who lagged behind. Seiryū himself would have participated, but he had managed to become a chuunin well before the chuunin exams began, thus not needing to participate. Though, he would have likely passed if he was a genin, solely due to the fact that he felt his style wasn’t yet suited for such, but one day it would be.

Her answer was a simple one, she was indeed a shinobi. Of what country, he didn’t really care, for this was likely to be the only meeting between them. Perhaps one day in the future their paths would cross once again, though Seiryū didn’t expect such to happen in the near future. Her answer wasn’t finished as just being a genin, as she went on to explain that she wouldn’t be entering the exams this year, for she had forgotten to sign up for them. Her diverted look told him more than enough of how she felt about the situation. Seiryū couldn’t fault her for her embarrassment, as most would feel the same if they’d been caught in a similar situation to hers. A look crossed Seiryū’s face, not fully of understanding (as he hadn’t dealt with a similar situation), one he hoped would be comforting in the least. With his eyes still upon her, he noticed the light blush that covered her cheeks, a smile to go along with it.

Her still coming to Kumo was a slight feat in itself, for while she suffered from her own embarrassment, she had at least decided to show up to the very event she hadn’t signed up for. Seiryū knew she didn’t need to explain such a thing to him, for he could have easily assumed she didn’t want to participate and preferred observing instead. When she went on to explain her reasoning for coming here regardless, it fell in line with Seiryū’s own, though he wouldn’t have been allowed to participate as he was a chuunin by the time the registration came to a close. Though, he likely would’ve watched even if he could have participated.

Her blue orbs went back to him, the line they were standing in becoming shorter, as it was solely the pair in front of them remaining. She rehashed his question towards him, her features beginning to return to their previous state as she smiled once more. “I am a shinobi, though not much higher.” He supplied, his features remaining lax. “Just a chuunin. Became one a few weeks before the exams began.” Seiryū explained, though there wasn’t much that needed detailing for his rank.

“I doubt we would’ve met if things had gone differently. Perhaps you’d be too busy preparing for the exams to simply watch street performers.” Seiryū offhandedly remarked, for things could’ve easily been drastically altered from how the current state of their lives were. Every action could simply be taken as such, really.

“Next.”

The sound had come from none other than the cook, for he had served the customers that were in front of Seiryū and Mari. He slowly walked up towards the cart; leaving room for Mari to step ahead if need be, for she was the one who desired takoyaki. With that in mind, he simply directed a glance in her direction, raising a single brow as if to indicate she could order first. His right hand, in the meantime, delved in to his pocket to fish out enough ryo to pay.

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He slowed down the process of getting his ryo out of his wallet, deliberately taking his time with the motion as Mari voiced out her order to the cook behind the stand. He’d been unsure of if he’d enjoy the food, for he lacked tasting takoyaki prior to today’s events, but he knew he wouldn’t know until they hit his tongue. Trying out new foods was always an experience, whether Seiryū found it an enjoyable one or not was continually up for debate with each new encounter. He withdrew just enough ryo to pay for his meal and for a slight tip for the services the cook was providing, a reasonable amount for Seiryū’s own financial status.

As Mari stepped to the side, having received her food in exchange for her money, it was his own turn to do the same. He too, exchanged his ryo with the man at the till in exchange for the cup that housed his meal for now. The dough balls didn’t look too appealing to the eyes, yet he had learned that how food looked didn’t always translate to how it would taste. Being a rather… terrible cook, Seiryū often went out for food back in Sunagakure no Sato, and the meals he had at home were simple, most of the time involving heating the food up for a few minutes before eating. He simply never found the time to put in to cooking for himself, always finding it more convenient when it was done for him. Seiryū never could gauge his own aptitude for cooking as he simply avoided it enough times that it became a simple habit to never really cook for himself.

Thanking the cook for the food softly, Seiryū went to join his newfound companion, one that he would lose as soon as one of the two decided it was time to part ways. He found her simply gazing at her food, not having taken a bite. Just as he joined her, he heard the words "Itadakimasu" which he repeated himself, just a mere moment after she had said them herself.

He didn’t dive right into eating, as he waited a moment to take another look at the food. A quick glance told him that Mari had already began eating. With the utmost care, Seiryū took hold of one of the skewers, taking one of the balls of dough with it, and took a moderately sized bite of the food. While most people went in to the finer details of how the food tasted, Seiryū’s categorization of food was limited to a select few categories; particularly whether he enjoyed the taste of it or not. There were foods that simply fell to his mood or a category in between and impartiality, but other than that, his appreciation for food simply came down to whether he enjoyed the taste or not. He could taste the octopus, as he never had it before, the taste being something entirely new to his system. The onions and the mayonnaise were what he could acknowledge as he tasted them, for he had countless meals utilizing them before.

“I like it, do you?”

He had finished his finished his first takoyaki ball and was practically done his second when he heard the dark-haired girl speak up once more. “Ah, they’re really good.” Seiryū stated, having put down his skewer which held the remnants of his second takoyaki ball, almost entirely finished. He hadn’t known he finished two in the amount of time that Mari finished her first, as he enjoyed it enough to get more food in his mouth.

Seiryū figured he’d be able to grab another snack when he parted ways with Mari, as he was hungry and doubted the takoyaki would satisfy his level of hunger. It wasn’t an immediate concern of his, for his time in Kumogakure no Sato was essentially a vacation, thus not needing to wake up for anything the next morning if the night carried on too late for him. He supressed a yawn, not allowing it to escape or be noticed, as he faced the blue-eyed female once more. Seiryū figured if they would be parting ways soon, it was best to simply get that out of the way, so they could both move on with their day… night. That wasn’t to say he wished to simply retire and leave Mari’s presence, as he hadn’t had a night where he simply walked around Mt. Ikkyu at night, gazing about at the various street performers, trying the variety of snacks from food vendors, and the stalls which merchants opened up, selling trinkets of varying values.

“So, have anything else planned for tonight,” His expression relaxed in to a relatively neutral one, though with a sportive grin etching on his features, ”Ma-ri.” Seiryū elongated her name just a tad taking his time pronouncing each syllable, dropping the honorific entirely just for the time being, not to be disrespectful, but simply to gauge her reaction. Remain formal and distant wasn’t something Seiryū was known to do, not when it came to meeting a stranger. Of course, he was somewhat of a hypocrite in that sense, for he tended to create a distance once anyone became too close to him, a trait he didn’t know where it originated.

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“Actually, I was just thinking of spending the night wandering around for a little longer, maybe get some more food, buy a souvenir or two, listen to some tragic songs by street performers, Seiryū-kun.”

The response he received from the words he said towards his… friend… was one of the more favourable ones he could have gotten. His perception of how people responded to him, whether it came from his rare moments of seriousness or when he displayed his friendly nature, determined how he would go about acting around the other person. As of fifteen minutes ago, perhaps more or less, Seiryū was still gauging her personality, for he knew little of her with the exception of her given name, her shinobi status, and her forgetfulness when it came to signing up for the chuunin exams. So far, with just those minor details, he figured she could easily be a person he would hang around with, if he had come across her in Sunakagure no Sato, though he’d make friends with almost anybody.

Mari dropping the more formal honorific on his name was unexpected, nor did he anticipate her calling him Seiryū-kun, but he couldn’t say he despised being called that. Seiryū’s personal boundaries differed than most people, for people getting in to his personal space wasn’t something that bothered him too much, unless the act behind it was physically aggressive in a manner that Seiryū did not approve of. Instead, the main boundaries he developed was with personal relations, never having had one go beyond mere friends. He was fine with friends; anything more was trending on unfamiliar territory. Just thinking about his own person was slightly ironic, for where he was sociable, he lacked the friends to justify that claim. His only physical response to being called such was the smile on his face widening marginally, his brow quirking briefly once more.

“Perhaps, you would not mind keeping me company for a little while longer? If you have no other plans that is…”

With an invitation open towards him and with no other plans set for the remainder of the night, aside from sleeping, there wasn’t a point for him to decline the invitation. Better to be in the company of someone whom he enjoyed being around thus far compared to strolling through the main hub of Mt. Ikkyu alone. Seiryū figured he wouldn’t do much else other than simply walk around, watch whatever entertainment sources were on the streets, and grab a snack or two before heading back to his hotel room to call it a night. A full on dinner seemed out of the question for him, mainly because he’d grow impatient of waiting for the food to be prepared, as it would likely take upwards of thirty minutes from the time he ordered his food, excluding appetizers. Plus, he knew it was inexpensive to use the route of street vendors or fast-food establishments than restaurants. All of what Mari was essentially going to do, with or without his presence.

“Hmm…” He pretended to slightly think about his response, even while he knew what he would say regardless. Seiryū’s free hand, the one not supporting his takoyaki, rose to his face, his thumb scratching the side of his chin. “Well, I don’t have anything else to do, so I guess you can put up with me just a little bit longer.” The words weren’t meant to be serious, unlike their earlier conversation, instead jesting as friends would. He reached down for a skewer, picking up his third takoyaki ball and taking a small bite of it. His eyes swept around the area that had relocated to, not far off from where they had originally met, but certainly a respectable distance away from their initial whereabouts.

As he finished chewing on the finally bits of takoyaki that he had bitten into, he rested the skewer back in to the box the takoyaki had come with. Thoughtfully chewing his food before swallowing, Seiryū’s eyes once again went to meet Mari’s, his purple orbs returning the mischievous look hers had given him. “I think I’ve heard enough tragic music for today, unless it happens to be you picking up an instrument.” Seiryū quipped, no seriousness behind his remark, though he certainly did wonder how terrible she would be with an instrument.

He figured that since they were still munching on their takoyaki, they could grab more food once they were done. They had already listened to music, talked about it, and it was how the connected to begin with, so he wouldn’t mind doing such a thing. As for souvenirs, while he didn’t need to buy any, he wouldn’t simply mind browsing to see what the shops had in stock, assuming it was somewhat important to Mari to buy a couple. “More music or souvenirs first?” He asked, returning to a bit more calm manner. He didn’t have a preference, for he wouldn’t be buying anything except for food later on. As he would wait for Mari’s decision, for he would follow her wherever she chose, Seiryū took his skewer and put the final portion of his third takoyaki ball in to his mouth.

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“I would like to look around some of the other vendors, see what little trinket I could end up finding.”

As he chewed upon the takoyaki within his mouth, Seiryū received Mari’s choice of where the two of them would venture to next. Like he assumed, with food already in their possession currently, they needn’t worry about picking up a snack for the next little while, for the takoyaki would suffice them at least until their trip to the souvenir shop came to a close. From there it would simply fall back to his female companion for where they would go to next. Seiryū was fine being a follower in these terms for as long as Mari enjoyed herself, with his company, for however long it would last. He could’ve easily decided to call it a night here, scarf down the remains of his takoyaki, grab something else to eat and head back to his hotel room. That had been his original idea, spending the night alone and wandering without a purpose. Yet, like one of the many times before, he ran across a person, began talking with them, and eventually stayed in their company for however long seemed appropriate. After that, meeting them again, usually never occurred due to Seiryū’s lack of consistency when it came to a routine.

At the same time Seiryū was a creature of habit and wasn’t. For while he did the same general routine, it never followed the same methodology as the last time. The changes were minor, yet they were drastic when taking in to account how a routine faired. Seiryū simply did something different each day, never settling on something that he could simply repeat the next day. Sure there were times he did something reminiscent of a previous experience, yet enough time had passed that it didn’t seem too familiar with him.

When Mari had decided that they’d be looking at more vendors, this time those who sold souvenirs, Seiryū’s response was a nod. He wasn’t familiar with souvenirs, never really having to get one before due to his prolonged stay in Sunagakure no Sato. That and he never had anyone he could simply buy a little trinket for. His life, ever since his father decided that he didn’t want his bastard son, was keeping a distance from others, not becoming close friends with anyone, but being able to call someone a friend without feeling the need to lie. If one person, who was tied to him by blood, didn’t feel like associating with him, what would stop others from doing the same? It just made making a decision far easier. By having friends who didn’t know much about him and in return, he didn’t know much about them, never seeing them again would be easier to execute. All in all, he’d be able to call Mari a friend by the time they parted ways, but it wouldn’t bother him beyond that.

Seiryū wordlessly gestured to continue down the path they had been walking down, his steps once again going down the path in a slow pace, not overly eager to rush anywhere in particular. His steps were slow enough for Mari to easily fall in to step with him, for it was for her they were going about the area, looking for a souvenir shop. He wasn’t sure exactly what she would be seeking out, but he supposed one of the many stalls upon the street would hold something she found interesting enough to buy. While Seiryū didn’t have anyone to buy anything for, perhaps he could get a small memento for her, simply due to providing him with a somewhat memorable night. It would be something simple, inexpensive, but something that he deemed suitable for Mari. Though, it would take some time for him to find such an item… and he was limited to the time he was with Mari to find such an item.

Finding a small shop along the way; one of many, Seiryū saw multiple small objects littering the majority of the kiosk, plush toys, jewellery and ornaments covered it, mugs and postcards were given their own little corner. On the walls were shirts, most likely hung there from the tag, though the actual products were likely hidden away and brought out when one wished to purchase one. Hanging from the ceiling off black netting were other odd bits of décor, one’s one could hang in their home.

Glancing back towards Mari, Seiryū assuming she had taken note of the shop, he wondered if she wished to stop at this one or find a larger one, one with far variety available. “Shall we stop by here? Or find another one?”

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Sorry for the lack of direction... was stumped where to go with it.

“Sure, this place looks good.”

Her nod and movements towards the stand was enough for him to indicate that this would be their next stop, one of a few more he supposed, before the night came to its conclusion for them both. Time, while something much appreciated, was something he also felt was too short. For as much as strangers as he was to Mari, and he to her, their time together thus far had been intriguing and something he didn’t wish to end for quite some time more. Unfortunately, everything must come to an end, and this evening would be just another one that would end. This night, like the others where he met others from different countreies, would end iin Seiryū likely never seeing them again, due to vastness of the shinobi world and the countless amounts of individuals that resided within. Of course, he had met a few individuals to date, though he knew all hailed from a different village than Sunagakure no Sato, so what would make this instance any different? Just from the conclusions he reached thus far, it was safe for the purple eyed individual to assume Mari was from another village and it would be redundant to ask for the likelihood of seeing her again was slim. For one, he’d have to visit the country she hailed from. Secondly, he’d have to seek her out to meet her once again. For these two simple reasons, Seiryū felt that this meeting would be satisfying enough.

“My mother use to hang wind chimes in the balcony of our house. When I was little, I used to think they sounded like laughing fairies.”

The smile the graced Mari’s face was enough to break a small one on to Seiryū’s features, yet his thoughts travelled elsewhere, to wonders and ideas he wished no to explore, thoughts that which prevailed in his mind multiple times before. While this shouldn’t initially make him wonder about such a thing, after so many years of not having a clue, Seiryū continually wondered who his mother was. Was she even breathing? How old was she? Did he look anything like her? He supposed he got his hair colour from her, even if he always ended up changing it to its current state. His father’s face, while still becoming a blur, he at least knew some of the features he receive from him; his eyes. He could still see the piercing purple orbs when he looked himself in the mirror, wondering if his would match that man’s in the future. As for his mother, he always wondered about her, if she grew to be happy without him. Why she hadn’t given him a home, and instead left him with the man who sired him. Thinking it best to simply rid his thoughts by focusing more upon his companion, Seiryū carefully stepped up beside her, taking note of the item which had caught her attention.

“Laughing… fairies.” Seiryū slowly repeated as he closely inspected the item. While he wouldn’t believe such a tale with his matured mind, he wondered if his mother would’ve told him such tales if she had been an influence in his life. Would he have believed her with the childish innocence he barely ever had a chance to explore? He could vaguely imagine his younger self running around after a shadowy figure, one that was clearly a woman, yet with no distinct shape. His father made sure to push such childish thoughts away as soon as they came and before he could realize it, Seiryū’s father had essentially thrown him out. Seiryū’s fist unintentionally clenched, tightening so that it minisculely shook if one were to look directly at it. After that action by his father, Seiryū had a whole new world to deal with, one that came with living in an orphanage in a poor neighbourhood. The yakuza, gangs, and petty thieves, he dealt with them all, having to play on either side just for his own survival before he could eject himself from that life.

”So soft… A mini Gyūki.”He turned to look at Mari once again, noticing she had a small brown plush in her hands, one with numerous tails. The name ‘Gyūki’ wrung a bell, the tails of the depiction of the creature – one that was terribly inaccurate in terms of monstrosity – telling the Imada what the name was associated with. While the Tailed Beasts no longer actively roamed their lands, Seiryū wondered what happened to them, for he heard tales of their carnage and importance in previous shinobi wars, yet he was unaware of what happened to such powerful creatures afterwards. “It makes one wonder, what would a chakra beast of immense power think of its image now put in plush form?”

He smirked, though one not as wide as his previous ones, his mind still muddled with his previous thoughts. “Well, I’ll be sure to ask the Gyūki the next time I see him.” He said as he stepped a bit closer, taking a better look at the available selection they had available. One that caught his eye wasn’t the largest one they had available, though it was a moderate size for such an item. The majority of the figure was a pale green; the most notable feature was a spike protruding from its head. The snout of the plush was short and curved, easily transitioning into the body which would otherwise be indiscernible from the head. Dull brownish-red eyes stayed in place, staring off straight ahead with no intention to look elsewhere. Simple black markings came down from either side of the eyes and just slightly from the upper corners. Upon its belly was a red, upright rhombus, dictating a scale like pattern. On either side of the rhombus were smaller black markings. Its short, stubby arms were just that of a simple plush toy, lacking fingers. Its feet had a single toenail each, indicated by the white protruding shape extending from its feet. Its tail was reminiscent of a pinecone, though with only a single lair.

A quick transaction was all it took, Seiryū not thinking twice about doing such, having given the ryo to the vendor in exchange for the item. While he didn’t always give gifts to people, he supposed that since they were already here, he may as well give Mari something to remember this night by, or at the very least Kumogakure no Sato; if she got nothing for herself. With the plush back in his possession, he simply turned back to face his companion with blue eyes, presenting her with the item for her to take from his hands. “This, is for you, m’lady.” The playful twinkle in his eyes returning as the words left him. “You have no choice but to take it, otherwise my hard-earned ryo that I spent on this will be for nothing.” The words were merely in jest, though her having to take the item itself was not. He figured, since it was the first item to catch his eye, it would be the one he would give to her. Of course, the item he would never see again after the night passed.

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Or default to Pokemon... I blame you for this!
Whose that Pokemon!?

“Seiryū-kun… I… Thank you. Heh, it’s soft and… really cute. I really like cute things.”

Seiryū was glad she enjoyed the souvenir, gift really, that he had bought for her. The amount of people he ever bought a gift for was limited; in fact, he couldn’t recall a single person off the top of his head that he had done such a thing for. Except one, excluding the gift he had just purchased mere moments ago. The only person that Seiryū had given a present to, aside from Mari, was the person who took care of him for a few years, before Seiryū had the brilliant idea of trying to make it on his own by the age of twelve. While that individual wasn’t related to him by blood, they could easily have been mistaken for a grandparent. Due to living in an orphanage, the elderly man, who was essentially a grandfather to Seiryū, was kind to all the other children as well. In fact, Seiryū highly doubted he would’ve been his favourite due to his rambunctious nature. In the end, Seiryū could barely recall what he had given to him when he had moved away from the orphanage, and knew he’d never be able to figure it out, for the man had passed from age. Even his name was something he could no longer recall.

The pleasing factor associated with making someone else happy was enough to satisfy Seiryū for the time being, having done, what he supposed was, a good deed for the day. As he took another takoyaki ball to eat, Seiryū smiled when she averted her eyes, admitting to the fact, while still a shinobi, she was still very human at heart. A faint smile graced his lips as she admitted those words, not having met many shinobi before admitting to liking things that were traditionally associated with civilians. All of which was truly untrue, for they were as human as anyone else, just the difference happened to be that their lifestyle sometimes commanded them to contain their humanity for the sake of security.

”Um, Seiryū-kun, I apologize, but I am afraid that I do not quite know what to get you…”

Her apology was unfounded, for they still knew next to nothing about each other. Seiryū himself could only add one more thing to the short list of things he knew about Mari, she had a fondness for cute things. As for him, he really didn’t require anything from this shop, for he didn’t want to trouble Mari. There was the slight assumption in his mind that she wouldn’t take no for an answer, since he had bought her a gift, a reminder of their night here in Mt. Ikkyu, and presumed she would wish to do the same. Glancing around the room once more, taking everything in again, he knew there wasn’t much that he would need or want, since nothing here was of practical use or applied to him in his everyday life. His own lifestyle had left the majority of his apartment barren, only having the necessities for his day to day life, with nothing to spice up the room. Even with the amount of time he spent in his apartment, he never felt the need to decorate it, satisfied with its current appearance.

The only thing he figured could be of use to him was the item Mari had been looking at earlier, perhaps a wind chime, even then, it would be something he wouldn’t necessarily need. “You’re guess is as good as mine, Mari-chan. I’ve never really had anything that was worth keeping, except the bare necessities.” The truth was in his words, for he could never own an item that held value other than a practical use. There was never a time when he had a toy to call his own; something which helped him let the time fly faster. Even the musical instrument he played, he never had one to call his. Seiryū simply had to make due with using the ones available to him, a task that was never easy due to his previous status. As sad as that truth was, it was normal for him, something which didn’t affect him too much, solely for the fact that his personal possessions helped for his survival or with his current job, nothing more.

He looked at each individual item, not really finding anything that he would truly need. His short look round around had brought him back to where he started. Seiryū’s eyes went up, to the several dangling items. His fingers lightly touched the wind chime, one of many, though the one that Mari had touched earlier. The light chimes that released from his delicate touch echoed through their direct proximity. His earlier smile transformed, now no longer transparent, but simple all the same. He never was too particular with the things he owned and a gift should be the same.

“You don’t really need to get me anything… never really had too many personal possessions.” He was repeating himself, a slight melancholy to his words, but entirely laced with the truth. “But, if you really wish to get me something, why not choose it yourself? Gifts are meant to convey feelings of sorts, are they not?” He didn’t know why his words transformed to something more philosophical, as he had planned to just be blunt about it. Seiryū would be satisfied with just the gesture of her wishing to get him a gift, though it certainly wasn’t needed, for they had originally arrived here for her desire to buy a souvenir or two.

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