You can see everything, except for what is within...

Kurai often felt the only way to rectify this was to step out of himself and look at the grandiose of the Iwagakure. Even more effective for him, was engaging with another. In these times people were always in danger of being fatally annoyed by the story teller. His pen sought and would leech onto any story. He would strive to place himself where they were, and help them to express what he felt they could not... sounds overbearing, it is. A necessary flaw of a creative perfectionist. 

He stood atop the cliff, studying what was visible of Iwagakure, his home, his refugee. This place bore so many memories. So many adventures. This was not enough to quench the insatiable appetite of Kurai. He decided to come to this spot to pray, and to find an outlet to exercise his creativity. What would his next story be? Who would it feature? 

The people in Kurai's life were like the clouds that bubbled in the heavens. When they are present, he felt a shadow projected, but it was only after the sorrow brought by the scorching sun that he missed their fluffy and invasive presence. A cloud was rolling in now, was a sign of a visitor. He surely hoped so. Kurai knelt down, took out a round relic with a chain attached. He grasped it in both hands and bowed his head. 

He murmured indistinctly as the clouds cooled his head. Kurai began to wobble near the edge of the cliff. The forecast was so soothing, he felt himself falling asleep. Unbeknownst to Kurai, a scorpion was inching closer to him. Kurai was extremely afraid of just about any animal. The chuunin would hear the scratching of the earth, his eyes were pried open to find the scorpion to his side. Out of instinct he scurried in panic, and lost his balance over the cliff!

His shaking eyes stared up at his hands turning red. The scorpion peered over. Kurai squeezed his eyes  shut and the relic in his left hand in response. His mind was now racing, formulating multiple plans to escape the consequences of his untimely slip. The clouds were still hanging over his head.


WC: 370

The muscles in his arms began to flex to their capacity, it would become apparent that brute strength would not win the day. Kurai snapped his eyes shot again. Once he reopened them, just as he began to mold chakra in his left hand... he felt something coil around his wrist. The scorpion ... no... that is not it...

His eyes fought to penetrate the glare of the sun obscuring his view of what was snaking around his wrist. Once the glare deteriorated, it allowed Kurai to make the appearance of another shinobi. The girl was helping him up. Kurai immediately relaxed his body, and moved his body in sync with hers, maximizing the momentum in order to make it easier for her to pull him up. Finally, Kurai was back on stable ground, and he had this girl to thank... but for some reason Kurai could not speak. He could only lie on his side staring at the girl. His face turned red with embarrassment, a new feeling for Kurai indeed. The ninja love over the cliff and scooted further away, after turning his head he realized he was much closer to the girl now. Kurai pushed himself up and offered his hand to the girl. "Thank you. Please let me return the favor."

Kurai could not believe this shinobi happened to be here just in time. "I could not have picked a better time to fall it seems. I am Han Kurai, despite my clumsiness, I am a shinobi. What's your name?"

WC: 254/624

Kuni was her name... Kurai would laugh off her remarks and dusted himself off. Perhaps if Kuni had not just saved him, her sharp tongue might prick his skin. But as it stood, he could not form an unfavorable thought of her. Naturally, she wanted to know what was so important that he almost lost his life. My purpose Kurai thought to himself. 

He was excited to share his reason for being up here, but quelled his passion for spiritualism slightly. "I came up here to pray. I seek spiritual guidance to help me find a muse for my poetry." Kurai's eyes became softer, as his mind wondered if she could be a muse to him. He wondered where she was from, why they had not met. The net of her life that he wanted to weave, was complicated, and would take patience, which was not necessarily Kurai's strength. 

Towering over Kuni slightly, Kurai took in Kuni's appearance. She had long dark orange hair. Unfortunately he could not track her eyes down, as they frequently darted off into space, showing her annoyance with being pulled into pulling some one up. Kurai's mind tried to paint a more vivid picture of Kuni. On the surface, she took a disliking to having to help Kurai, giving Kurai the impression, that she herself did not like assistance and would be happy as long as she was independent.

So long as she could say, "I did it, without needing anyone else...", she might be content. 

The thought caused him to impulsively spurt out, "Where are you from?.... I have never seen you on this cliff before.

Kurai was aware of the slight tension. He wondered if he could break the ice calmly, or would the rifts prove disastrous.

WC: 298/922

Kurai pondered the girl's response.

So she is from Iwagakure... hmmm. 

Kurai thought about pressing deeper, but she flung a question back at him. One pertaining to the content of his poetry. Kurai stared out over the cliff. The sight of Iwagakure was prevalent in so much of his prose. 

"The content can be summed up as adventurous, but my goal is to do more than entertain."

Kurai peaked back over the cliff, he could hear the indistinct chatter and rustling of the village below. "Like any story teller, I draw on my experience and the experience of others."

"So Kuni, do you have any hobbies?"

What activities could possibly captivate Kuni? Other than being from Iwagakure, what shaped her views? Other than knowing a person's family history, their hobbies might be the next best indicator. So far, she was very blunt and serious, so much he could not picture any layers to her. 

She is a closed book.


This, to an avid reader was highly intriguing. It was equivalent to having to wait weeks before moving on to the next page. The mysterious Kuni had Kurai hooked. Perhaps, if they had something in common, he could secure another meeting in a different place. At the very least, fate would have them meet again.

Information was slow to be pulled from Kuni, to be expected. Most shinobi Kurai encountered were this way. However, there was always one means of extracted information from a shinobi, and that was fighting. Typically, the pride of a shinobi would enable them to express their inner feelings in battle. Most were skilled at concealing information in battle, but eventually their fist would tell the tale. Kuni asked if Kurai had any other hobbies besides... 'that'.

Kurai clenched his fist, causing the leather on the gloves to emit a tightening sound. "I have many things I pursue, but if we are strictly talking about hobbies, there is only one thing that comes to mind. Training and fighting. My passion is ..." Kurai paused, as even he was uncomfortable revealing such idealistic beliefs... "My passion is to bring peace to the world. Help everyone resolve issues by using their words, and work to understand differing beliefs. However, in order to do that, you must know people. Till this day, I have not found a better method to understanding another person, than by engaging in physical combat. It is spiritual if you ask me." 

Kurai smiled, with a tinge of embarrassment invading his smile. Not just shinobi, but people in general were jaded, and often would laugh at these ideologies. It was clearly naive to some, and Kurai could not fault them for their perspective. However, he was confident he had a deeper source of wisdom. When the world's heart is softened, he would penetrate their harsh and archaic perspective. 

"I know you have more to say, Kuni. So what do you say to a friendly spar? "

Kurai relaxed his hand. His loose shirt was not buttoned all the way, and fluttered in the gentle breeze. His pouch was secured on his backside. If she accepted, "Follow me, there is a clearer patch of earth, more fitting for a spar."

The two would quickly arrive to a clearing, it was undulating with gravel but it was still good land to fight on. It was not a perfect circle, but it was approximately 15 meters in diameter. On the outskirts was an audience of wilting trees that were very skinny. In the midst were a few strong wide trees that could provide sufficient cover. Kurai moved to the middle to the middle. He widened his stance making a mark in the gravel. He would observe what was to transpire next keenly, but he was willing to strike first if his comrade was not of that cloth. 

However, would Kuni accept this challenge or would she prove even more mysterious and deprive Kurai of seeing what she is like in combat. Or would Kurai finally see a new side of her, or would her fighting style merely be an extension of her aloof and frank demeanor.

Kurai got his wish. He was anxious to see her style. They walked to the clearing to test each other's ability. As they faced off, she wasted little time before rushing forward. It was bold but calculating at the same time. Kuni raised her right leg, and aimed at a knee at his ribs. It was a solid attack. Kurai absorbed the contact and used it to initiate a pseudo cartwheel over her right leg and to his left. Once his left hand slammed on the ground, he used his coordination to draw a kunai quickly and throw it at the back of her left calf.

If the kunai struck her leg, he would come out of a crouched stance to uncoil a quick right cross for her face. If the kunai strike was unsuccessful, he would go into a somersault and quickly hopped backwards a few feet. He would throw 3 senbon at Kuni's chest as he skipped back simultaneously.

From Kurai extensive taijutsu training, he had a feeling, hand to hand combat was not her specialty. She is holding back, let's she how she reacts now.

If Kurai continued with the right cross, he could further analyze her taijutsu. If not, he could the senbon as a distraction perhaps. He was still not completely sure how to continue, or what type of plan to forumulate.