1 High-Quality H2O (Social|Private|Kuno) Sun Apr 16, 2017 7:24 pm
Rokumaru
D-rank
The muscles burned and screamed at Roku as he left the Tsumi Sand Grounds, having just been whipped half to hell by his sister Sana in what she called 'training'. If you could call unsuccessfully dodging bullets of earth, getting beaten by a golem made of rock-hard sand and not even stopping for a break 'training'. Personally, he just thought his older sister was a bit of a sadist and enjoyed the sight of Roku in pain. The hour-long session left him bruised and likely bleeding internally, but he still had to thank Sana for taking time out of her schedule to help him. It was definitely the last time Rokumaru would ask her to train together. She didn't even offer to heal him up with some medical jutsu, when they both knew she could. Should have listened to Gorou's warning.
He really hadn't been this beaten up before. All of his training prior to this was in long-range offensive combat, using a practice puppet to hone his hand-eye coordination and Ninjutsu that could be used from a distance. The only experience that came close were the Taijutsu sparring sessions back at the Academy, when the civilian kids took their chance to bust the haughty and proud Sabaku down a couple notches.
Even still, those bruises couldn't compare to the agony of a combination of deep bruises and burned-out muscles the boy was going through now. Roku thought of crawling back home and sleeping until the next morning, wrap a few warm and damp washcloths around his aching arms and legs. If only he had a tub to soak in, instead of that cramped shower.
And suddenly, a thought struck him: that is exactly what the Oasis at the edge of the village was for! Roku had only been there a few times as a toddler with his parents to learn how to swim, but he could remember how refreshing the hot, salty spring water felt on his body. He built up a nice little stack of ryo with his frugal spending habits; his only possessions the house his family rented, a rather small wardrobe of clothes and the gourd of sand that was currently making his back muscles scream. More than enough ryo to spend a few hours in the oasis, to take a nap on the edge of a pool and let the water work out his tension for him. With a pained grin Rokumaru began walking to where the underground building was located, a short walk away at the outskirts of the village.
When he arrived at the stone entrance to the building the sun was entering its zenith, baking the desert with its merciless heat. The waters in the spring were warmed by the hot sand they rested under, meaning the waters would be hottest at this time of day well into the night. He was hoping this would drive off most other bathers looking for a dip in the pool so he could relax and watch any ladies who were in attendance.
He entered through the stone doors, humidity hitting his face as soon as air escaped the building into the dry desert heat. Inside was a small rectangular room with a low ceiling and two doors on each wall, a stone desk carved from the floor where a woman stood behind to act as the cashier and concierge, who gave Roku a smile as he approached. The boy paid for a few hours of relaxation in the spring, as well as for a towel and a pair of water-resistant shorts as he hadn't brought either item with him. He rented a locker as well to store his clothing and gourd in, the woman handing him a metal key to it and ushering him into the door on the right.
It led through to a locker-room for bathers to undress in, obviously one for males as the other door likely led to the woman's locker-room. He stopped by the locker whose number corresponded with the one on the key he was given and changed from his t-shirt and cargo pants into dark-brown swim trunks. He folded his clothes and placed them in the locker, then sat the gourd of sand on top of them before locking it securely. He put the key into a velcro-sealed pocket on his right thigh and walked through the door on the far side of the room.
Now, Roku had entered the oasis itself, and it looked just like it had years ago with only minor renovations made. It was a massive room with a three large rectangular pools separated by wooden fences for privacy, two for each gender and one that was for both in the center. He chose the center one as it was his best chance to gaze upon the feminine form, walking over to the edge. At the edge of the room a steaming waterfall poured heated water into each pool, replacing whatever water was drained from the holes surrounding the pool's walls.
The pools were designed for wading into, a sloped floor leading deeper into the water until it disappeared unter yards of water. Roku walked over to the sloped floor and waded a few feet in until he was submerged up to his knees, then sat down and laid on his back until the water lapped at his chin, his head readying on the part of the floor that was dry. He was off to the side where he wasn't going to be in the way, and after seeing the only other patrons were a few elderly men practicing water-yoga and no ladies to ogle, rested his eyes as he focused on the feeling of the water.
It was divine; the minerals in the spring water soothed his sore and aching muscles while the heat of it worked out his tension. He wished he had brought a book to occupy his time, but this was an unplanned trip and he had nothing. Perhaps later he would join the old men in their exercise, or bother some other patron who stopped by.
Either way, for now he focused on the hot water itself, more satisfying than any bath could be. Roku thought to himself with a smile, 'Now that's what I call high-quality H2O!'
WC: 1071
He really hadn't been this beaten up before. All of his training prior to this was in long-range offensive combat, using a practice puppet to hone his hand-eye coordination and Ninjutsu that could be used from a distance. The only experience that came close were the Taijutsu sparring sessions back at the Academy, when the civilian kids took their chance to bust the haughty and proud Sabaku down a couple notches.
Even still, those bruises couldn't compare to the agony of a combination of deep bruises and burned-out muscles the boy was going through now. Roku thought of crawling back home and sleeping until the next morning, wrap a few warm and damp washcloths around his aching arms and legs. If only he had a tub to soak in, instead of that cramped shower.
And suddenly, a thought struck him: that is exactly what the Oasis at the edge of the village was for! Roku had only been there a few times as a toddler with his parents to learn how to swim, but he could remember how refreshing the hot, salty spring water felt on his body. He built up a nice little stack of ryo with his frugal spending habits; his only possessions the house his family rented, a rather small wardrobe of clothes and the gourd of sand that was currently making his back muscles scream. More than enough ryo to spend a few hours in the oasis, to take a nap on the edge of a pool and let the water work out his tension for him. With a pained grin Rokumaru began walking to where the underground building was located, a short walk away at the outskirts of the village.
When he arrived at the stone entrance to the building the sun was entering its zenith, baking the desert with its merciless heat. The waters in the spring were warmed by the hot sand they rested under, meaning the waters would be hottest at this time of day well into the night. He was hoping this would drive off most other bathers looking for a dip in the pool so he could relax and watch any ladies who were in attendance.
He entered through the stone doors, humidity hitting his face as soon as air escaped the building into the dry desert heat. Inside was a small rectangular room with a low ceiling and two doors on each wall, a stone desk carved from the floor where a woman stood behind to act as the cashier and concierge, who gave Roku a smile as he approached. The boy paid for a few hours of relaxation in the spring, as well as for a towel and a pair of water-resistant shorts as he hadn't brought either item with him. He rented a locker as well to store his clothing and gourd in, the woman handing him a metal key to it and ushering him into the door on the right.
It led through to a locker-room for bathers to undress in, obviously one for males as the other door likely led to the woman's locker-room. He stopped by the locker whose number corresponded with the one on the key he was given and changed from his t-shirt and cargo pants into dark-brown swim trunks. He folded his clothes and placed them in the locker, then sat the gourd of sand on top of them before locking it securely. He put the key into a velcro-sealed pocket on his right thigh and walked through the door on the far side of the room.
Now, Roku had entered the oasis itself, and it looked just like it had years ago with only minor renovations made. It was a massive room with a three large rectangular pools separated by wooden fences for privacy, two for each gender and one that was for both in the center. He chose the center one as it was his best chance to gaze upon the feminine form, walking over to the edge. At the edge of the room a steaming waterfall poured heated water into each pool, replacing whatever water was drained from the holes surrounding the pool's walls.
The pools were designed for wading into, a sloped floor leading deeper into the water until it disappeared unter yards of water. Roku walked over to the sloped floor and waded a few feet in until he was submerged up to his knees, then sat down and laid on his back until the water lapped at his chin, his head readying on the part of the floor that was dry. He was off to the side where he wasn't going to be in the way, and after seeing the only other patrons were a few elderly men practicing water-yoga and no ladies to ogle, rested his eyes as he focused on the feeling of the water.
It was divine; the minerals in the spring water soothed his sore and aching muscles while the heat of it worked out his tension. He wished he had brought a book to occupy his time, but this was an unplanned trip and he had nothing. Perhaps later he would join the old men in their exercise, or bother some other patron who stopped by.
Either way, for now he focused on the hot water itself, more satisfying than any bath could be. Roku thought to himself with a smile, 'Now that's what I call high-quality H2O!'
WC: 1071