Living In Denial ((Private))

The sky overhead was a bit hazy, but it was otherwise a sunny day. Kiri decided she was going to be adventurous, and travel. Though, to no where specific, she still couldn't fathom how she had ended up in the Lightening Country. She was wearing a faded silk blue kimono, her light bruntte hair had a single braid in the front, and a white lily tucked comfortably in a corner. As childish and sparkling as her personality was, she had never been one to spontaneously travel. It was a rare occasion, and for that, she decided to bring along her mother.

Kiri had been resting on the ground, sitting with her legs folded underneath her. Krutches lay neatly at her side, as she cracked a dazzling warm smile. Looking at the framed picture in her hands, it was of a woman, she looked identical to Kiri, except that her hair was longer, and black. The woman looked about the same age as her, -maybe 10 years older- and her eyes had more of a greener tint. Kiriyomi's mother had been murdered when she was just 15, and she had never accepted her death. " I-Isn't it a nice day, Okaa-chan? " she asked, looking directly to the photo.

Yun was preparing to set out from Lightning country, he had been here long enough and today was a nice day for traveling unlike many of the days he had spent there. Most had been cold and wet, but today the sun was bright and the sky blue as could be. The few clouds floating along were puffy and white, not rainclouds. He smiled up at them and then viewed the landscape.

A long cobblestone road led out of the grasslands of lightning country, a few trees here and there, forests in the distance, but here it was fields of tall grass some cut for crop purposes or resting places. Yun walked along the cobblestone road his pack slung over his left shoulder as he walked somewhat lazily and not really paying attention.

He was wearing a white collared shirt with a light red undershirt, both were long sleeved and some cargo khaki pants. His feet tapped lightly on the cobblestone road, Deciding to take a break, he had been walking since dawn and it was midday now, he would eat somewhere nice. Looking over the landscape, he spotted what he was looking for, a very large boulder capable of seating 3 to 5 people comfortably.

Walking out to it through the tall grass it was just far enough off the ground so that the grass wouldn't whip your feet in the breeze and the bugs wouldn't hop up onto your lap. He took a seat in the middle and ran his eyes across the rolling plains. Spotting something odd he looked again, a girl was sitting a good 100 to 150 yards away from him in a plot of shorter grass looking at a picture. Smiling he dropped his back onto the boulder.

Unpacking some food he sat comfortably with one hand behind his back and his feet crossed and extended in front of him, a sandwich in his other hand he was eating he sat so he could watch most of the plain, including the part the girl was in, just in case something happened. Being alone isn't good all the time.

Kiri's smile faltered as she realized once again, her mother couldn't answer back. She tried to smile fully again, but it ended up being a broken one. Her clouded gray-blue orbs began to fill to the edge with tears once again, spilling over onto her cheeks. The picture fell limply from her hands, onto the grassy plain. She lowered her head, tears falling onto her kimono as her form began to tremble.

Before she would start to sob loudly, she picked up her krutches, standing them up, then pushing herself to her feet. However, the ground wasn't level, and she was moving too much. When she began to try and take a step, she tripped, falling to the ground. Kiri let out a small yelp, then began to sob without restraint, shaking violently. She didn't care if she ever got up, she wanted it all to be a bad dream, but it wasnt. She started to scream in her sobs, pounding her fists into the ground.

Little did she know, someone was watching..

Yun continued to watch these events from a distance, he couldn't tell what the picture was, but she had just dropped it. He rose a brow and continued to watch, she grabbed a pair of crutches, Interesting. He thought as she attempted to stand, and fell. He finished his sandwich and dusted off his hands. She hadn't gotten back up. He waited another minute to see if she would stand, perhaps she had injured herself.

Sliding a spades card into his hand from beneath his sleeve, he opened his mouth and a breeze of wind launched the 6 of spades off towards the girl. He pulled out another spades card, it was the 4, he placed it on the boulder next to him and watched as the card slowly descended to its target.

Stopping a foot or two from the girls face it was pinned down by a rock, and fluttering in the breeze. He activated both cards and touched the 4 of spades. As he did so he traveled through to the 6 of spades and appeared standing a foot in front of her, without a word the cards lept back into his hands and up his sleeve.

He looked down and gave a pitiful smile at the girl who was face down in the dirt, pounding it with her fist. Sobbing anything but quietly. He let out a sigh and took a seat on the ground cross legged in front of her. The wind blowing his hair away from his eye so he could use both eyes. He reached out a hand and touched her shoulder, "You alright?" he said gently, as his hand softly touched her kimono. A brow rose and a small smile on his face.

Kiriyomi's eyes widened as she felt someone touch her shoulder, she jerked slightly. "You alright?" It was definately a man. She took a ragged breath, pushing up of the ground, she looked up to him shyly. Tears were still streaming from her dark clouded eyes, as her bottom lip quivered. "G-Gomenasai, sempai. " she whispered, bowing.

She wiped furiously at her eyes, not wanting to be mocked at for crying. No matter how much she wiped, the tears kept coming, as the pain kept growing. Whimpering now, she couldn't hold it in anymore. Her body lunged foward onto the man, wrapping her slender arms tightly around his waist, she screamed and cried into his chest, she wanted the pain to go away.

Yun watched quietly as she jerked to notice his presence, he tilted his head slightly to the right the same small smile on his face, "There is nothing to apologize for." he said gently as she said sorry, and took a small bow while she was sitting. She continued to rub at her eyes which wouldn't stop streaming tears, I wonder whats wrong... he thought a little sadly as she continued to cry.

Suddenly her face was pressed against his chest and her arms wrapped around his waist. He let out a tiny grunt in surprise. His arms up in the air for a moment, then sighing he wrapped his arms around her, one on her back the other on the back of her head stroking her hair softly.

As she cried he decided to try and spot the picture and he saw it, using wind chakra to float it over to him it was a picture of a woman, hmm.. he thought putting it back without a word or sound. "I'm here, whatever it is.." he said as gently as he could, he wasn't truly used to this kind of stuff yet.

Placing a hand on each of her shoulders he pushed her off his chest, his shirt slightly wet from tears she continued to weep. He rose his index finger to his lips and made a "ssshing' sound then reaching out with the same finger he wiped a tear from her eye. He placed his hand onto her cheek. His thumb near her tear duct to brush away any more tears. "its Alright..." he whispered.

He let his other hand slide down her shoulder onto her arm where the tips of his fingers laid against her bicep. He stared into her eyes, his deep brown ones compassionate and kind.

Kiriyomi continued to cry into the man, but then she found herself being sat up again. He was kind. She tensed as he put his hand to her cheek, flinching, thinking he was going to strike her. Her eyes widened as he wiped away her tears, and to her surprise, the tears ended. He was kind. A smile took her lips, though it was a sad one. "I'm here, whatever it is.. its Alright..."

After a moment of looking into his eyes, she spoke. " K-K.." was all she got out at first, before she gave it a second try. " K-Kiriyomi.." she spoke softly. " My name." Letting out a soft sigh, she noticed she had gotten his shirt damp from crying. "S-Sorry.." she whispered, looking to his hand that rested on her arm. ' H..He's..so warm.' she thought to herself, cocking her head innocently as she looked back to the man.

Yun smiled as the water works stopped. "There ya go.." he said with a smile. Kiriyomi, got it. "Yun, Miss Kiriyomi." He said grabbing her crutches for her. "Its fine, tears come out of clothing." he said with a bright smile handing her her crutches. He watched as she looked at his hand, "Oh, Sorry." he said pulling his hand away and letting it rest on his legs.

He stood up and helped her up, Then letting her use him as a balance he led her towards the road. "Come on, i know a place not far from here we can stay until you are feeling better." He said as they reached the road and noticed she had forgotten the picture. "your Picture! I'll get it, wait here." He said as he plowed through the tall grass.

Reaching the spot he looked around and spotted it wiping off some dirt that was on it he ran back out to the road and handed it to her. "Here.." he said with a gentle smile. He realized his bag was still on the boulder as they walked towards the Inn he knew about he saw the boulder and his bag. Using some wind chakra he had it float over to him as quickly as possible.

Throwing it over his back, he resumed being a balance. "I can take you to a doctor if you need one." Yun suggested as he watched her hobble alongside him.

" N-No no, Im fine..no need for a doctor." she gave him a bright smile as she walked next to him. Kiriyomi nodded lightly as a Thank-You to the man, his name running through her mind. "Yuuuuuuuun-sempai!~" she hummed as it rolled off her tongue smoothly.

Kiri stopped as she turned to him, her eyes sparkling as she showed him the picture. " M-My mother..." she stammered as she looked up to him, and into his eyes.

Yun rose a brow, "If you say so Miss Kiriyomi." He said shrugging as he walked alongside her. Eyes occasionally glancing in her direction to make sure she was doing alright, the Inn was in sight already. He looked over as she stared at the picture of her mother. Ah.. he thought not showing any change on his face, and looked right back into her eyes, flushing out any sadness inside.

The sun was setting now, another 2 hours of daylight at best. Dark clouds formed behind them and the wind was picking up. A crack of thunder rolled throughout the countryside. "Here" he said as he grabbed her waist and pulled her up onto his shoulders, and began to run towards the Inn. "Better hurry, a storms coming.." She was really light for some reason, that made things easier on him, he wasn't known to have a lot of stamina.

Luckily the Inn wasn't far, He held the two crutches behind his back so when she slid off she would catch herself with them. His hands ready to catch her if she fell as well. "Slowly, slide off." He said carefully, but kindly.

Eyes widened as he lifted her onto his shoulders, wasn't she heavy? Hearing the loud crack of thunder, she yelped loudly, startled. Then she heard him mention a storm coming, her eyes immediately cast downward, filling with guilt. The man had carried her because she was slow, and now she was probably straining his back. What good was she anymore?

It became cold quickly, she sunk into his grasp, feeling scared. Kiriyomi never did well with storms, too violent and scary. She nodded as he told her to slide off his back carefully. Doing as she was told, she started to slide off, but it went horribly wrong. Another loud crack of thunder crashed down, and just about gave her a heart-attack, causing her to jerk backwards. Slender arms reached out to Yun for help. " Yun-sempai! " she screamed.

Yun's hands reacted without a word catching her before she fell, but at the same time dropped her crutches. "I gotcha.' he said and looked over his shoulder, "Follow my instructions carefully, turn around so your sitting on my back when i bend over to pick up your crutches so you can stand." As he bent over she did so gripping tightly to his clothing, He grabbed her crutches quickly and held them up. "Alright, your up." he said holding her without straining a bit, his voice calm and slow.

Kiri nodded, grasping her crutches tightly as she moved them under her arms as she stepped onto the ground. Her eyes wavered with hatred that was slowly consuming her heart. Not for Yun, or any other person or place, but for herself. She was always doing these things, relying on others to save her, to help her.

For as long as she could remember, Kiriyomi was always trying to help others, trying to stay back and watch her loved ones shine. It always ended up to the girl holding them back, blocking their path. After all, her existence was what caused her mother's death. Because of her gentle, shy nature, people always felt they had to protect her from the frightening reality of the Shinobi.

The woman had her back to the man all the while, the sharp winds biting at her hands and neck, like asphalt against rubber. Feeling the tinge of pain, she just ignored it, her bangs shielding her darkened eyes. Whenever a storm was near, Kiri's emotions, and eyes were identical to the mysterious atmosphere that came with the bad weather. " I-Im..sorry, sempai."

"its fine, you did nothing wrong." he said with a smile. This was several weeks after his recent encounter with Ruii, but the thoughts still clouded his mind, he had come to lightning country in remembrance of someone he could always trust, someone, who was dead now. These people he had met in the last couple days had...caused him to remember something greater then just the person. He couldn't put his finger on just what but it tingled at him.

Staring off into the dark clouds ahead he broke his stare and looked back at kiriyomi. "Lets get inside." he said showing her to the door and holding it open, his mind not completely there, his eyes reflected that and store out into the vast country, long and flat, with a few hills and not many trees. Something hit him, and he choked up, it wasn't a weapon, his mind.

He kept himself from crying but it was obvious that something was changing in his mood, he kept a smile on his face though, he had learned how to fool.

Kiriyomi slowly turned around, looking at the man, her eyes filled with empty tears. She couldnt cry anymore. Ninja must never show emotion Those words, they were passed down from each generation of Ninja. A rule, they all must abide by. Though, she held pure hatred for those words, because its ridiculous.

It was a lie, and humanly impossible, unless you were isolated for so many years. Kiri had cracked the last time she had seen her Father, on her 19th birthday. She had almost killed him. Though, as kind as childish as she was, the incident with Yun was the first time she had ever told anyone about her pain. People that knew her as a kind, sensitive girl, never even glanced behind closed doors. There are two sides to every story.

Taking a calm step foward, she let out an animal-like growl at his face, she had hid her pain for many years, using the same smile method. Walking inside, her eyes were now a misted gray as she pulled him inside, a little more roughly then she had intended. Looking directly into his eyes her aura never changed from the shy and sensitive feeling that it was. " Yun..What is it?" He knew better than to say 'nothing' just by looking at her.

"its Unimportant Kiri." He said with ease letting out a sigh as he heard another crack of thunder from outside. He lead kiri over to a table and pulled out a chair for her then took his own seat, sitting down the waiter brought over water, it was an act of humility to all people who visited. A glass of water would be served to anyone who entered the Inn.

The straw stood lazily in the glass of ice water, he stirred it looking into the water as the ice clinked against other ice. He sat in a daze, he couldn't help it. He didn't want to be rude nor did he want to seem like he was on something. His mind was in a wandering mood today.

This is never going to work. he thought quietly to himself continuing to stir the water, not thinking about what was going on at the moment at all, just the past. Why must i do this to myself, this is horrid. A waste of my pathetic efforts. he thought angerishly, his stirring remaining the same pace as well as his features.

Pulling the straw out he let the water drip from the end of it into the cup. Drip, Drip, drip. it went then stopped. Suddenly a spark of something, and his tattoo lit up like a firecracker. It was different this time, it singed his skin. Its faint blue color exactly the same. His hand shot up to his face and he sprung back. As soon as his hand touched it, it cooled and stopped. What the.. he thought looking across the table at Kiri. "Somethings wrong." he said aloud, unsure of what.

Kiriyomi sat down without a word, nodding politely to the man as a thanks. She placed her hand softly around the glass, pursing her lips against the straw when it was close enough. Her clouded orbs locked onto the straw as he pulled it out, watching the droplets of water drip back into the glass.

Yun recieved a blank stare from the woman as she placed her glass back onto the table. He seemed to be in slight pain. "Somethings wrong." Watching him jerk back, he turned directly to her. " What is it? There's a storm outside, could it be that? " she asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

Yun looked over at her, "Yea, its probably just my imagination." he said rubbing the seal on his face under his hair. He pulled it out and rested it on the table, secretly looking at it, a little bit of the blue residue had come off onto his fingers, it was like a powder he rubbed his fingers together and it fell off. Whatever. he thought glancing across the table at her.

He took a swig of his water and swallowed it, "So what are you doing out here in Lightning country Miss?" He said looking over his glass as he placed it back down on the table, shifting his position in the chair, sitting in a more relaxed position in his chair as he looked at her, his gray eyes bland as ever.

" I've decided that life will take me wherever I am meant to go.." she whispered, almost mute. She looked down at her lap, her slender hands holding the picture of her mother below her. " You lied.." she started suddenly. "You lied to me." Her clouded orbs wavered out of hatred for losing the one most precious to her.

" Youre hurting, I know you are."

Yun rose a brow, "Ah, i guess I'm the same way i guess." he said trailing off. He listened quietly to her as she began to tremble. He slid his chair out and slid over to her, "Hey now, its alright, I'm Fine." He said kneeling on the ground next to her, his hand wrapping around her's, His eyes looked up into her face, compassionate and cooling. "Come on, lets go somewhere where we can talk where people aren't around. I want to help." he said smiling at her.

Yun's eyes connected with her's, she felt the warmth of his hand as he held hers, while her skin was ice cold. She didnt like being this cold, this isolated. Feeling the sting of oncoming tears, she jerked. Kiriyomi wasnt one to understand her emotions, nor know why humans had them.

"Come on, lets go somewhere where we can talk where people aren't around. I want to help." His words came out, and she was watching his mouth move, but she couldnt quite register what was being said. It scared her..this pain. It wasnt physical, it was emotional, but it felt like her body was trying to die. How stupid did that sound?

The woman's small hand wrapped tightly around his, out of pain and fear. Though her expression was unreadable.

Yun gripped it tighter, it was obvious there was something wrong, he wanted to try to help. But she seemed to be giving him the silent treatment. She must not want to talk about it, was the first thing that he thought. She appeared to be zoning out or not really paying attention to her surroundings more like she was watching something in her mind. His smile turned to a more worried one, but it was still a smile.

She was trembling, but it was still all around her. It felt as if she was having a seizure, but she knew she wasnt. The small woman hardly ever showed this side of her, but it was too late now. He gripped her hand tighter, as she watched his smile falter, was he worried for her? Most people she had gotten close to, labled her as mentally unstable.

" How do you see me..? " she spoke up. It was a simple question, that had various answers. She wanted to know how he saw her, what he saw her as. The last person she asked had died shortly after, so she never got an answer.

Yun rose a brow, "I see you as a Human being, who looks like she might need a good friend." he said, his smile returning to normal once she had spoken. A confusing question, he hoped he didn't hurt her feelings or anything, he just wanted to help. He could feel his hand begin to sweat but he didn't think about it, he still sat in his crouch by her chair, one hand gripping her's, the other on his knee to support him. His face smiling up at her, gray eyes blank yet worried.

"I see you as a Human being, who looks like she might need a good friend."

The corners of her lips peaked up, in a empty smile at his words, though her face still blank. " Arigatou..Yun." she whispered, as she noticed his hand sweating, her ghostly smile didnt falter. " You are uncomfortable, you need to get up." Her voice sounded like she was answering an interrogation, her words so straight foward, but at least she was talking.