Dance of Storm and Flame (Fantasy Ninja RP-IC)

[julia]

Hiroshi sighed and looked at his plate. It was a simple meal they had served tonight. Some rice, a small piece of fish, and some tea. So many things were running through his mind, like what Hugojima was, or why Hugojima wanted all ninja gone. It was confusing to him, and he ate a bit of rice while he thought. He looked to the other ninja, the ones he was training with. He took a deep breath and thought about how much of Sensei's words were true. That they were clumsy, and undetermined.

"Hey guys?" he spoke up, looking at the others who were sitting around him. "Did you hear the conversation earlier when we were meditating in the courtyard?" Hiroshi asked. He pursed his lips before taking another bite of his meal and taking a sip of tea.

Naomi and the older ninja were eating outside the palace, unlike the trainees. They were given two pieces of fish, a bowl of rice rather than a small ball, and a sweeter, more pleasant tea that was made with berries. She stroked her tiger's back, who was sleeping against her leg. The sun was setting, and the flowers of the Sakura were swaying lightly in the breeze. It was peaceful.

[Nocardia]

Uryu Sato stared down at his food for a moment. When the blonde one began to speak and the female ninja turned her attention to him, Uryu took hold of his food and turned around. After a few seconds, he faced the table again and set down his empty bowl and cup, his mask still firmly in place. "Eavesdropping is bad, Honoki-san," Uryu said with a shake of his head. "How would you feel if you were confiding in a friend about your homosexuality, and I heard it and spread the news around?" He closed his single eye and sighed in disappointment. "I was expecting more out of an honorable ninja like you..."

But then he opened his eye and nodded. "But I did eavesdrop too." So much for being an honorable ninja. "They were talking quite loud. I think they wanted us to hear. This Howard person must be very dangerous and evil though. Using ninja to wipe out ninja? What a hypocrite. 50 ryo on him being a ninja himself..." He stared down at his empty bowl for a moment. "But perhaps sensei is right... We have to get stronger." He had seen the injustice down earlier to those ninja that were slightly stronger than them. He raised up the bowl. "For better food like those older ninja! You agree with me, yes?"

[Vietmyke]

The air was crisp and cool, pink petals occasionally fluttered by in the light breeze. The weather was refreshing, cool, but not cold, and Sora relaxed in the light wind, breathing in the fragrance of the flowers. Sora sat lazily with the other older ninja, the group of them numbering only three. Of the three of them he was the oldest, though not by much. Though taller than the other male by a few inches, the three of them for the most part were of similar size and stature. They got along fairly well, as well as ninja did anyway. They sat outside, separated from the younger ninja in the palace's courtyard. Just as well, Sora preferred the outdoors anyway.

"Bah," Sora grumbled, as he ate his food, "They don't give us enough food these days, how are we supposed to excel in training and practice if we barely get enough to put in our stomachs?"

A breeze ruffled his stark white hair, pulling at his mask, which was currently being worn to the side of his head, slightly askew. He blinked and blew at his hair, brushing it away from his eyes, one a deep blue, the other a scarlet red, with black markings on the pupil and a scar marring the otherwise unflawed skin. Sora absentmindedly removed the mask, and laid it on the ground with the rest of his gear and outer garb. His weapons were within arms reach should the situation become dire, but they were eating dinner, so it was highly unlikely. Unless one of their instructors were responsible.

"You know, I might go hunting in the woods by the river again," Sora said, stretching his arms, "I don't mind trading some sleep for food, right? Maybe find something big, share it with the young ones back inside too."

Despite his good natured musing, Sora couldn't help but think about what he and the others had overheard. Ninjas were, by occupational duty, assassins, fighters, and spies, and even a mediocre ninja could have heard the conversation their Head Sensei was having with the Emperor. Just what was he getting at? clumsy, without faith? Was he talking about the younger ninja? Because they'd be dead wrong if they deigned to call Sora a klutz. Sora also had no idea who or what this Hugojima was, but whoever, whatever they were, would have to be taken quite seriously if the Sensei was so incredibly worried for their well being.

"Well, you'll pardon me," Sora said as a way of excusing himself, "I'm going to go see what the young ones are up to. As usual, either of you are welcome to join me."

The others wouldn't have been too surprised. As Sora prepped to become a tutor, and hopefully later, a mentor, he found himself checking in with the younger ninja quite often, getting himself ready for the role as a teacher. He walked into a room where the three younger ninja were eating, Hiroshi, Uryu, and Sonia. He clapped a hand fondly on top of the purple head of hair belonging to Sonia.

"Hallo Little One, Uryu-kun, Hiroshi-kun," He said warmly, "How are you guys still feeling about today?"