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Characters: Katakura Kojuro and Hyuuga Hanabi
Location: The training grounds
Rating: G
Time: backdated to January 27, during the tail end of the morning training session
Description:

This morning had, perhaps, been Kojuro's busiest morning on the training grounds. He had gotten up earlier than usual in order to help prepare breakfast for the regulars, and had spent meal time orienting himself with how Gai wanted his kitchen to be run. After that, he immediately marched off to spar with whoever was interested. More people had showed up to challenge him than usual.

The samurai was now switching his training gi for the clothes he wore whenever he tended to his field. He tied a bandanna around his forehead, and, after bidding farewell to his friends and acquaintances in the area, set off towards his vegetable field.

He didn't notice the fact that something - a small good luck charm, something he had purchased on a mission - had dropped from his pocket along the way.

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After waving goodbye to Kojuro for the day, Hanabi had gone back to training. She was practicing spinning kicks when she spotted something dropping out of Kojuro's pocket. Distracted, her kick went wide and she missed her target, whirling around awkwardly for a second before she regained her balance and took off in the direction of the object Kojuro had dropped.

It was crowded here today, and even with sharp eyes, it took a minute for her to find the good luck charm he dropped. Scooping it up off the ground, Hanabi put it in her pocket and started to head in Kojuro's direction.

Luck was not on her side today. She narrowly evaded a young man who had been sent flying several feet backward from a particularly powerful kick that struck him squarely in the chest while sparring. Pivoting on her foot, she side-stepped and avoided being the cushion to his fall.

Hanabi glanced around. It was busy here today at morning training - which was normally a good thing. Today, it was inconvenient. She was smaller than nearly everyone, and many were paying much attention to their surroundings. The entire training grounds was a giant obstacle course for her to get through at the moment. Still, she decided to take it as a challenge. If she could catch up to Koujurou, perhaps she'd treat herself to some Death Robbins before her Watch shift.

Kojuro, of course, did not notice any of that. He was, in the meantime, already making quick progress to his destination, and his mind was focused on the many tasks that he need to accomplish.

He did not notice the charm's absence either. He probably would later down the line, when it was a bit too late to find it. If he got truly unlucky, of course.

Hanabi continued to slip through the crowd at morning training, evading people carefully as she ran. Finally, she got through to a more open space only to see that Kojuro was even further. With a determined frown, she examined her options for catching up. There was a fence obstructing the most direct path, but it wasn't so high that she had any doubts about being able to pull herself up and over.

Doing just that, she was slightly exasperated to see how much progress he'd made in the time it took her to run toward the fence and scramble over it. Still, Hanabi Hyuuga was not a quitter and this gave her the chance to practice her tracking and following skills.

Fortunately for Hanabi, Kojuro finally came to a stop at his destination - the vegetable patch he maintained on the outskirts of the training ground. The retainer wandered over to the small shed he had built beside the patch and Aerith's garden, intending to inspect the area before working.

He'd pause the moment he noticed another's presence close by, and move out to investigate.

It was just as well. After hopping up onto window ledges and then off of a fire escape before bursting into a run again, Hanabi had been starting to consider just contacting Kujuro on the DEMISE network to let him know that she had something of his and to ask him when he'd like her to meet him to give it back. Or at least shouting his name to ask him to wait up for her. She was glad to see that wouldn't be necessary.

Approaching, she first tried to be quiet and then thought better of it. She didn't want him to think it was an ambush. Once he saw who it was, he'd know no harm was meant, but sneaking up on a warrior was generally not the wisest course of action.

She waved her hand so he'd be able to see that the small person approaching was friendly before he got a clearer look and saw that the small person approaching was someone familiar.

"Hello," she said, reaching into her pocket to hold out the charm once she was within earshot. "You dropped this at morning training."

Finally, she could let herself catch her breath.

"Greetings, Hanabi." He blinked when he saw what she was holding, and smiled. "Ah, I had not even noticed! You have my gratitude."

Kojuro approached her immediately, honestly relieved and thankful that the girl had been kind enough to follow him.

"You're welcome, Kojuro," Hanabi replied, walking toward him at a slower pace now that she knew he wasn't going anywhere. "You walk very quickly, so I had the chance to practice some of the tracking techniques I learned at the Academy back home."

She wasn't going to complain about the effort she'd expended when it had been her choice to do so in the first place, but she couldn't help but comment. Admittedly, some of Kojuro's pace likely had something to do with his much longer legs.

"Tracking techniques?" Hmm. "Ninja training, I take it."

The comment amused him a bit, but his expression remained genial.

"That's right," said Hanabi with a nod. "Hinata-neesan is on one of the best tracking teams back home. I'm still learning how to track properly."

It wasn't her forte. Of all the skills that were taught at the Konoha Academy, taijutsu was definitely her strongest.

"Hinata... I do not believe such a person has not shown up here before."

That was a bit of a pity - Kojuro liked meeting other warriors.

"Ah, enough talk for the moment, though. Would you like some tea?"

"You'll know her if you see her," said Hanabi. "Her eyes are just like mine and Hinata-neesan is shy and gentle."

Hanabi had always admired that her sister could fight and fulfill her duties as a kunoichi of Konoha, and yet be such a gentle and compassionate individual.

"I'd like some tea, thank you," she replied with a nod.

"Think nothing of it. I wish to show you some sort of gratitude for the service you have done."

With that, Kojuro moved back towards the shed. He had set up a traditional kitchen inside: he often cooked lunch for himself there, if he found himself out in the garden for longer than usual.

"Feel free to come in."

"You don't have to do that," said Hanabi. "I don't expect anything for bringing you your charm. But thank you. Some tea and a few minutes to sit down would be nice."

She followed Kojuro inside, glad that she'd caught up to him in a place that she could sit for a while without looking strange.

And Kojuro, in the meantime, was already busying himself with fetching some nice tea leaves and putting water on the stove.

"If I might ask, how have you been as of late?"

"Well, thank you," said Hanabi. "I've been training hard...and I even found some time to work on some of my art."

She wasn't sure if she'd ever mentioned her hobby to Kojuro before, but now seemed as good a time as any to bring it up.

"Art?"

That was new to him, indeed. Kojuro sent the girl a curious look as he rummaged about for cups.

"I do wood carvings and ink paintings sometimes," said Hanabi. "I'm learning calligraphy too, although I'm not as good at it."

She would be, though. A head of Hyuuga should have exquisite penmanship. Hers was readable enough, and better than than that of half of her classmates at the Konoha Academy. It wasn't as nice as it could be. It would always take a back seat to her more physical training.

"Is that so? I would like to see your work sometime, in all of those areas."

Kojuro was especially interested in the wood carvings. Furthermore, judging from his smile, it was clear that he believed that whatever Hanabi produced would be worth looking at.

"I've been using it to train my eyes...but I enjoy it, too. I made a wood carving for Raidou's birthday present."

She'd spent time crafting something suitable rather than purchasing a present that time. It had also served her well as far as coming up with a plan for a diversion.

Looking mildly amused, she added, "Alucard needed someone to distract Raidou for a while so he could set up the surprise birthday party, so I hid the present somewhere and asked Raidou for his help in finding something important. We walked around half of Death City and Alucard had plenty of time to get everyone in to say 'surprise'."

That made Kojuro chuckle.

"A most impressive rout, if I do say so myself. It appears as though you would be a force to contend with on the battlefields of my homeland."

"A ninja has to think strategically so that he or she can complete a mission as best as possible," said Hanabi, reciting from one of her Academy lessons.

It had been a fun diversion and she liked Raidou well enough that she hadn't minded distracting him at all.

"The chuunin exams judges don't let genin - rookie ninja - get promoted to chuunin unless they can use strategy in their fights."

"Which is only logical. Preparation is what truly wins war beyond one's skill."

Kojuro checked on the tea one more time before going back to the cupboards.

"Would you like something to eat?"

"Yes, please," Hanabi replied with a small nod.

She always worked up quite an appetite while training. Now that she was devoting hours a day to training her soul wavelength, she worked up an even greater appetite and ate enough for a grown woman. Still, she was a growing girl. She felt growing pains in her shins now and then at night, and they likely would have been much worse if not for all the stretching and exercise she engaged in on a daily basis.

"Excellent. Would you like to help me prepare onigiri, then? Once the tea is done."

He normally would not ask, but Kojuro had the feeling that Hanabi was the sort who liked being helpful. He also remembered their previous conversation about cooking...

"All right," said Hanabi with a nod. She did like to help out where she could and preferred not to be lazy. While she doubted cooking was something she would ever consistently enjoy, she liked to observe people who enjoyed what they did and to attempt to follow their example.

"Come and join me here."

The samurai was already setting out the things that he needed. He gestured towards the pot beside him.

"Rinse that out first, and then put some of the rice grains in - the barrel is over by the door."

Hanabi rinsed the pot out carefully, inspecting it to ensure it was clean before approaching the barrel of rice grains.

"How much should I put in?" she inquired. She didn't know how much Kojuro wanted to prepare, and she didn't want to look piggish by putting in a lot. As fast as her metabolism could be, she was a guest and didn't want to impose.

"As much as you think you and I will need. We have both been training hard, after all."

As it was, Kojuro was used to kids with huge appetites... he would not think anything of Hanabi eating a lot.

"Oh. All right." With that statement, Hanabi didn't feel the need to be quite as restrained. She had an approximate idea of how to portion rice from helping Lain in the kitchen, and put in enough for them both to be comfortably filled without being stuffed. Better to replenish their energy reserves rather than be so full that they were exhausted from it.

Kojuro rounded over just quick enough to check the amount, and made a satisfied noise. A warrior's share, indeed.

"I have told this to Itachi-san before: I am rather glad that our worlds share a few cultural similarities."

The idea of an S-ranked criminal making friends with Kojuro startled Hanabi, but then, Itachi hadn't caused any problems in Death City that she was aware of. She contemplated whether or not she should warn Kojuro about him and decided against it for now. Kojuro could take care of himself and it was rude to gossip.

He noted the lack of response and the girl's expression, but did not comment on it. He had an idea of the tension between Itachi and the others from his world, but had never really asked the man about it. It was not his business.

"It is intriguing, is it not?"

"There are a couple of others that have some similarities, too," said Hanabi. "It makes things a little easier, I think. Especially for people who come here without knowing anybody."

"Indeed, it does. I am curious, though."

Kojuro glanced over at his young companion, looking more serious than usual.

"Have the people of your world experienced adverse differences in timelines between you?"

"Well, Tenten came from a different timeline than I did," said Hanabi. "But I can't say it was a bad thing, since she was the one who let me know that my sister was okay and that the village was fine. When I arrived here, it was under attack and I was just told that my sister was badly hurt."

It had been incredibly frustrating for her, until she got that reassurance from Tenten. First, having to stay in the Hyuuga safehouse instead of fighting to defend the village, and then showing up in the Kishin chamber with no Byakugan after being told that her sister was hurt.

"I see. That must have been incredibly disconcerting."

Kojuro frowned a moment, remembering, briefly, the circumstances of his own arrival. It had not been pleasant.

"I can relate to your sentiments, in a way."

"Oh?" Hanabi had questions come to her, but it was more respectful to see what Kojuro would volunteer. Especially since he was an adult and someone who had good manners.

"I had been taken here after a rather important duel, between me and the man who took me from my master."

Kojuro shut his eyes for a moment. It was not a pleasant memory.

"My master was in the process of facing off against an impossible enemy. I was en-route to join him in battle."

"You're strong, Kojuro, and determined," said Hanabi. "I'm sure you'll be able to get to your master in time to help him when BREW sends you back home."

She didn't know for certain, of course, but she had faith in her friend's abilities and in his willpower.

"I can only pray that your faith in me is not misplaced."

And that the faith of everyone in Oshu was not either. Still, Kojuro forced a smile and went back to what he had been doing.

"Now, let us focus on preparing our meal."

"All right," said Hanabi with a nod. She glanced around and looked for ways that she could help, although she was sure that Kojuro would direct her accordingly. Generally, she followed Lain's lead in the kitchen. She could, however, make a fairly tasty and tidily chopped fruit salad.

(ooc: This seems like a good place to wrap up the thread.)

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