So Much For Calm (open)

[Okibi Kaen]

Oh god, how it burned.

Thick bands of flames rolled across her flesh in the dream, not the familiar ones born of her own power, but of a wicked, demonic origin. Bit by bit, the snaking tendrils of fire burned away at her flesh, leaving horrible black scars in their wake. Unable to bear the pain any longer, Kaen's dream self let an earsplitting scream, but nothing but the roar of the flames answered her.

With a start the tiny kunoichi awoke to find herself laying in the shade of a towering tree, the dappled shadows dancing across her pale face. So, I fell asleep in the park again, she thought distractedly as she surveyed the scene before her with her dual-colored eyes. Various villagers milled about the park at this time of day, some on a casual stroll with friends while others jogged or wandered aimlessly enjoying the scenery. There was even a couple there on a picnic, and if the chuunin was not mistaken, she could also see a team of newly assigned genin picking up litter in the distance.

No one was staring at her oddly, so she guessed with a touch of relief that she had fortunately not cried out in her sleep this time. Good. I don't need anymore strange looks than I already get. Stifling a yawn, the young ninja sat up from where she had been curled at the base of the ancient tree, working out a few kinks in her neck as she did so. Bits and pieces of her memories from before the nightmare were returning now, now that the sheer panic that usually followed her dream had worn away. She had come to the park long before dawn that morning to get some much-needed alone time on one of her rare mission-less days and had ended up falling asleep under one of the trees. Typical. Being surrounded by greenery seemed to have a calming effect on Kaen's emotions despite her fire-element kekkei genkai.

"Speaking of trees, look who's here." she commented dryly, a sudden pang of sorrow hitting her in the gut despite her outward show of annoyance as an all too familiar shadow eclipsed her from above. As she raised her hand to examine its gloved back with a look of disinterest she caught a glimpse of his boots out of the corner of her eye. Hiding in a tree in ambush? Aren't you above that, "old friend"? "So...did you come to kill me in my sleep, Sakaki?"

"Hmph. If only it was that easy." A cold voice answered her as its owner dropped to the ground beside her, his feet making not a sound on the soft grass beneath him upon impact. Kaen was surprised to see that he did not even have a kunai in his hand. Then again, that cold look in his eyes was almost enough to cut her as it was. Eiki Sakaki...how long had it been since they were friends? Now he hated her with a passion. It was a constant pain to the kunoichi, but one she was willing to live with. All it took was a single glance at his gauntleted arm reminded her why.

"I just came here to remind you not to get cocky just because you defeated my teammate in the chuunin exams. He was a weakling, nothing compared to me." The young man turned around to leave, his voice gaining an even sharper edge than it held before. "I will defeat you, monster, and wash this village clean of your taint."

"Not so fast." Kaen replied coolly, leaping up to land in front of her fellow Konoha-nin. "What happens if you do defeat me? Will you take on the Hyuuga next? Go chase after the Uchiha bastards?" She chuckled, shaking her head at the thought. "You just pick on me because you think I am weaker than you. But if you encountered someone with real power? You're hopeless, Sakaki. Go. Get yourself killed, but do it out of my site. It wouldn't be worth my time to fight you." I won't allow him to see me weak, she thought sadly as she turned away, refusing to let her once-friend see how his cold words cut her. She left before he could, dashing off at the speed only a ninja could achieve.

She did not stop until she came to the main entrance to the park. Wisps of dark blue hair flew free from her braid as she leaned against a gate, rubbing her arms as she stared off into the distance in silence. So much for having a nice, calm day off.

[Hikure Narenji]

<sup>[Enter from Discontent]

After the unsettling conversation with Akuma the afternoon before, Narenji began rethinking the situation and question exactly why he could have been acting like that. Narenji knew that the conversation didn't end as peacefully as it seemed, there was a struggle, even if it could only be viewed mentally, but it was there.

Narenji, however, couldn't think of things at this moment; at least, he shouldn't have been thinking these things. Currently he was walking down the streets with his little brother, leading a direction to the park. It had been some time since Narenji had spent some good quality time with Gien; his sister was staying with his mother, so Demura was fine without them. Narenji had mostly been training and planning new tactics, a burden he put upon himself after joining his team, but Narenji still remained appreciative, as he enjoyed most every moment of it, but it meant that he had less time for his family, especially when he went of on a mission.

"Narenji-ani?" his loving little brother questioned as the two neared the park.

"Hmm..." Narenji focused on his brother after he was called out, "...yes, Otouto-kun?"

Gien thought a little before making a response, "Why are you staring off into space?" Gien shifted to a subtlety worried expression, but mixed with slight confusion, "Are you worried about something?" He may have been be young, but he certainly was observant, and he knew his brother rather well.

"Huh..." he mumbled while he in took what his younger brother announced, "...uh, well I suppose I was thinking of a few things, but nothing to concern you about." The thoughts that Narenji just had had shifted out of his might for a moment longer. With a slight pause in the conversation, Narenji started with, "Anyways, we are at the park now, so might as well enjoy our time while we are here." and then he finished with a casual smile that showed appreciation, but was not overbearing.

Gien was a little frustrated with Narenji's lack of response, but he was used to it, and he didn't want to let his expression show, so he remained relatively neutral toward it. "Alright Ani." he too ended with a smile much like his brother's but Gien's was a little larger.

As the two were passing through the park, they became witness to some form of digression between two individuals that seemed to be quite frictional with one another. Because the distance between the two groups were so great, only some of the conversation was properly observed, enough to understand what was being commented, but not quite enough to understand the context they were in. Gien was still inexperienced when it came to "information gathering," so he understood nothing of what was spoken, but he did comprehend the tension between the two. Then the female of the two quickly ran off, escaping the notice of the male.

Narenji felt that no matter what the dispute was about, it was not his place to intervene, so he continued at his pace, and sat down on the nearest bench that overlooked an expanse of the field. "Alright Gien-chan..." he endeared his little brother, "...go play with the other kids while I stay here and watch." Narenji then took out a scroll containing some plans he has been working on for a while. Alright, so he wouldn't have entirely been spending time with his brother, but it was more than usual.

Gien left off into the field without giving a response to his older brother, and went to go play with the other kids just in the closing distance. However, just before he reached the other children, he thought of the two people that were obviously having a form of argument (to a ninja, or at least a ninja in training). Just somewhat to the side of the field, in an almost not entirely observable area of the park, at a gate that would lead out from the park, the girl that was before could be observed leaning against it. She appeared to be in a train of thought.

Gien, being curious as he was, went over to talk with her instead of playing with the kids, for now. Detouring his path, Gien then neared the older female, and noticed a rather frustrated look on her face. Having a brother who doesn't often show many physical emotions made it relatively easy to tell what emotions some people exerted at moments, sometimes. Gien figured that the male that was with her must have made her feel this way, so Gien made his way over to make her feel better, if he could, that is.

Narenji was observing his brother but with some partial glances toward his work. He noticed that Gien had shifted his course and toward the girl they noticed just moments before. He signed not wanting to have gotten involved, but now he knows because of Gien, they were going to have to anyways. Narenji put away his scroll, and then set out to follow just behind Gien.

"Uhm...hello." Gien starts out to the older female, "Are you alright? You seem mad about something?" He had on a slightly concerned look, but it was still wrapped in a confused expression as he didn't quite know how or what to make of her expression.</sup>