Fear. is powerful ]]

[Kaede]

Kaede followed silently behind him as Kazhe made his way to the aforesaid tree, his footsteps solemn and light. He would not look at her.

Soon they found themselves at the base of a large, secure-looking tree, which Kazhe apparently knew very well. He crawled up its branches naturally and confidently, swinging himself onto higher levels with nothing but a small concentration of chakra and pure flexibility. Kaede did the same, careful to give him his space as he ascended.

Kazhe slid down against the trunk of the tree and put a hand to his stung face, his knees pulled tight and protectively against his chest, his once brilliant eyes closed shut to the light and shadow that peeped through the leaves.

Perhaps it was some sort of maternal instinct, for never before had she been the comforting type, but Kaede could not help herself as she sat down to Kazhe's level and slid close to him—directly in front of him—with her own arms wrapped tightly around her knees, her hidden features trying desperately to understand.

Then Kaede heard him whisper—a shallow, pleading whisper. He wished for her to speak not a word of what she had seen.

As if the thought had even crossed her mind. Despite her internal fire, Kaede knew better then to mess in the affairs of others when it came down to things like this, no matter how hard she desired to help. And he had taken her to his home… a protection… not speaking about his father (if that was what he wanted) was the least she could do.

"Kazhe," she said after a while, her voice calm and reassuring. "Kazhe. If there's anything I can do… anything you want to tell me. I'll understand. I'll really try to, anyway."

She was quiet for a moment.

"I know what it's like… to feel ripped apart, you know? Worst feeling in the world. We're both caught… just helpless."

[cherrychi]

Yuchii walked around. Each step felt a bit heavier...she was loosing blood quickly...She looked at her side and saw that there was blood seeping out and there was a trail of blood leading to her. She took a deep breath and laid onto the ground. Tsukiko would probably heal her wounds but to do that she would have to rest. She laid onto the ground and stared at the sky until her eyelids got heavier and she fell asleep and went to dream world.

[Kaede]

(OOC: Ah! Not to sound rude or anything, Yuuchi, but could you hold up on seeing Kaede and Kazhe for a while? We were on the verge of an emotional breakthrough! XD)

[cherrychi]

(OOC: Okies ^-^ I'll just hold off the fact that Yuchiui was looking for you until you're done with it...or I'll just have her lying on the ground or something and let you guys find her ^^)

[min]

[OOC; I know, the ending seems rushed. Sorry, I wrote most of it during school then finished the last half a paragraph in like five minutes just now ^^;;]

Startled by her presence in front of him, in an almost matching stance, Kazhe's eyes slowly opened, showing her claoked figure to him once again. Her voice surprised him, she sounded so genuine and caring at the moment, he wasn't expecting that from the Kaede ten minutes ago. He listened to her, remembering her words. She'd try to help him, she would try to understand, even without a reason to -- she didn't know him. She had just met him, this confused him. She was the first person he knew that ever would, excluding perhaps his mother -- had she been alive. Actually.. if she hadn't died, this probably never would have happened, this abuse. And then he wouldn't have met Kaede more than likely; he wouldn't have a reason to relax on the Sake-selling shop every day.

His hand dropped from his cheek, his head raised, and he stared at where Kaede's face would be. "Take the hood off, please," He asked of her, feeling oddly stupid and childish about the request, but he wanted t osee her, her face, what she really looked like. Slowly, the Suna nin stretched his legs out, each one dropping on either side of the thick tree branch he and Kaede were sitting on. He leaned back, his bright blue hair clashing horribly against the earthy background, though his eyes seemed to fit right in, even if they were intensely bright. Half-closed with a lazy look, he watched Kaede, wondering if she could give herself up to him, to trust him with her physical identity. He hoped so. If she did, he'd feel a lot better about telling her what was happening at home; he knew she was curious.

"Kaede?" He said her name softly, "You meant what you said." His comment was a statement, not a question. The last bit she had said, about her understanding how he felt, that wasn't a lie, she wasn't just saying that. He wondered briefly if she had been in the same predicament at one time, abused somehow by someone who had loved her for so long. Someone who always said they wouldn't let anything bad happen to them... Someone that turned on them, the little child, when something didn't go exactly how they wanted it to. Had Kaede lived a life like that?

His pondering took moments for an answer. Probably not. Abuse was a minority.

Kazhe felt himself grow hot again, but not from embarrassment, simply from frustration. It all just hit him; how long had his dad waited for his mom to die, to do what he pleased to Kazhe and not be ridiculed or feel bad because of how much she had loved her child, and how much she had thought Foku did as well? Foku would know Kazhe wouldn't tell anyone, he wasn't open with perosnal things' he never really had been. Slowly, he felt wet, running down his cheeks, he was crying. Kazhe's eyes brimming with the want to just let it go, but he culdn't -- not with Kaede there, in front of him... her attention focused on him, what was happening to him. Right now, the world seemed to revolve around him; he didn't like it.

He ducked his head and wiped his eyes hurriedly with the back of his hands, pausing a moment as he rubbed at his cheek, drying the tears and their rtrails, leaving lines, courtesy of the d.amned Sunagakure winds, bringing sand, dirt, and who knew what else with them as they blew along. "Kaede-san," He said softly, mumbling his words, stumbling over them. "Honestly, tell me honestly, please, what has made you wear this cloak, trust nobody, and why you have a voice pained with sadness from your past?" He asked, looking up at her with a soft expression on his face. He looked like a child under the age of ten, the pleading and overall mix of misery, confusion, frustration and curiousity on his face and in his voice something almost painful. At least, if Kazhe found someone with a face like that, it would kill him inside; especially if he couldn't help. Especially knowing how they felt.. the ability to empathize with him or her, it would just tear him to pieces. Maybe literally. He rose his eyes slowly to her, after dropping them to the ground during his thoughts, watching her, blinking a bit too often from the remnants of the earlier tears.

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/color]

[Kaede]

(OOC: Nah, it's fine. ^^ This post is super-rushed, anyway. I've got to go somewhere in like, 2 minutes, so I had to write this in about 5 minutes. That explains her little explanation. =P)

The pain was absolutely unbearable. Kaede felt compressed, heavy, and her eyes were the very personification of misery. The boy's tears reflected like ice in a summer's sun, streaking his face in a stream of what must have been kept inside for far too long. She remembered Nori, and his perfect way of making everything fine and good. How she wished that she had been blessed with the gift of comfort! But she realized that Kazhe needed someone; an anchor and a person to whom his troubles would melt away with. So, gathering her pride, she reached out to him, taking his shaking hands. Her own hands she wrapped tightly around them, enclosing his in what she hoped were warmth and consolation.

She looked him in the eye. "Okay, Kazhe," she whispered. "Okay."

She gazed at his face for a moment longer, the sunny-sky blue of his hair, the green of his eyes that were still beautiful, even through the salty remnants of tears. Releasing his hands with unexpected reluctance, Kaede straightened her back and gently took hold of the small golden clasp at the front of her cloak. With a tiny click, it undid itself, and the shadowy folds fell without noise, the hood slipping from her face with a smothered swish of the fabric.

At first she kept her eyes down, afraid to admit herself to Kazhe. After a long sigh she raised her face to the broken shadows of the tree, a flash of gold emanating from her unusual eyes as they caught and lost the sun. She tried to shake her ebony bangs from her uncertain visage, and she felt self-conscious as she fiddled a bit with the collar of her shirt.

"You're the first to see me in two months, Kazhe," she said with a slight, laughing smile. "And I mean me."

With a violent beat of her heart, she wondered if this was still a good idea… revealing her looks was risky enough, but her background?

But how would Kazhe ever trust her help without it?

"My name is not Kaede…" she admitted at last, trying to sound confident. "I'm Hide Murakami no Kasumi… shinobi of the Cloud. Well, I, uh… I used to be."

She looked up nervously, then back down at her lap, playing with the creases of her cloak.

"I don't uh… want this to make things different, you know. If I tell you the whole truth."

She pulled some hair behind her ear, not sure if he wanted her to continue.

[min]

[OOC; !! It's great for so little time! ... I'm finding this thread adorably.. adorable. xD<3]

He saw her moving her hands, bringing them to his own, however he still could not grasp it, his comprehension was blown away by now. Yet, he accepted it, the warm feeling of her hands over his, the comforting and safe emotions that flowed over him at the second her fingertips brushed over his. It was such a simple kind of gesture, but it meant so much to him, her caring. Even with his hands enclosed, he squeezed the tips of his fingers against her's, all the feelings of cautiosness he felt not even an hour ago gone, just disappeared off the face of the earth. Kaede wouldn't hurt him, it was like he had known her his entire life, his best friend, someone he could talk to; and he'd end up spilling everything, given just a little bit of time. She would be the first to understand just how broken he felt, the only one to know about his father, the only to understand just how bad his Mother's death ended up impacting him. Kaede, the girl that changed him in under sixty minutes. She was a miracle; he'd never forget her, especially because somehow, the two had a ... a connection, and even with just meeting her, she just fit there. Her voice, it was soothing, like how he remembered his Mother's when he was sick. Her next three words, light whispers to him and only him, he drank it in -- his name. No one said his name anymore. But what really stood out was the repeated word; the simple okay. She would show him; he would see her. He felt lucky today, too lucky. Which brought him to thoughts of what would happen tomorrow? But he pushed them aside, focusing on her, in front of him. Kaede, the girl who cared.

The warmth left him, causing him to look up sharply, watching her pull away, grasping at a small buckle on the hood. He watched intently, waiting for the moment her hood would fall, and one.. two.. Oh. He could only stare. Why she would hide herself, Kazhe found no excuse; Kaede had a true beauty. He watched her hair fall gently, smoothly around her as she hid her eyes from him, but he didn't mind, he would see soon enough, and he knew they'd be sparkling and unique, even if they were just a muddy shade of brown. He'd find something in them, something familiar perhaps. So he said nothing, his eyes slightly wider, and he scootched forward a bit on the branch, almost touching his knees to her. Moments later, Kaede raised her head. Kazhe gasped. Her eyes were striking, they reminded him of his own, however they were an enchanting golden colour. Her hand rose to her collar, and Kazhe shook his head slowly, raising his hand to cover hers this time, his other falling lightly upon her cheek, brushing a few stray hairs away from her face. "Your eyes, Kaede-san, they're so.. so very pretty." He said, his voice soft, feeling a little awkward with the situation, however mostly content with it. "You're pretty." The boy corrected genuinely, his finger tips running down her cheeks, both hands drifting from her to rest on the tree branch in front of him.

She started to speak again; he listened. It was a little confusing, however he managed to get the main point of it; she had kept her cloak and hood on for a long time. He was a lucky kid, to see her.. The only in a whole two months. She must have a good reason. He blinked, telling her without words to continue, watching, his vivid green eyes locked onto her spectacular golden ones, listening intently to every word she had to say. When she finally continued, she sounded almost reluctant about telling him this; had he been pushing her too much about it? Was she going to regret telling him all of this this in only a matter of moments? He hoped not.

Her next words confused him slightly. She wasn't Kaede? He blinked in surprise this time as she gave a full introduction and he tipped his head slightly. What would her reason for an alias be? Okay, no matter.. But he wished to still call her Kaede; how would that be? "I.. can I still call you Kaede?" He asked, not wanting to get used to another name.. not yet, anyways. Right now, he wanted to keep her as her, the Kaede with the cloak.. from Kumo. But then, the last few words struck him hardest; what did she mean, used to be? "Used.. to.. be?" He echoed with a questioning tone, glancing at her curiously only to see her eyes downcast in a nervous manner. This was the time, if any, she needed reassurance and confident, wasn't it? Kazhe was almost going to reach out to her when she started again, and he stared, not completely comprehending what was going on. But he'd agree anyways; it didn't matter what happened to her, he would still think of her the same. Kaede, the girl that cared when no one else did.

"You.. you can tell me anything. And if you don't want to continue.. don't. But whatever you tell me.. I don't care if you murdered a hundred people," He said softly, only trying to make an example -- he really hoped she hadn't -- his eyes stuck on hers, "I'll think the same of you." Kazhe reached out slowly, fingering her hair lightly, the smooth onyx colour of it a great match with her eyes. He smiled ever so slightly, a feeling of safety rushing over him. He knew at this moment that as long as he knew her, his dad would be less scary to him, especially if he managed to get her to stay in Suna.. or something, he would have someone to go to.

[/color][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Kaede]

(OOC: This is getting so cuuuuuuute!!! :3 Oh, and I'm mixing it up a little from what it says in Kaede's profile, so if you see a change… that's why ^^ Oh, and sorry for the rushiness of this post... I guess I just got excited).

Kaede shivered at the boy's second touch, the feeling of his closeness, his eyes focused on hers as no others' had ever been. They're so… so very pretty, he'd said to her. You're pretty. Had her heart burst with elation, it still would not have sufficed for the emotion she had felt at those words. Did he really think that? Did he truly believe that there was anything at all special about her?

But how close he was to her, now… so honest and unashamed. The whispering stroke of his skin against her cheek, the warmth granted from the hold of his hands on hers, telling her to not be afraid, that he was there for her, and that never in a million years would he ever do anything against her.

And he never once forced her. It was always her choice, her own free will, that led to her trust of Kazhe. He was just so welcoming, so gracious. Every word from his mouth was purer than diamond and just as precious.

She believed him with everything she had.

At his little smile, she smiled back, feeling so accepted and cared for that it was almost fantastical.

With a happy little sigh, she continued, "No, no, I haven't killed anyone, Kazhe. I haven't. And yes, please call me Kaede, still. I like it better, anyway.

"I'm from Kumo, like I said, from a clan called the Kasumi. We were uh, pretty high up there, I guess you could say, all just for this silly technique we'd developed." She smiled. "I used to be Hide-sama, you know." And Kaede giggled good-naturedly at this.

"But it wasn't anything amazing. In fact, I'm not even a true Kasumi. I was born under a family called Murakami, but my parents perished long before I had a change to know them. The Kasumi head adopted me as an infant, and I was raised as one of their own, trained apart from any school, directly under the instruction of the clan head. And… then there was Nori…"

Kaede paused for the slightest of moments, basking in the memory of his name.

"Nori Kasumi was my cousin, or… second-cousin. Ah, and he was so amazing! He had mastered our technique far better than me or anyone else, and he was the nicest kid… so nice, Nori was. You can imagine that it wasn't long until we became sort of like brother and sister. He'd train me and teach me by himself and we both progressed together. He had this way of making you feel better than you really did…" She thought of the effect of Kazhe's touch. "You have it, too, I think.

"But, suddenly, Kazhe, everything completely changed. Nori was swiped right out from under our noses; kidnapped by rogue ninja under service of another. None of our, uh… none of our search squads ever found him in time… five days later, he was pronounced dead."
Instinctively, Kaede reached up to Kazhe's hand, encased it again in both of hers, and held it there, close against her face, which, to her surprise, had started to leak with small, slender tears.

"Everyone was devastated, as you probably know, but none so much as I was. I lost a brother that day…"

She looked to Kazhe, right into his eyes, for reassurance, for relief. She found it there, and the emotion flooded out again, this time paired with another tear, a different one. A tear of great happiness.

"But anyway," she started again, a small smile coming and going. "I did sit back for a while, moping and grieving like I was supposed to, but after a while, I knew that that wouldn't make anything better. So, secretly, I gathered information on the assault. Since the Kasumi were high, getting into the Raikage's office was really no trouble. I guess it was at that time that my own ideals began to change.

"The kidnappers had worked under a man Orochimaru, or at least a subordinate under him. I read that shinobi were being gathered in such manners to be used as experimentation… I sought revenge. A week later, I escaped from Kumo, knowing fully well the consequences of my disappearance.

"I concealed my identity, naturally, afraid that I would be found and captured. I was, of course, a traitor to my village."

She sighed in regret. "But I was a fool. Revenge should not have been an option. I still think, that even if I were to catch up with the criminals, there'd be no way I could bring myself to kill them… not really.

"You, Kazhe… I admire you. The way you handle things like this. Your father…" she looked down at the house, then back at him. "You didn't even reach out to strike him back…

She held his hand tighter, fully aware of what she was about to say. "I wish that I could be like you, Kazhe. Every bit. You two are so similar… you and Nori."

She smiled in wondering, hoping that Kazhe would understand and accept her, despite the fool she had been, and despite the malice that had once burned in her young little heart.

[min]

[OOC; awwe poor kaede D: && yeah, i looked over it but usually i just go by what's said in the RP. && yeah. so cute.<3 It doesn't seem very rushed, either, and our posts are getting so long XD Ah && I have to go to a fair.. well i'm leaving soon, but i've got the start of a post && so I'll post sometime.. tomorrow :3 Sorryy!!~</3]


He listened carefully, happy she hadn't killed anyone; sure he had said that, but if it came down to it, he really couldn't be entirely one hundred percent sure what he would say or do towards it. It was a big thing, to kill people, especially with no reasons. He was also happy to be able to continue calling her Kaede, because she liked it better. He did, too, Hide didn't stand out as much. She needed something as unique as her physical appearance, and Kaede fit. His thoughts on this dwindled as she continued speaking, ending for a moment with the name Nori. This caught Kazhe's attention, and he looked up, waiting for her to go no, wanting to know who.. Nori was. Moments later, he was answered -- her cousin sort of a relative. A boy, one she adored and admired a lot. Kazhe felt himself stiffen slightly, though ultimately still be relaxed; Nori was her family, right? She said he was like a brother.. and Nori taught her her adoptive clan's technique, trained her as the best student of it. So Kaede was lucky, to have befriended him like that. No doubt she was a rather good kunoichi, like he had originally thought. She simply had an air around her. He could feel himself smiling inside at this, Nori not being someone she was attached to in a romantic way.

Her next words surprised him. First, the gift she spoke of, that was something almost amusing, though a compliment nonetheless and he was grateful for it, even if he wouldn't show it. What she said after that, however, was bad, not something he would have ever wished for her. Her cousin.. brother, her closest person, was suddenly whisked away with no trace, no lead, no evidence as to where he could be. Then, he was simply announced dead. After that, Kaede's hands clutched against his, and she started crying. He felt horrible, and his expression showed it, a mixture of both sympathy and empathy, however lines of comfort in there, as well -- Kazhe was there, he would stay there, be there if she needed it. His not-occupied hand reached up slowly to her, wiping away the small tears she was releasing, feeling extremely bad for her. His finger ran slowly down her smooth skin, taking the wet with him. "You can cry," He murmured softly, letting her know it was okay, she had a good reason to.

Probably feeling stronger, more confident, Kaede continued, and Kazhe dropped his hands from her face slowly as she spoke, all the while his feeling bad for not being able to do anything to help her overwhelming him. She went into the Raikage's office, got information, realized it was under Orochimaru's orders -- and Kazhe scowled at his name. Of course he knew of the bastard, it was a complex thing between Suna and Ota, versus Konoha. Kazhe hadn't participated in that, finding a way to make himself.. unknown to the whole ordeal. He immediately felt even worse, knowing it was because of the man's twisted expirementations that would cause this. Kazhe listened carefully as she explained how she left, a traitor to her a village.. a missing nin. That was her big secret, the reason for the cloak, the personality. It surprised him, however less than he thought it should. Of course, she hadn't done anything horrible, she was still traitor to Kumogakure, one of the great five hidden shinobi villages. Once again, Kazhe was overwhelmed.

Everything she said in the next three - or so - minutes was blow after blow of nothing he would expect. Kaede - or Hide Murakami no Kasumi, of Kumo - wanted to be like him, admired him.

"You didn't even reach out to strike him back.."

That was something Kazhe could have chuckled at. He knew that with his father in such a rage that he could end up seriously hurt, however most of it was probably cowardice. Or just such a powerful fear of his dad that he just couldn't do it. She thought it was something special, something.. brave of him, but it was probably just the complete opposite. She continued, with words he would cherish, though he didn't need.

Kazhe couldn't think of anything to do right now, but he knew some action was in order. So, with a bit of a nervous air, he reached out, cautiously, to wrap his arms around her waist, hugging her tightly, pulling her to him. He locked his arms behind her, closing his eyes slowly, relaxing. "Kaede-san," He said her name softly, whispering by her ear, "I'm sorry."

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Kaede]

Kaede's misty eyes opened in shock as she felt Kazhe come against her. His arms he wrapped snuggly around her waist, pulling her close, and holding her to him, a gesture she had not received in too long a time…

She felt herself melt, then, completely succumbing to the boy who held her. She just let herself fall into it, welcoming everything, taking everything in. Another tear fell for reasons she could not explain, and she rested her head against his shoulder as a child would their parents'.

His breath then fell upon her ear like a breeze, making her shiver again.
"Kaede-san," Kazhe whispered melodically. "I'm sorry."

Kaede shook her head vaguely, still against his shoulder. She closed her eyes contently, lacing her arms around his body as well.

"Don't be sorry," she said softly. "Everything turned out all right, I think, and it's going to be fine from now on; I'll make sure of it."

Kaede relaxed. It felt good to have Kazhe here, like this. His arms were surprisingly hard and sturdy, and never had she ever felt so calm. Reaching up, she brought a hand to the nape of his neck, stroking his hair with a slight touch. She wasn't completely weak, after all. She knew that sometimes, even in her situation, it was healthy to reveal even a little emotion.

"Kazhe," she said after a while. "What about you? What happened to your family?"

[min]

She went with it, she didn't push him away, and that caused him to relax a bit more, his features softened considerably, though it didn't matter, for none could see his face. Kaede's head found way to his shoulder, her arms slowly finishing the embrace, and Kazhe felt a light, hot wetness on his shoulder. Oh, so she was still crying. He felt her head shaking in a 'no' gesture after his apology, and he was accepting of it, though still felt that way. Her voice, in only moments, soothed him a great deal, and she was so sure of herself and her future, Kazhe couldn't help but feel that she was right in her thinking, and that for the both of them, life would turn out good.

Her hand found it's way to his neck, and he shuddered lightly, the feeling sending shivers down his spine. It felt weird, someone so close to him and not performing damage, for her to do something so caring, was just.. not comprehendable to him at the moment. However, that was forgotten as moments later he heard his name fall from her lips, and an unavoidable question about his family arose. Kazhe took a sharp breath, one of his arms running up the length of her back, resting on her neck, his fingers playing lightly with her hair, wondering exactly how or where to begin, what to say. This was a story he wasn't used to telling, one he tried to not even think about anymore. But he'd have to face it sooner or later, and he preffered to do so with someone by his side.

"It wasn't always like that," He started, his voice soft, clear, "We used to be a happy family, you know, one you would read about. I did good in the academy, my parents were both shinobi so they weren't always home, but they had stories I loved to hear when they got home, and I loved it when my Mom helped me. She had really good chakra control, I think that's where I got it from, and though she was always obsessed with matching my clothes with my hair and my eyes, she didn't nag on me when we were practicing things, so that was my favourite time." Useless information, but that's all he needed to say right now, he needed to build himself up, gain confidence to the harder parts with bad memories.

"They had a mission and my Mom didn't make it. I don't even know if she came back, the last time I saw her was before she left. My dad didn't take it too well, you could say. He was in a rage the first few days, I stayed far away from him. And then, when I thought he settled down, he struck me." He paused here, closing his eyes, the memory of it washing over him, "I dont' even know why, he just hit me. It hurt, and it was that day that I decided on one of two futures for myself, becoming a medic-nin. I've been healing myself, the bruises on the inside, the cuts from Sake bottles." He mumbled clumsily, pulling away from the hug he was in. "This shirt I wore during one of his worse tempers, this huge cut," He pointed to the ripped fabric on his left sleeve, "My dad had a kunai knife, and that wound took a little longer to heal. I missed a few training sessions."

Kazhe sighed, glancing down at his house between the leaves, a heavy look on his face, his eyes downcast, glittering with the pain he was feeling again. "The physical part stopped pretty soon, around two and a half weeks after Mom's death. But then he was drunk all the time, that's why I go to that Sake shop's roof every day. He goes there to buy more alcohol, every day, and he always gets humiliated, though he doesn't know it. And for some twisted reason, I find enjoyment in that." He laughed almost bitterly; when did he get so sadistic? "That's when the mental part came in, and from then on out I was just the d.amn mistake, not worth anything. No good. And occasionally I got slaps when he found out I wasn't around for something he needed, like what you saw; I imagine he wanted me to go buy him Sake. So I got hit." He stopped now, not knowing what else to say, turning his gaze towards the sky, towards his right, past the tree. "I don't even want to think of him as my Father anymore, Kaede-san. I don't want to think of that house as my home. I don't see how it is, I live in this stupid tree. I can't even find the courage inside of me to say anything to him, to do anything, I'm just a coward. I take it all, heal myself, and back away. Kaede-chan.. I don't know what ever happened."

[/blockquote][/blockquote][/color]

[Kaede]

Kaede closed her eyes as she felt Kazhe's hand slide up her back and rest at her neck, playing gently with her hair. She was glad that he felt comfortable enough to speak about his own past, and she was glad to listen.

His story started out much like hers had: pleasant, happy, perfect. Everything was as it should have been… until, again, something happened too suddenly to contemplate, and things were cast in all directions. She knew the enemy, here.

It was change.

Kazhe pulled slowly away from the embrace, then, and Kaede sat up, wiping her tingly eyes with the back of her hand. She watched as he explained the reasons behind a particularly large cut across one of his sleeves—a tribute from his drunken father.

Kaede, in a small way, could understand his pain. He, too, had lost the presence of a loved one, and his whole world had changed because of it. In ways, though, he had it worse than she. Kazhe was living in what seemed to be a constant cage, a nightmare that forced itself upon him every time his dad lifted a bottle of sake. In Kaede's case, most of her major suffering had ended during the week after Nori's pronounced end, and now… well, now things had become too complicated to think about.

Still, there was another difference between the two shinobi. Kazhe had control, while Kaede had lost hers the moment she stepped outside the village lines…

Kaede looked back at him as he uttered a last statement.

"A coward, Kazhe?" she asked in disbelief. "Perhaps in your eyes."

She looked back down at the home where the boy had once lived a beautiful life.

"At least you haven't run away, yet. Me… I didn't even think once as I left home. Never stopped to worry about what the rest of the Kasumi would think, or how they would deal with another loss. I never thought…. My life revolved around me, while you still manage to find room for a little lost missing-nin stuck in a desert."

She tried to smile at this.

"But you're right one one point, and a point that I still cannot figure out. I don't know what happened, either."

[Kazhe xhas to find passwordx]

[ooc; i don't even deserve to be on here anymore .___. however, i'm going to reply anyhow, and hope it's okay. i haven't been in a long time because of school, i was sick for about a week && my computer's extremely slow as of late; i know, i know, excuses excuses, but i decided this thread was adorable and i absolutely had to come back to it, having thought about it in english today. <3]

She dismissed his idea of being a coward, in a roundabout way telling him she didn't think he was, but it was stuck with him that perception, that idea. He lowered his gaze to his house the same time as Kaede, Hide, the girl in front of him, his electric hair falling into his face, covering his emerald green eyes and his creamy skin as he thought hard while she spoke, explaining to him that at least he hadn't done what she had -- she was, basically, putting herself down, and Kazhe wouldn't stand for it, she shouldn't do such a thing, she had no reasons for it, and a perfectly good one for leaving her family. Her home had been ripped apart. "Kaede..," He mumbled softly, turning his look towards her without moving his head. "Stop tearing yourself down. You're.. you've had good enough reasons for what you've done, and I'm sure there's a lot of people who would've done the same for you what I have. I just got the extreme luck of being the one with the chance to," He told her, lifting his head, one hand reaching out to rest in a hopefully non-threatening way on her knee. "Please, you've stayed and talked with me, as well, you deserve as much credit as whatever you wish to give me. You could have left the moment you.. saw what happened, I know a lot of shinobi around here that would."

He licked his lips unconsciously, closing his eyes, shivering slightly from the nervousness and almost uncomfortable feeling he had, though it wasn't exactly that; it was different, somehow, uncomfortable was far from the word.. maybe he was just in shock of his telling her everything, and not used to letting loose his emotions; unfamiliar. There, that was it, that was the word. But being here, sitting in front of Kaede and telling her this was unbelievably.. right. And that simply amazed him, he had met her so few hours ago, and yet, still he felt so close to her, so open and able to talk to the missing nin about his family life, something nobody at all besides him and his Father knew about. "Kaede-chan," He murmured softly, only wanting to feel her name slide off his lips so easily.

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[Kaede]

{{ OOC: I can't believe you're back! *smiles* And you're right, this thread was too cute to be left in the cold. So... I guess in my excitement, I went a little too sweet in my post. Hm. I guess I'll leave you to decide. ^^ }}

Kaede's gaze left the house as Kazhe spoke to her. Their eyes met.

God, he was beautiful. The way his porcelain skin shone against the shadows of the great tree; his hair, the color of a too-sweet storm; and his eyes, intelligent, suffering. There was his voice. His voice, his voice…

Kaede actually had to blink once or twice before her attention was fully gathered. She listened without remark as Kazhe poured out his graced opinion. It was incredible, the way he could just read her mind like that. That in just a short period of time, this boy knew exactly what to say, and when to say it. He even knew how to say it.

He told her that she need not blame herself for past actions, that all could be forgiven. That all had been forgiven for some time, now. He said that he was lucky—lucky to have had the chance to speak with her, to hear her stories. That he was absolutely unashamed of her.

Kazhe reached out then, looking to Kaede full on, and placing his hand comfortingly on her knee. She couldn't stop the tremble as he did so. He thanked her for her company.

Kaede's golden eyes never left Kazhe's for a moment. She watched as he grew nervous, his hand trembling ever so slightly on her knee. But this was the closest she'd come to perfection in such a long, long time. Everything about this place… everything about him. She didn't want to use the term "magical", but how else could it possibly be explained?

He murmured her name. "Kaede-chan."

Deeply moved in a new, wonderful way, Kaede reached down and took Kazhe's hand from her knee. She held it in her own, gently, caringly. Then, with a slow, comfortable exhale; she brought it to rest on her cheek, holding it there, letting the feeling stay.

She smiled a slow, peaceful smile, her eyes glinting in the shadows of the broken sun. She let him very close to her.

"Kazhe," she sighed, staring intently and unsurely into his emerald eyes. "I… I cannot possibly tell you what I wish to say…"

The heat of his hand suddenly felt warmer against her skin. She felt like such a girl.

But he deserved something.

Kaede leaned forward, keeping Kazhe's hand warm against her tearless face. Her ebony hair fell slightly into her eyes. She could have sworn her heart stopped. Hopefully, he wouldn't mind.... And then finally—she kissed him.

[min]

[ooc; not to sweet at all; simply amazing<3 && if i ever do disappear like this again, please, you have every right to email/aim/yim me hate mail and crap, if you need the contacts, pm me >>']

His thoughts matched hers almost to the tiniest detail; everything about her in front of him right now was absolutely perfect, not a notch off. The way her hair fell so softly and framed her delicate face that could hold so many emotions at once, and still look this way after the hardships she had endured, her golden eyes glinting and reflecting off the sunlight that made it's way down past the tree's leaves. She looked so content sitting there, and Kazhe couldn't help but wonder what he had done to deserve her presence at all, and the fact she liked him as he did her was simply a bonus. The boy would have been satisfied just her gracing his life, though it would have undoubtedly left him hungering for more, he'd learn to get over it, especially since he wouldn't have had this conversation, wouldn't have known what he did now -- there was no possible way he would let her up and leave now, not after this.

His hand was moved from her knee to rest on her soft skin, her cheek, and nervously bit the inside of his lip, her next words stinging a spot that caused him to become numb. Her actions only contributed; the girl slowly leaned forwards towards him, and in just one second, his world was flipped entirely upside down, by one little gesture of kindness, love, security, and total and utter sacrificion, trust, and confidence. Her lips touched his, she initiated a kiss, and he could have melted.

She was extremely gentle, her lips so soft and tender, and though he was slightly surprised, it didn't stop the feeling he felt, the shiver up and down his spine, the heat around him, or the passion flowing between that simple connection. His other hand moved from his spot to her knee, and slowly ran up her leg, and he locked his arm behind her, his elbow bent at her hip, pulling her ever so slightly closer to him as he pushed slightly harder into the kiss, then broke it in a moment, his head dropping forward slowly to rest his forehead against hers. One finger from the hand on her cheek lifted and he softly drew a line down the side of her face and gave a soft sigh. "Kaede-chan..," he said in a whisper, his voice feather soft, his breath falling in puffs over her lips, her nose, "are you leaving soon?"

He dreaded the answer, but he needed to know.

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