View of the Comet (Comet Thread, Open)

It was a special night for the village, certain parts of the village celebrated the passing of the comet in their own ways, a backyard BBQ and enjoying their food as the comet went by, a large platform stand as people took in the beauty of the comet or others who simply decided to stay home and weren't that interested in it. Kureji didn't do any of these options and instead had a better idea. He waited until it was night time and he had snuck up on top of the Hokage's rock without much difficulty, he had sit down with both of his legs crossed and took in the view of the infinite stars of the night, with one that burned brighter than others... the comet itself, Hagoromo's Comet.

He read all the history and stories on this comet, saying a great battle had caused the comet to be formed and it visits Earth every now and then. At first, he debated not going at all but such an anomalous event only happens so often, so he decided to get up and actually watch it with the best view possible in the village. Kureji is indifferent about the comet, he doesn't believe it's a blessing nor a curse, just something that can be easily explained once it's dissected but until it crashes down to Earth, he doubts anyone is going to figure out the real reasoning behind the comet anytime soon.

Still, this is a view that he wasn't going to forget. He'd probably keep watching for a few minutes without interruption before he headed on home. At least he could leave this as a experience to treasure instead of leaving it as a regret.

There were few places in the village where someone could get the best view of the comet. The most obvious were the large mountains that loomed over the village known as the Hokage Rock. Taiga knew each of the Hokage by name and era as well as the notable acts each of them done in their time. A scholar like herself would know the important facts about their own culture and roots before studying another. As important as people chalked them up to be, today they would serve as a bench. Taiga respected each of them as being a Hokage was no easy task for anybody. To run and be responsible for an entire village as well as the top fighter represented only a small sum of the population. It wasn't a job anybody could do and she didn't particularly find herself running the village. Much like Kureji she had no strong feelings towards it besides being a pretty ball of ice gracing the night sky. She sat at the edge of one of the faces with her feet dangling below carelessly enjoying the evening. Taiga would turn her head to the appearance of Kureji. The only reason she acknowledged him was because she saw him earlier the same day when they did their mission together.

"Fancy seeing you here."

A voice broke his sightseeing, tilting his head to the direction of the familiar voice. Taiga from earlier, which is an odd coincidence but he supposed that he wouldn't of been the only one with the grand idea of watching the comet on top of the Hokage's rock. He simply offered a light wave to her before returning his head to the infinite sky, mainly on the burning blue comet that soared across the sky.

"Indeed, such an occasion deserves the best view, don't you think?" he imagined she also had the same idea of why she's watching the comet, it's simply something not one should pass up due to the scarcity of it's appearance regardless of your stance on why it passes along Earth. "What do you think? some see the comet as a blessing, others a curse. I just see it as an anomaly we haven't studied yet. I would love to get my hands on it... but, that's not going to happen sadly." it'd be fun studying the pieces of the comet, to see if there's anything otherworldly about it but for now, he's satisfied with the sight of it.

"They say if you say your goals with the comet as your witness, they're bound to come true. I find it nonsense, but I suppose there's no better occasion for one to fortify their goals." he thought about doing it, having a few goals in mind that he wouldn't mind succeeding, even if it's a bit later down the road but at the same time, the heavily pragmatic side of him is deeming it as nonsense and to simply take it in the view while it's still there.

He wasn't surprised to see others up here. The view over the village was magnificent, the lights of Konohagakure littering earth below them, a sea of yellow and whites. The entire village was out tonight, all to see the special occasion, Hagoromo's Comet. Something about it made him uneasy, but he wasn't able to put his finger on it. Every time he looked it at, it made the hairs on his arms stand on end, wondering if he was particularly receptive to it due to the Magnet Release DNA inside him, or if it was something else that caused him to feel... tingly, and he hated it. The sensation of the comet's chakra causing his own to be sensitive only reminded him of Chomei and when he would borrow strength from the Tailed Beast previously sealed inside of him. It was something he really never got used to, almost like he was overflowing with chakra. The difference in feelings was distinct, but it caused him to not be able to focus.
The sound of sandals walking up from behind the other two would alert them of his presence, and should they turn to look at him, he would wave to them. He had heard their conversation, intrigued by Kureji's words. He wouldn't say anything, not yet, instead choosing to think about what Kureji said, meditating on it. Part of his issue was that he had no idea what he wanted now. He had been given a fresh start in a new world, and yet all he could do was focus on the old. He wanted to remember everything so it might give him a clue how he got here in the first place. But even if he did that, then what? It was too much for him to think about.

"Do you two mind if I join you?" Seigi would ask, approaching them, keeping a few feet distance between them, glancing between them and the comet. It really was something incredible.

Kureji offered a partial welcoming gesture which was expected as acquaintances. She'd recline extending her arms behind her to support her upper body getting fairly comfortable despite not being interested in staying for more than a few minutes, much like Kureji.

"I suppose."

She pitched, rather indifferent about the whole event. Her entire presence there was on a whim. She felt it would be best to include herself in these cultural phenomenons to better fit in with the general population. If she were to be a real ninja, looking like a military personnel and acting so mysterious all the time really made one look the part. The best ninjas were the most unexpected. They looked like normal people and acted like them. Perhaps the upbringing of mainstream events made casually blending into the majority far too easy. Taiga directed her attention back towards Kureji as he gave his input on the event. He was drawn towards getting hands on data with the object studying it up and personal. She never took Kureji for an astronomical scholar, or fancy any scientific practices. Her prejudice got the best of her with this one.

"I see the comet as...an celestial object made of primarily ice and carbon." She said with a short-lived chuckle, before returning her gaze to the ice ball. "You know...maybe the comet has some supernatural qualities to it. Or maybe it is just a regular comet. I'm in no position to confirm nor deny that. But you cannot deny the positive energy that comes with the comet. People look up to it as motivation or a means to steer luck in their favor. We are all made of matter. We are creations of energy. Doesn't it make sense that if people project more positive energy into the universe, that positive energy would be more attracted to them? I feel the comet serves as a beacon of positive energy. If the people are attracted to the energy then they would be more likely to achieve their goal. But isn't that just magic? Shifting the odds to yield a result?"

Taiga immediately broke away from her run-off speech about her theories regarding all things in the universe. She was an open-minded individual and disliked filtering herself. The sound of dragging feet caused Taiga to turn her head as a natural reaction. For what reason would she be approached by a stranger? Fortunately the man was only interested in the conversation and company those two could offer. Taiga gave a partial shrug turning her head back towards the comet.

"I don't care." She said in an agreeable tone, not trying to come off as passive aggressive or unwelcoming. She genuinely was indifferent about his presence as long as he had something to offer to them, whether it be stimulating insight or silence.

It seems that Kureji's words had caught the attention of someone else, Kureji giving a quick glance to Seigi. "Sure thing, it seems a few others had the bright idea of watching the comet on top of the rock, eh?" he patted himself on the back for what he thought was a genius idea, but it seems a few other people came across that idea easily as well. He supposed that it makes the viewing of the comet a little more eventful, but the plan is to stay for a few more minutes before heading off.

Kureji then focused back onto Taiga's words, with such a pragmatic attitude he had never thought of it that way. He doesn't believe everyone is connected to the comet by some sort of "positive" energy but he can definitely see it as a way for people to be inspired by such a rare event. He still believes that there's a certain science behind the comet that hasn't been explained yet, but he can respect people's imagination for making it far more special than it actually is.

He quickly stood up from the rock, patting off his pants and stretched slightly, looking up at the comet once more. "While we're here, anyone going to make a few goals while we still have the comet? I don't believe in the idea that it'll become true but might as well participate."

Taiga didn't seem bothered by his presence one way or another but Kureji seemed very inviting, so Seigi wouldn't feel like he was encroaching on their good time. He would nod his head, grinning. "Well, it is the best spot in the house. Oh! I almost forgot," He would exlaim, looking up at it once more, then back to the duo, "I'm Seigi Douchiwa". From what he could gather, both Taiga and Kureji were both very analytical, each having a very logical approach to the comet, which he admired. Before he could speak up about his thoughts about it, however, Kureji asked them if they wanted to proclaim their goals right then and there, despite his own skepticism.
Seigi would be quiet as he thought, taking a step forward, closer to the edge. Overlooking the village, it reminded him of Kumogakure and when he would look at it from the Douchiwa Estate. It was one of the few memories of his original home that wasn't hazy or out of order, a good memory that he held onto dearly. He knew he would never see that home again, even if he did somehow manage to get back to his world, but it didn't mean he didn't miss it, but it was better off left in the past. Everything was. He didn't need to give himself false hope, he needed to move forward. He was given another chance to live and yet all he could focus on was what he had lost.

"I think.... my first goal is to move on from my past." Seigi would say out loud. "To let go of everything I've lost and to be grateful for the life I've been given." Seigi would look from the comet to his own hand, looking at his calloused palm, closing it into a loose fist and letting it hang at his side. "Truth be told, I should have died a long time ago and I'm tired of acting like that's not the case. Every moment since I've got here has been a gift that I can't squander any longer."
But... then what? Ever since he arrived here, he had felt a lack of direction. In his world, he was driven by his need to gain more power, especially with individuals like Shinji and Kira who were strong enough to level mountains. Here, he had no major nemesis to fight, no goal to achieve, except "Survive", which he had done plenty of. Not only had he survived, but he had thrived, escaping the Blood Prison, coming to Konoha and being accepted, getting his body back into fighting shape. He needed a new milestone to work towards, to accomplish. He needed motivation, more than anything. Like a diamond, Seigi was created and thrived under pressure. When the world was at stake was when he was at his best.

"I suppose my second goal would be to get stronger." He would say, his gaze ever outward over the sea of flickering lights below them. "I haven't had somewhere to call home in a long time and Konohagakure is the first place that's felt like it since I was a kid. I want to protect my new home and the people in it." He would smile peacefully. ''And I guess that gives way to my third and final goal," He would speak, this time focusing on the comet.

"To create a world of peace."

To her dismay, Kureji quickly moved on from their conversation discussing their personal philosophy regarding the comet immediately when the newcomer arrived. Taiga was completely astonished by the boy's audacity to ignore her presence the moment another person joined. Was it a severe lack of social skills? Or was he just a dick? It was one thing to compliment himself so righteously. This was the second incident of Kureji outright ignoring her, the first being their mission earlier which was their first encounter. At first it was a bit more excusable given the circumstance. However, this current incident? Kureji specifically asked her a question regarding her personal philosophy on the comet. The two incidents gave her the impression he was the type to provoke others for personal pleasure. And she was not about to let him have his fun.

"Keep it cool...he's not worth it."

...

"Seigi Douchiwa, it is a pleasure to meet you. I'm Taiga Amari." She said in a cordial tone greeting the older man formally as she usually does with most people. "You have some rather unique goals which require a lot of character traits to achieve; some brawn and a bit of luck won't cut it for you."

Taiga enjoyed analyzing Seigi's goals more than she found them interesting. It's not like they were terrible goals, and she was certain the man could indulge the two of them with some of his backstory if inquired. But she always had trouble "clicking" with other people, whether she knew them well or if they were complete strangers. Everybody was held to the same standard. What Kureji had to say was none of her concern anymore. She boldly turned away from the boy giving her total attention to Seigi giving Kureji the cheek.

"As for my goals, well, I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to my work. You see, I'm proficient with chemicals and i'm always looking for ways to improve them. My first goal I want one of my poisons to take a life. My second goal I want my medicine to save a life. And lastly...I want financial success. A million ryo would be nice." Frankly she was out of ideas, but these were all goals she personally desired, whether they were unsavory or generic she wouldn't care. This was her future.

Kureji paid attention as the two went on to list their goals, even though he made his skepticism of the whole concept pretty clear, it seems they went on to do it anyway. It looked like Taiga also went to do her goals and he sighed, he really didn't plan to do any wishes but with the two of them doing it, there's no reason for him to not do his. "Very well..." with a clearing of his throat, he looked up to the comet. "My mother has physical abnormalities that have reduced her lifespan, I want to study biology and more specifically, ijutsu in the hopes that I can cure her to have a long, happy life." with how cold he's shown himself to be so far, he wouldn't imagine the two of them to expect such a goal coming from his mouth.

That was the main goal, but he supposed he could think of two more like the others have. "Next, once I heal my mother, I want her to see me grow into an man. I want her to be alive to see when I leave my mark on the world." the more he opens his mouth, the more he come across as a bit clingy to his mother, but he wouldn't care. She's probably one of the few people he actually cares about in this life.

"Next, I want to be so proficient in ijutsu to the point that no injury can't be healed. I want to push the boundaries of normal medical jutsu to the point it's possible to bring someone back from the dead, I want to break the saying of dead men telling no tales." all his goals were very medical based, while they weren't the only goals he have in mind, those were goals that are considered more "socially" acceptable compared to the more inherent ones he actually desires.

He decided to finally acknowledge what Taiga said earlier, as he felt a... reassurance dawn over him, a light feeling as if his chest is cleared. "You know Taiga, maybe you're right... the comet might have some supernatural quality of positive energy." he wasn't sure if that's completely true, but there is something special about the comet, he can't deny that.

Taiga introduced herself to him, and after listening to him speak, wished him luck. He smirked, looking outward at the village still.

"Thanks. With a little bit of hard work and dedication, I'm sure it won't be too hard." He joked, knowing full well that his goals would require a lot, but he wasn't scared of the process. It was going to take a while for him to regain his strength, but he had nothing but time. If he played his cards right, he supposed he could even be Kage again one day. But gaining power once more was now his main goal. Taiga began to speak of her goals, keeping them relatively simple. Her first goal was that her poisons would take a life, which took him by surprise. She then wished her medicine would save a life, which was very commendable, and then simply for a monetary sum of a million ryo.
"May I give you a suggestion?" Seigi would ask, turning his head slightly to face her, not waiting on a reply on if she wanted it or not. "Taking a life is difficult. I would mentally prepare yourself for that first, if you haven't already." Seigi, as naive as it was, had taken up a rule a long time ago of no killing, but he couldn't force that rule onto others. "But those are fine goals nonetheless."

Kureji then spoke up, speaking on how he wished to improve his medical prowess, both for his mother and to bring the dead back from life. Turning to face him, Seigi listening to Kureji's words, wondering if he'd meet his goals or not. The both of them were ambitious, which was promising for both Konoha and the ninja world, but he wondered if he could teach Kureji something a little... out of this world. He himself was fairly proficient at Ijutsu, or at least used to be. If he could remember his old abilities, he could sprinkle a little of bit of his world's own magic on this one. Resting his chin inbetween his fingers, Seigi was deep in thought when Kureji mentioned the positiive attributes of the comet, breaking Seigi's trance, but the Jounin remained quiet.

Taiga stayed true to her word. Kureji was in the dog house. She didn't bother to acknowledge Kureji similar to how he ignored her on multiple occasions before. If he wanted her attention he needed to learn to be mindful of others! She had a feeling Kureji knew he messed up as he added a little tidbit at the end but it wouldn't suffice. He attention stayed on Seigi, where she imagined it would stay for the rest of the night. The man had something to say regarding her own goals as he enticed her to prepare herself psychologically beforehand.

"Interesting to consider. As another ninja nearly twice my age I'd imagine you would have no qualms with death. It's in our line of work, after all. Regardless, it doesn't matter if I do the slaying or not. I'm more interested in seeing a poison I created being lethal. Whether the death is caused by my own hands or another is none of my concern. The same goes for my other goal. If I saved another person's life by administering a cure, that works just as well as another person doing the same. In short...i guess you can just say I hope to master my skill in chemistry and have data to back it."

As the comet was swimming through the night sky she returned her gaze to it savoring its limited exposure. It was one of those things you couldn't really ignore for too long. It would be disappointing to get caught up in an everyday conversation only to have it disappear with her head turned.

"But that begs a question related to one of your goals. You spoke about being interested in world peace. As a ninja I can't imagine that would be good for business.'

They didn't seem to care about Kureji's goals and honestly, that worked in his favor. They were goals that he genuinely sought and sometimes he likes to work alone when it comes to it. He still participated in the conversation however and took attention to Taiga's own goals. He had no idea she'd be interested in chemistry, then again, he didn't really make the effort to learn more about her and be more socially respectable towards her. That's what he gets for being a buzzkill, he supposed by ignoring her earlier.

"I don't think it's a case of when, only if." following up on Taiga's statement about it not being good for them as ninjas. "War is always going to be a current, to end an war, you will always need to fight whoever's warring. I don't think the need for ninjas are ever going to die out." it wasn't out of negativity, more so there will always be somebody who wants to take over by force and it's important for villages to be ready and trained if that somebody turns out to have both real power and vision.

"But it's a fine goal nonetheless, I'm interested to see how you'll go about it." he doesn't believe it'll happen, but his intentions seem to be noble and he can't fault him for that. "But enough of this debate, let's just enjoy the comet while we can." there's always a time and place to have deep conversations about the ninja world, right now isn't it.

Seigi turned silent and Kureji added his remainder to the conversation before silencing himself to watch the comet. Taiga didn't know what more to do aside from follow Kureji's advice. It was an interesting topic to ramble on about but she figured Kureji was more interested in gazing at the falling ice rock than developing his perspective. Besides, she was not the kind to cave in easy. She did not forgive Kureji for how he treated her all today. Taiga turned her head to the comet without a word watching the ice ball slowly deteriorate. Frankly she was already bored with it. After all, how long could you stare at that thing without realizing it's just a dot slowly moving their the midnight sky. She figured she would stay for no more than five minutes more before she packed up and returned home. Her time could be put to much more important things.

He followed his own advice and continued to watch the comet, but the more he watched it fly by, the more he started to realize in hindsight how he treated Taiga today. He didn't necessarily feel bad about it, but he'd rather not end it on bad terms either. It was a bit troublesome and outright annoying in Kureji's perspective, but as soon as she started to show signs of leaving, he got her attention again. "Taiga, want to go out and eat dinner? my treat." rather straightforward, but he'd imagine she's more inclined to go if she had a free meal to go with it. That's going to do some damage to his wallet, he's willing to bet but he'd rather not be on bad terms with any shinobi from his village, his current generation and for when they also grow into capable ninja later on so it doesn't come back to bite him.

He soon stood up regardless of whether or not she'd accept his proposal, as he got his fair share of watching the comet go by, he already made his wishes and he still retained the mindset that while they won't become true, he felt his goals being more solidified now.

The silence was disturbed by Kureji raising up from his spot on the mountainside. As he was turning to leave he stopped momentarily to invite her to dinner. If she was accurate about her guesstimation she figured this was his way to try and make up for his past behavior. But Taiga was not going to cave in that easy. This would be the dating way of buying a box of chocolates and flowers to "make up" a mistake. Taiga expected more. Not out of narcissistic tendencies, but she knew what she was worth.

"Okay."

Taiga rose up from her ledge seat and patted off the back of her pants to get rid of any bits of gravel or dirt that might've clung on.

"It was nice to meet you, Seigi." Taiga said as a farewell to the older man that joined them. He seemed more focused in watching the comet above anything else, so she figured it was best to leave it at that.

Taiga walked at Kureji's side keeping a steady pace with his so she wouldn't fall behind. They started to descend the mountain using a paved path leading to the ground level of the village. When they were quite some distance away from the spectators of the comet she questioned Kureji's motive.

"So, why did you decide to invite me?"

A part of him wanted her to say no, but it looks like she agreed to come along anyway. He gave a waved goodbye to Seigi, giving a light bow as he passed by him. "See you." he'd simply say, as he started to walk off with Taiga towards the village. He didn't know what else he could really say, aside from what's already been said back at the comet. He walked in silence, which got broken when asked him on his intentions. "I won't lie to you, but... my behaviour hasn't been the best today, I know that. The only people I know consider me cold but in truth, I don't like people hating me, even if they don't like me in general. I just don't want you thinking that I'm emotionless, basically. I don't mean to come off that way intentionally."

It's just something that he accepted as part of himself, he genuinely didn't tend to care about other people that much, at least until they grew close to him... while he accepted that part of him, he needed to work on his mannerisms better. "So, this is a dinner to fix up relations... hopefully, think of it as a free meal, friends hanging out or a date, it's up to you. I'd rather end today on neutral relations, if not good." with how he's treated Taiga so far, he would've left a permanently bad impression on her if he didn't take steps to fix it up now.

Taiga was genuinely curious of Kureji's intentions when she asked. They weren't friends, and she was far from the prettiest girl in the village. Taiga was a bit skeptical at first, unsure what Kureji had in mind. He was rude and treated her badly all day. Maybe he was going to take her somewhere shady and beat her up for retaliating. Or maybe he actually meant what he said by wanting to return to neutral terms.

"I guess. Where are we going to eat?" Taiga said trying to steer the conversation into something more interesting.

She wasn't a big fan of dining. Food was food to her. Sustenance. She needed it to stay alive but wasn't obsessed over it. This allowed her to focus on eating healthier foods to help stay lean. That being said she wasn't the kind to get weak in the knees over a fancy dinner. She was more interested in getting to know Kureji better if he was really showing his softer side. Part of her doubted he was genuine. Deep down she had a feeling Kureji was just doing this so she stopped ignoring her.

"All boys are the same..."

Kureji didn't have dinner yet, and he's sure his family wouldn't mind if he went off for his own dinner. The first thing that came to mind were two things. "I'm thinking... either ramen or BBQ. I like both choices but they'll fill you up pretty fast." he's honestly more in favor of the ramen, less messy to deal with but it's up to Taiga as well.

They started to make their way back to the village, eventually getting off from the hokage's rock from the standard path and being back to the ground level. He could think of several places, some cheap, some expensive but he'd have to get an answer from Taiga first.

"Or we could go for anything else if those choices don't suit you." he's not a particularly picky eater, he's also of the same mind that he just wants to eat, and he doesn't care what he eats to get that fulfillment.

Kureji was a bit indecisive, which was good for her since it gave her the opportunity to choose. He suggested two very popular choices of sociable places to eat. Ramen and barbecue were good for the cool outdoor weather, but she had to go with the more practical choice for her.

"Ramen." Taiga muttered.

There were a few reasons why she wanted ramen over the latter. The most obvious choice was presentation. She didn't like the fact that you had to cook your own food when it's "served" out to you. She didn't consider herself a chef, not that it mattered. She also didn't appreciate smelling like barbecue. Working over the hot coals made the smokey smell stick onto your clothes and in your hair. And lastly she was not a fan of it, to be blunt. It was a lot of meat and rich in thick sauces. Ramen on the other hand could be adjusted to be a lighter meal, which was Taiga's ultimate goal when planning for this dinner. The comet viewing took place very late at night. Later than she would usually stay up on an ordinary day. The two of them eventually ended up back in the village streets. It was vacant where they were with the only other audible presence being the humming of the street lights. The both of them marched in silence towards their destination...which was some kind of ramen place Kureji had in mind.

"..."

There was a place along the way that Kureji liked, it wasn't his favorite food place but when it comes to ramen, it ranked up pretty high. When they finally came across the streets with the occasional group or individual. There was a bit of traffic at the ramen place he wanted to order from, called "Ichiban" but to him, it's worth the wait. The duo had to line up and even then, Kureji remained in silence but it didn't take long. "Dinner for two?" the waiter asked, with a nod from Kureji, they were led to a table for two. As soon as they sat down, they were given three glasses, two empty, one large glass full of water along with two menus for both of them respectively.

"I already know what I'm ordering." Kureji stated, usually getting the "karage ramen" on the menu which had a fair bit of chicken in it. "Just get whatever you like and I'll pay for it." so far, Kureji knows that he isn't leaving a strong impression, still giving that cold attitude like all day. He couldn't bring up the comet either, so...

"Seeing anybody?" he'd ask, which is straightforward in what he meant. "I'm not usually one for relationships, but I imagine someone of your physical attractiveness gets a suitor or two. How is it?" at some point, Kureji would like to put aside his researches and explore what life has to offer, a relationship being one of them.

Taiga was led to an establishment similar to a lot of ramen places, being a relatively small shop with a bar and a few tables. Upon entering they were greeted and given one of the few tables within the restaurant. Picking up the menu she gave it a once-over to view the options, though her order already predetermined before she even step foot inside. Taiga didn't eat out much, mostly due to it being a waste of money when she had a relatively large debt owed. Some places were also questionable in the quality you received with a lot of places confusion large amounts of salt for flavor.

"I want a plain ramen." She said to the waiter, or Kureji if their waiter wasn't around to order.

Plain meant no toppings being nothing but broth and noodles. She figured since it was late that she would take a light dinner for the evening. Taking the pitcher of ice water she'd pour herself a cup full and set it down on the table top. Her eyes wandered off to the other patrons of the building getting a general idea of who they dined with, the exits, and anything worth noting mentally. She wasn't paranoid or expecting to cause any trouble, but it was always wise to be aware of one's surroundings. But he attention would forcefully be taken back to Kureji following his attempt of small talk. How was she supposed to respond?

"No." That was good enough to buy her some time to think. Taiga wondered if this was all a ploy to ask her on a date. She was a bit suspicious at first and seeing how the conversation devolved into asking about her relationship status and her physical appeal made her even more wary. "I don't spend time with many people, and that's because I like to keep my 'friends' to a bare minimum. The only reason I'm here with you now is because you wanted to mend our relationship."

Taiga avoided attachment for many reasons, one being conflict of interest. She knew the dangers of bonds. It was natural to feel these feelings for another person when enough interest builds up, but that serves as another weakness.

"Why did you want to know?" Taiga followed up bluntly, curious to Kureji's interest in her personal life.

Kureji did indeed want to mend their relationship, thinking that it'd seem natural along the way but only in hindsight would he realize how the questioning of her relationships status sounded. "I have goals that I want to reach, ones where I seclude myself from certain pleasures of life to try and attain these goals. I thought discussing relationships would be something interesting, but as you seem uncomfortable about it... that wasn't my intention." the waiter would soon come across them, Kureji gave his order of "karage ramen" along with the plain ramen. The waiter then hurried off into the kitchen, passing along the order to the chefs.

Meanwhile, the conversation would continue. "How about this then, those goals you mentioned with the comet... are they truly your goals? I'm not doubting you, but I guess you could say my interest is piqued. What sparked your motivation for chemicals, to make quality poisons and medicines for both ending and saving lives respectively?" if she were to ask about his own goals, he'd gladly elaborate on them, though with the mention of his mother earlier in his goals, it would seem obvious as to why he's pursing his career of biology, investing his time into the study of ijutsu.

"Not uncomfortable. Just...trivial to me." She added after the waiter left to fulfill their order.

Taiga was just not interested in romantic relationships. They were an unnecessary distraction to her work and served as a weakness to enemies. Taiga would know. She considered playing on other people's emotions more than once. The way she saw it, she would rather be the predator than the prey. Kureji disregarded the subject of relationships instead of prying on it more as he mistook her dismissal about them for being uncomfortable. She was less inclined to stay on subject and instead hear what else he had in store for her. He was interested, or at least pretended to for the sake of conversation, in her desire for chemistry. Taiga hummed as he eyes stared intently at her glass of water giving his question some thought. Why was she drawn to chemistry? The obvious answer was it being a tool that suited her ability. She was physically weak, having more brain than brawn. Poison helped leveled the playing field, and medicine helped her stay in the game. In a brief moment her eyes rose up to Kureji's with a valid response.

"They are my goals. I guess my philosophy is: there will always be somebody better than you in something. Somebody stronger, somebody faster, somebody healthier. Chemistry lets you adjust those statistics through chemicals. I can decrease blood flow to my opponent's muscles to make them weaker, toughen joints to make them slower, or damage their immune system to make them frail. I can focus on my own strengths and even modify them. Poisons are a silent killer. And you never know when you come across one."

Kureji listened carefully, so that's what it was... weak in most fields, strong in poison. He could see the appeal behind it, but poison isn't something he wants to indulge in. After all, his field focuses on the flesh, not spoiling it. "I can agree with that." Kureji started off, but before he could continue any further, their ramen was placed on the table, karage ramen for Kureji, plain ramen for Taiga. The waitress bowed before heading off. "As I was saying... I want to unlock the secrets of the flesh, mainly of those more fortunate with their kekkei genkai. I believe the people of major clans were once normal humans, just like us but through some unknown circumstance, unlocked a special bloodline that gives them a clear and distinct advantage over normal humans. I want to learn what those circumstances are, what makes the chakra tick to give such abnormal abilities? that's one of my goals, but more so a very major one."

He began to slowly eat his ramen, knowing to take it slowly or else, he'd become filled too fast if he were to rush it. "But alas... as you know, most clans are very protective of their bloodline. If I could only get a sample on even one... I'll find my way." it sounded like he fully intended to get a kekkei genkai, one way or another, while he hasn't entertained any immoral means of doing so, there certainly isn't any moral ways of doing so either.

"Once I do find the way... well, one step at a time I suppose, but I'd like to find a way for normal humans to evolve with kekkei genkai as well." the closest thing for him is implantation, a path he might have to consider at some point but not one he'll do anytime soon.

Taiga was taken by surprise seen clearly in her face as it lit up in astonishment when Kureji mentioned his interest in the field of science. He reminisced about mentioning it back on the Hokage Rock, but Taiga of course wasn't listening to him at that time. Taiga couldn't say she shared the same interest in the bodies of others, but that was most likely due to her ignorance in the field.

"Secrets of the flesh, you say..." Taiga said following a short-lived giggle. "I don't know a lot about clans or what natural properties they have. Though, if they're as gifted as you make them out to be, I guess they're worth looking into. They could end up being troublesome otherwise. Perhaps I could model some of my drugs and poisons around defeating them. Maybe you could have some use in my work." Taiga figured if they were to be on good terms it wouldn't hurt to have some cooperation in meeting each other's goals. "How 'fresh' do you need your subjects. Alive or deceased I could aid in one way or another."

As she finished their waiter returned with their soup. Taiga was not a fan of soggy noodles so she decided to work on her food right away while Kureji had the chance to respond. Grabbing a pair of chopsticks she'd break them apart and begin chowing down on her food.