Playing at the beach

Kazuki had come to O’uzu Island in order to meet some of the people from other nations. The hope being to cultivate friendships and maybe meet like minded souls from all over the world. He had arrived earlier that morning and checked into his hotel room. An interesting challenge given just how many people were visiting the island to watch the Chuunin Exams. However he managed to find one at a good hotel. Once he had checked in he considered where he best might find some people and quickly came to the conclusion that he might find some at the beach. After all, who didn’t like to go to the beach?

It was that line of thought that led to him arriving onto the sandy shore in a pair of black swimming trunks. He had a beach bag slung over one shoulder with a few necessities. Such as a bottle of sunscreen, long sleeve shirt in case he needed it, various snacks and food stuffs and finally a wide, woven, sun hat.. With him he rolled a decent sized cooler that he had stocked full of ice and various drinks. It was a stunning day for the beach and the soft, sun warmed sand felt good beneath his feet as he moved across it. It was surprisingly empty save for one individual. A woman wearing a swimsuit that suited her fabulously making what looked like an incredibly detailed and sizable sand castle.

Moving over to her he called out before he got too close. “Good afternoon! Would you mind if I joined you? I’m Kazuki Furukawa, from the Mist Village.” He would say, smiling at her in hopes of appearing friendly. “If you don’t mind my saying so, you look great in your swimsuit.” He would finish, complimenting her in what he hoped was a polite manner.


[1]

She turned to him and listened to his introduction, taking him in with a once over. Then she chuckled and grinned as she greeted him. He set his cooler and bag up within easy reach of either of them before kneeling on the sand next to her. His compliment caused her to lean back to let the sun catch her swim suit and she teased him, winking at him before flirting with him.

That surprised him

That surprised him a lot actually. Growing up in a more religious environment he did not really flirt or get flirted with much. He mostly kept to himself and helped the shrine maidens maintain the shrine he was raised at as best he could. So to have an attractive woman flirt him and even call him good looking caused him no small amount of embarrassment. So it would be with surprise that his face turned the same approximate shade of Rita's swimsuit.

It took him a moment to come to his senses and realize she had asked something and he thought over what she had said. She was impressed with his set up and asked if he was planning to stay awhile. He smiled sheepishly, his cheeks still flushed from the earlier compliment and wink. “Well I didn’t know how many people would be here. I was hoping to meet people from other villages and try to make some friends and forge new relationships. I figured there’d be more out here. Help yourself to my cooler and the snacks in my bag, I brought plenty.” He would say, his sheepishness resolving quickly as he spoke.

Then she invited him to help her with her castle and he smiled widely at the invitation. As she spoke of working together like this on a larger scale, and the things that they could build between their villages he thought a moment before asking. “What village would that be Rita? I’d love to forge stronger ties with others and one day would hope to build a lasting relationship with another village if I become high enough in Kirigakure’s hierarchy to truly affect it.” He would say as he began to gather sand and begin to work on extending the wall out for another tower.

His hands weren’t quite as dextrous as hers, but he did a passable job as he began to work. “I don’t see how you get everything so smooth so easily. I guess I need to practice more with my hands.” He would say as he worked. When she commented, her tone softening, that she would love to craft something for him and his village, perhaps even something unique for him he smiled softly. “I’d like that. Frankly I’d take any reason to get to meet up again in the future.” He would say before continuing to work. “Tell me about yourself? What types of things do you craft? What are your hobbies? Are you singl-” He stopped on that last one, realizing he was still nervous about the mild flirting earlier and having absolutely no business asking her that. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry!” He would say, obviously mortified.

Deciding the best course of action was to simply shut the fuck up  he turned and grabbed a drink from the cooler and occupied his mouth by taking a drink of it. Having a surprisingly difficult time making eye contact with Rita.

[2]

Kazuki’s eyes brightened considerably as she began her introduction and he paid rapt attention. His dark eyes staying on her the entire time. As she went through her theatrical introduction his smile became more and more amused until finally he was laughing with her when she dropped them finally. His lips split into a wry grin as he calmed his peels of laughter down and listened to the serious part.

Hey expression softened and his grew red as the shift changed her from exuberant and playful to really quite pretty. He listened to her describe her loves and hobbies. Feeling a pang of desire for his own hobbies. He had yet to find anything he liked thus far. However he was hopefully that would change in the near future. As his expression reddened she would purr out her next words and cause his heart to skip a beat.

Internally he was fighting the urge to scream as she teased him and he reacted like an idiot. As she commented that he would need to work on his ‘smooth lines’ to spend the day at the beach with her he became more determined to surprise her. As he took a drink to try to keep his cool she would dial up the pressure. She moved closer, her head tilting in a particular way that made the line of her neck more noticeable. As if she were making herself vulnerable and met his gaze. His breath caught at the closeness and commented that his work on the sand castle was good. But that his hands just need a bit more practice.

The playful edge in her voice caused his heart to race again and more so when he felt her fingers brush his arm as she moved to begin adjusting his castle tower. As she spoke, adding a bit more pressure and packing the sand more firmly his face would turn as red as a tomato. Her face was now away from his, though he easily caught her scent. It was..sunshine, warmth, faint notes of oil and gunpowder. He could tell her it was ‘her’ scent and he licked his lips in nervousness as he caught it.

He needed to catch her off guard, needed to put her on the defensive. But with no experience he didn’t know how to do so. Wasn’t versed in ‘teasing 101’ and certainly had no experience with women in a possible romantic sense at any point of his life. As her voice softened though he could tell the moment was ending. In a moment she would lean back to her original position and turn to look at him to speak again. Mentally he was still frozen, but his hands moved seemingly on their own.

Rising up before she leaned back he would go to lightly guide her chin to face him once more. Their eyes meeting far closer than even he had expected. His black orbs peering into her blue ones. His cheeks still flushed red as he spoke, his lips close enough for their breath the mingle between them. “How’s that for ‘hands on practice’?” He would ask near breathlessly, fighting the seemingly suicidal urge to lean forward a bit more and kiss her.

That? That he would let her decide, he had probably pushed her teasing too far already. However he found now that he had ‘taken the plunge’ as it were his mind cleared rapidly. Regardless of if contact between their lips was made or not he would not hold her in place. All he wanted to do was surprise her, to show he could ‘spend the whole day at the beach with her’ as she had said. So they would separate regardless. Her softening voice asking him about wielding something a ‘little different’. He leaned back on his hands as he looked up at the afternoon and spoke, coughing and still turning a tad ‘red’ at the ‘perfect for a guy like you’ commnet. Hey, his head ‘mostly’ cleared, she was still driving him nuts in a good way.

“Well, I’m a swordsman, as one might expect from the Mist village. My sword ‘Umbra’ is up in my hotel room. I could show you later if you wanted. But otherwise my arsenal is pretty straight forward for the moment. I’m a new genin, and working to get good at the basics before branching out. Though I certainly wouldn’t say no to your expertise and ideas toward more ‘esoteric’ armament if that’s what you’re implying. Having additional surprises is always a solid idea from what I’m to understand.” He would, and when she commented that for someone from the Mist she was thinking something ‘sleek, sneaky, and a bit of a surprise factor’ he began to catch certain playful teases he hadn’t before.

‘Now I’m going to be going back everything she’s said to see if I’ve missed something..wonderful this day will replay in my mind for weeks, if not months..’ He thought to himself, though finding that he did not mind the prospect. Still if she was going to keep teasing then he should probably keep firing back too. His mind still much clearer now that he had made a move of his own before came quickly with the response. “You seem to be having so much fun teasing me though I wonder if you wouldn’t enjoy the opportunity to do it some more. Say, dinner later tonight?” He would ask, his dark eyes meeting hers as a sort of dare and his own smirk showing on his features.

With that he would lean forward once more and begin to work again on the sandcastle. Taking her teasing earlier into heart and using more pressure to guide and pack the sand more ably. “Look at that, an able teacher aren’t you? I wonder what else you could guide me through..” He would say, his tone low as he continued his own teasing at her. Adding crenulations to the outer walls and creating more inner spires, one of which he kept open on top to guide the sand within into a bit of a top down view of a chamber. For this he carefully stepped inside the castle's courtyard to get the angle he needed for those details. He even pulled a kunai out of ‘somewhere’ simply to use the point to help guide and shape the sand.

Once he was done with that he stepped carefully back out of the castle, avoiding disturbing the work, and knelt back down again right next to Rita. “As far as hobbies go, I don’t have anything that you’re as passionate about. I grew up in a shrine, raised by the maidens there and have worked most of my life to help maintain it. So I’ve never really cultivated any ‘real’ hobbies. I’m hoping to fix that soon but have yet to find something I really enjoy." He would say before giving her a frank look and turning back to the sandcastle before saying, in an almost deadpan voice “Though sandcastle making sure seems to have caught my eye recently..” He would say before grinning at her. “Boring aren’t I?” He would ask with a laugh.

[3]

Her reaction was everything Kazuki could have hoped for. He saw the dusting of color upon her cheeks and as she chuckled could see that she was a bit flustered. She composed herself much faster than he had however and gave him a playful grin as he let go. Her comment of him getting bold caused an involuntary grin to appear as she leaned back and her tone had real warmth in it as she admitted to perhaps underestimating him.

A small pause settled between them and he used the moment and embraced the sun’s warmth on his skin, closing his eyes to relish the feel of it. Then she began to say something else and his eyes opened again and he looked to her. The mischievous glint in her eye and tilt of her head spoke of a subtle pride as she said that she wasn’t exactly the kind of girl that kissed on the first date. His smirk at that point matched hers and he coughed gently as his own embarrassment took him for a moment.

“Then I feel the need to ask this.” He would say as he gently reached out for her hand. This was an action he had heard some of the shrine maidens talking about. Individuals came from all over the area to get guidance and advice and many of them were men seeking advice about women. He had heard from the maidens that this sort of action was something women seemed to enjoy and that it seemed to fluster them. So with Rika’s hand in his he raised the back of it to his lips, his eyes meeting hers as he did and gently kissed the back of her hand before letting her hand go and asking his next question. “Does this count as the first date?” He would ask his own tone having a mischievous edge to it.

His cheeks had a light blush at his own actions as well as while ‘taking the plunge’ had definitely freed up his mind from it’s mental paralysis and allowed him to think and act consciously. He still was not used to such actions. Still, she still seemed interesting in teasing, so he supposed he must have been doing something right. As she spoke of him having her curious about what other ‘surprises’ he had up his sleeve he flushed even more. More due to the ‘maybe next time, I”ll let you try your luck again’ bit.

At his offer of her seeing Umbra her eyes came alight with curiosity and he smiled warmly as she accepted. She leaned in a bit, the scent of her reaching his nose once more. This time however he did nothing to make her want to lean back. He rather liked that scent he found, and wanted her to want to be closer to him. She commented on having just started forging weapon herself and that getting to look at another smith’s quality work would help her greatly in her training and he nodded enthusiastically. “Well then I’ll have to get your hands on it so you can examine it then won’t I?” He would say, grinning at her.

As she described how much getting to see a well made weapon would help her give her an idea of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to forging. He nodded as he considered her words. It was indeed much like shinobi training and chakra consumption, if of course much more time consuming. When learning a new technique you had to experiment with how much chakra you used for the jutsu. Reading about it helped quite a bit, but seeing someone else perform the jutsu was much more helpful. At her soft smile his thoughts came back into focus as she commented that ‘swords like Umbra don’t just come into existence without purpose.’ and said that if he was up for it he could show her the ins and outs of the weapon sometime.

His own soft smile matched hers and he nodded. “I’d go get it now if it wouldn’t make my overall return to my room awkward, what with the cooler and bag and such. We’ll find time to meet up again before everyone leaves so I can show it to you.” He would say a determined glint in his eyes.

After that she began considering weapon ideas for him and he listened. Her comment of a sword that could launch it’s blade out on a retractable chain would bring a surprised ‘bink’ to his eyes. He listened as she described her concept more thoroughly and he turned his eyes to the sky as he thought of it from a swordsman’s perspective. When he looked back down he saw she had done so again and was closer and his eyes widened a bit. But her sheer exuberant energy brought a chuckle and a grin to his features as she continued. Ending with a smirk and a comment that he might be able to really surprise his sensei the next time they trained together.

He knew she wanted feedback on the suggestion and he considered the idea from the users perspective. “Weight would be an issue. All of the blades weight would be on the end of the chain and the blade itself would be one large section of lethality while the chain itself wouldn’t really.” He would begin as he reached over and picked up a stick on the ground and began to draw in the sand.

He was by no means an artist or a craftsman so his work wasn’t anything remarkable but all it had to do was convey the idea. “Not only that but the chain itself would be awfully limited in it’s range because it would have to fit in the hilt. But what about this?” He asked as he drew two pictures, the first was Rika’s base idea a sword with a chain between the base of the blade and the hilt. Even from the drawing he could tell wielding it would be awkward because of the weight problem.

The second picture was different, it was a sword molded around a core of retractable material. The blade wasn’t one single piece but multiple sectioned that could separate and create what was essentially a ‘whip’ with edges. “Instead of a sword that can launch from the hilt, how about a sword that can become fluid and extend at the will of it’s wielder. A whip-sword, if you will. If it could be chakra activated to allow for it to ‘reel out and in’ rather than a physical mechanism there wouldn’t even be a ‘tell’ either. It gives the same sleekness you were suggesting but fixed the balance and weight issues by spreading out the ‘load’ if you will across the entirety of the extendable material or ‘chain’.” He would suggest, looking back to her as he finished his rudimentary drawing. He wanted her thoughts on the idea as the crafter. Would it be possible? Or improbable.

Her comment on him learning fast however brought a smile to his features and the playful shine in her features as she accepted his dinner invitation caused his heart to skip again. Turning to her with a smile and knocking over the part of the wall he was working on in the in his excited surprise her flashed a happy smile at her before turning back to the wall and frowning. “Whoops, well I can fix that.” He would say before getting to work at doing just that. As he worked he commented, not really thinking about implications as he had no experience with woman to draw upon really. “This might be perfect, if you’re inclined, we could swing by my hotel after dinner and you could examine Umbra then.” He would say, knowing at least that he shouldn’t bring a weapon as obvious as a greatsword with him on a date.

As he began to detail his work with his kunai she would comment that it could dull the blade and he nodded. “Yeah I know, I’ll double check it later and make sure it’s still sharp, I just wanted to tip to help, the sticks is too broad and clumsy.” He would say as he finished and put the knife away.

Her response to his lack of hobbies brought a warm blush to his cheeks. Especially as her tone softened. As they worked together, falling into a comfortable rhythm of building the sandcastle together she would comment that she wasn’t so scary when one got past the sand and teasing and he chuckled. “I was never scared of you yourself ma’am. I was scared of what all the teasing would do to my poor inexperienced heart.” He joked with his own chuckle. “Everyone could teach someone else a thing or two. It’s one of the wonders of the world in my eyes. You never know what someone can show you, or what they’re going through.” He would say, his tone becoming a bit sadder toward the end.

“Any foods that you’re allergic to?” He would ask suddenly, his mind reaching out toward that evening and dinner. He wanted it to be perfect as anyone going to dinner with a beautiful, charming, and legitimately engaging woman would want. He had a good shirt and pants with him in the hotel so that would do for attire. He even had a bottle of cologne one of the maidens had given him while giggling one day. He liked the scent of it, but didn’t know why she had been giggling. No, no he had everything he would need to prepare properly. He just needed to be sharp and pick a good restaurant.

[4]

Kazuki, being as inexperienced as he was. Completely missed the air quotes around the word ‘sword’ and as such wasn’t aware of the innuendo. So he, perhaps more amusingly in a way, nodded in understanding. “Oh of course, we can plan it for another time.” He said with a cheerful smile. At the comment about the ‘clan symbol and rank’ he blinked in confusion before laughing. “I don’t have a clan, and I’m only a genin. No point waving that around in anyone's face.” He would say with a chuckle. Still, when she commented on it being ‘refreshing’ talking to someone like him he blushed again and smiled openly as she nudged him. “Thank you Rika, I’ve found our conversation so far to be enjoyable too.” He would say in a soft tone.

He listened as she spoke and froze. He hadn’t been expecting her to actually want to make these go him. He already had Umbra, and he didn’t really expect to need more than one weapon. Especially such vastly different ones. No, what he needed were surprises like projectile explosives, or even simply new projectiles in general. He frowned slightly as he considered this. Because he did not want to lie to her. Moreover he did not want to take the swords and then not end up using them.

“Rika, I already have my sword..I don’t want you to make me more and then me end up wasting your work because I never used them. I’ll tell you what though, Kirigakure is known for it’s swordsmen. If you still want to make them and want to send them to me. I’ll take them and make sure they fall into the hands of people who would use and cherish them. What I need is something in the way of an 'explosive' surprise. Something I can leave behind like a mine, or a special projectile. Then I could order more from you and we could keep in a somewhat regular correspondence.” He would say, his eyes and tone sad as he did not want to offend or sadden her.

His comment about his ‘inexperienced heart’ got a chuckle from her and her response made him chuckle in return before responding. “Maybe you should kiss it to make it feel better.” He would say with a wry grin. The more he did it the more he was getting used to this light flirting and the back and forth and he was enjoying himself immensely doing it. When the topic turned to dinner she would confirm she didn’t have any allergies she knew of and then continue on teasingly that if he were pulling out all the stops she might have to dress for the occasion.

That brought a chuckle before he considered and then shrugged. “I’ll wear a dress shirt and slacks, it’s the best I own at the moment and a suit wouldn’t really suit me well anyway. But I will give you a heads up. If dinner goes well I’m hoping to take you dancing after.” He would say his smile soft and hopeful. That was something he enjoyed a bit. He had learned from one of the shrine maidens and he could do it pretty decently. Though he didn’t enjoy the act anywhere near enough to call it a ‘hobby’.

[5]

He listened to her intently his heart aching in happiness when she wasn’t offended. At her words he smiled softly “Weapons are made to be used after all. I’d hate to not use what you’d make me.” He would say with a smile. He listened as she considered more possibilities and when he eyes lit up he felt his heart leap in joy again. He listened as she spoke. His passion moving him as she described a ‘grenade launcher’.

Immediately he took to the idea and he listened intently as she went on about the versatility, the fun she’d have making it, the flexibility of it and even the ammo problem. His smile grew wider and wider and he eventually grabbed her by the shoulders in excitement. “It’s perfect!” He’d cry out before realizing what he’d done and letting go immediately. “Sorry, got excited there.” He would say bashfully before continuing on. “My only issue is the buik, do you think you could make it something wrist mounted so I could have both hands free for my swordplay?” He would ask, his eyes alight with excitement.

“I’d keep in touch with you regardless Rita..” He would say softly with a smile as he considered. Already he was excited about writing his first letter to her and they hadn’t even finished their first meeting. Much less their first date that night.

At her comment on him needing to pick his shots he smiled broadly. “I would never waste a shot, and I’d think of you every time I fired one.” He would say. As she made her teasing comment about ‘taking him up on that offer’ in regards to ‘kissing’ he blushed softly. This time for a different reason. He had never had a kiss before. He considered that carefully, looking at Rita wondering if she were being serious. His voice, soft, almost as if he was simply thinking out loud said “I’ve never had a kiss before..I certainly would like my first one to be you..” He would say in soft surprise. As if he hadn’t truly considered it before.

Then he realized what he said and his eyes widened in surprise “I-I’m sorry!” He would say his cheeks red again as they passed the threshold of teasing in his eyes. He hadn’t expected to say that, hadn’t intended to put the thought in the universe.

When she commenced about him being comfortable being more important he smiled at her. “Back atcha. Don’t be any less than who you are Rita. That I’ve been enjoying so far after all.” He would say. When she leaned in again he took in her scent once more and he listened to her words his eyes shining in delight. “I am too, and if it goes the way I hope. We’ll both be remembering it for a long time.” He would say happily. Completely unaware of the unintended innuendo he’d let into that last statement.

[6]

When she said she already had a few ideas bouncing around Kazuki got more excited for the idea. He couldn’t wait to try out what she designed. Different types of ammo, hell he could already imagine it working well with his sword. Including in his imagination points in his usual practice swings where he could incorporate a shot of a more focused ammo type from the launcher to catch opponents off guard.

When she commented about being only a letter away for his needs he would look down toward the ground a bit and take her hand. “What about if..I just need to talk to you?” He would ask softly, feeling the warmth of her hand in his. Kazuki had no concept of ‘moving too fast or slow’ because he’d never been in a relationship before. Had no idea what was acceptable to say or not. So he was simply winging it as he went and hoping it all worked out in the wash.

When she didn’t make fun of him or get mad at him for his statement about kissing and his admonition he smiled softly and when she even said she was honored, and that perhaps if things go well tonight that might change he blushed softly.

As they walked he looked at the sky to see it starting to get a little pink as the sun slowly moved across the horizon. “Shall we separate to get ready for our date Rita?” He would ask his eyebrows rising in question. Afterward he would ask “Want me to meet you at your hotel or you mine, or simply pick a landmark in town?” He would ask next, looking to get the details for they’re meeting handled. He would perfectly understand if she did not want him to know where she was staying at yet. He was after all someone she didn’t really know yet. His heartbeat raced in excitement as he silently counted down the time until they were on their date.

[7]