A Dash of Chili Powder

35

[Mehhhhhhhh. Lame friggin post. >< And Kugomi is funny.]

Once the tall teen took her bags, Amaya closed her purple eyes and held her hands out in front of her. Palms up. Breathing nice and slow. She focused all of her chakra into her hands, concentrating on making a small ball of fire.

A dim glow and then a concentrated fire ball appeared in her cold hands, its light warming all that it touched. She shivered for the last time and reveled in the rays, looking up at Rage with gratitude for relieving her of her heavy bags.

She supposed that now was the time to go. "Lead the way, Rage," she said softly, holding her ball.

Kazuki gave an exasperated sigh as he hung up his blue apron. Another day of work completed. Yay. He shook his head, not exactly as happy as he could be.

This kids, both of them were shinobi, and they completely ruined his happy vibe, what with their frowning and snapping. Sure, he may have been a little too perceptive but... Did Ami-san really have to yell at him? He didn't do anything wrong. It's not like he meant to make anyone uncomfortable. 

It was just a habit. A harmless habit. Was that so wrong?

Apparently. 

He frowned for the first time today, remembering that his habit is, indeed, why caused him to be blind. If he wasn't so perceptive, then he wouldn't have been able to piss anyone off, and then he wouldn't have gotten hit in the eyes so many times. Goddamn. If people didn't react so badly, then he wouldn't be blind. 

People were fucking cruel.

Taking his mind off the sensitive subject, Kazuki decided that maybe he would go out for a walk before going upstairs to sleep. A stroll might help him improve his mood. Yes. That's it. 

Stepping away from the hanging aprons, he turned around and focused his chakra into his eyes, his Wind Element workin it's magic. It acted as a form of sonar, making sight a little easier. Walking past the rows of food, he headed outside, being careful to avoid anyone and everyone, if anyone was out.

Yuki tilted her head sideways, flustered by Kugomi's statement. "We're animals... Kiba's part dog and I'm part...um...everything," she explained, confusing herself even further in the process.

"Part everything? How are you part everything?" the said Inuzuka explained, looking at Yuki with his own confusion tucked away in his slitted brown eyes.

"Well...my clan, y'know. I come from a family that thinks its okay to turn into an animal version of Frankenstein."

"Oh yeah, that's right. Your family is weird."

"So's yours."

"How?"

"'Cos you're in it."

"That's not a good insult. -.-" Kiba shook his head with shame, almost amused by Yuki's failure of an insult. It was cute. She just couldn't do it. It always came out wrong.

He laughed.

"What's so funny? Damn dog..." the girl sighed, shaking her head.

Gracie

[It was alright. :D I think it's time for a 'the next day' timeskip or something. Fresh situations.]

The two shinobi walked down the dark street, silhouetted by the ball of fire in Amaya's tiny hands. Another gust of harsh wind made Rage squint his peach eyes, the irritation making them dry. Oh, how he longed to get to sleep....

Scythe's and Awaji's chakra was behind a door on the block of apartment houses, on the first floor. Rage somehow managed to open the door with his foot for Amaya and himself before they walked down the hallway to the door numbered 4A. Rage gently kicked the door three times.

"Oh thank God," Scythe said as soon as he opened the door. He'd changed into a dark navy t-shirt and gray sweatpants, but his hair was as unkempt and tangled as ever. And his grin was still there. "Awaji-kun's about ready to eat a throw pillow in here."

Rage blinked and looked over Scythe's shoulder. Awaji was lying on the couch on his side, curled into the fetal position, as he always was when he slept. Even asleep, his stomach growled with the ferocity of a lion's caterwaul. A sweatdrop appeared on the back of Rage's head.

He hurried inside and was impressed with the set-up. It was a spacious room that occupied the living room, dining room, and kitchen - which was the first thing Rage looked to. Light chocolate walls, hardwood floors dotted with deep red carpets, matching the couch and comfy chairs gathered around a dark cherrywood coffee table. There was even a television. This place WAS luxurious.

Throwing all the bags on the island counter in the middle of the kitchen, Rage found a wok and utensils in a low cupboard. He ripped open a package of beef and began seasoning it. He hadn't even stopped to sit down and rest and instead dove right into making his comrades dinner.

Scythe smiled down at Amaya, who still stood in the doorway. "Make yourself at home, Amaya-san. Rage-kun makes a pretty decent stir fry."

Vell yawned as he trudged down the dark street away from the hospital, shoulders stiff against the cold. "Since when was there supposed to be cold weather?" he gruffed moodily.

Still, he was pretty content. Kugomi was a sight for sore eyes. Of course she'd gotten shorter and she'd cut her hair again (most likely with a rusty kunai, from the look of it) and she was still an indigent little brat - but she was HIS indigent little brat. It was a plus, considering all the mental strain he'd have to go through to get used to living with Kakashi and his plus-one.

He found himself smiling a little, remembering Kugomi's breakdown earlier with fondness. "Ookami gaki...." Vell barely saw the brown haired teen making his way in the opposite direction Vell was walking.

Kugomi grinned. "Yup. Ma an' Pa to a tee."

The faint, high howl of a wolf from the window made Kugomi blink into the night. "Aw, crap! Ma'll kill me!" She waved at the couple still in each others' arms. "Bye, Yun-chan and... ... Mr. Dude!" she finished awkwardly, breezing by Kakashi on her way out.