A Dash of Chili Powder

61

[Writers block must die. -.-"]

Rukia swirled around on her perfectly maintained little toes, hopping joyously in her bright red kimono. Happiness whirled inside her and emanated from her, manifesting in her cute twirls. She smiled a bright and kind smile, her warm red eyes peering out from under the dust of her red bangs, as she skipped on over to an empty booth with two black-clad men behind her.

The two were calm as they slid into the booth with the happily hyper girl, one giving a slight chuckle at her behavior. They bore thin bamboo hats, which thy didn't bother to remove. It would be seen as rude if they didn't. However, it didn't exactly seem like they cared too much about that.

"Ne, Sasori-kun, I'm so clad to be back in Konohagakure after so long!" the bubble girl exclaimed gleefully, smiling with her pink-lined eyes closed. Truly, she was absolutely extatic to be in her home village. Sure, there might be a festival coming up and that's really the only reason she came back, but being home was a great experience. 

"Hn," grunted one of the two in black.

Rukia smiled brightly.

"So, you got any family here, or are you by yourse--"

Even before Scythe could finish his question, Kazuki froze dead in his seat and choked, the sweet and pungent scent of over-sugared strawberries working its way into his sinuses. His uncovered eye opened as wide as it possibly could and his breath caught in his throat. He couldn't believe it. 

No. Goddamn. Way.

The woman's song of a voice danced in his ears, tickling and taunting his shocked mind, mingling with the image of a beautiful red-haired child from his memories. Was it her? Was it really Rukia?

There was no doubt about it. Rukia always smelled like strawberries an she always sounded like she was singing when she spoke, even back when she was a child. And she was always excited for no reason and that voice was a sing-song voice with an up-beat and true voice. 

"It's her," he croaked, biting down sharply on his tongue. It was her.

Gracie

"Her?" Scythe repeated, frowning at the alarm in Kazuki's face. He looked over his shoulder at the drop of fire surrounded by two dark cloaks two booths away. He didn't have to ask the teen who he meant. He could only be talking about that girl. His brown eyes took her in appreciatively, but with no ulterior motive. "Kanojo utsukushiidesu," he said absently. ("She's beautiful.")

The brown haired man turned again to his companion, who still looked stricken. Scythe hesitated. "Did you want to go talk to her? She's with some shady guys...." Then he grinned. "If you still want to then I can make sure they don't hurt you? I'm kind of a shinobi in my own right. ...You wanna go?" he asked slowly when Kazuki didn't answer him.

[BTW have you seen the anime "Angel Beats!"?]