In the Lair

[Karatsu Sasaki]

Just as it seemed there would be no further response, Amaya picked up her foot. At that second, the door opened enough for Karatsu to step out. "Amaya. I didn't know it was you." He seemed alot less confident than usual.

[Amaya Takahashi]

Amaya turned around and frowned slightly at Karatsu, not really liking the change in him. She leaned back down to pick the food back up and studied Karatsu for a moment.

"I caught you at a bad time. I'm sorry.. but you really should eat." She said, holding the food out to him.

[Karatsu Sasaki]

Karatsu was still feeling ashamed for needing Amaya's help. He tought she saw him as weaker. She had been being nicer and giving him more space. What if she really did see him as different now? What if she felt pity? Karatsu couldn't live that down. He would have to make sure it was as unnoticable as possible. He changed his tone to a much more annoyed, "leave me alone" sort of voice. "I'm not eating for a reason, you know. But why would you know that?"

[Amaya Takahashi]

"Exactly, why would I know that since you've been avoiding everyone ever since we got back. I was just being nice and seeing if you wanted this, or perhaps some company. Clearly I was mistaken. I'm sorry." Amaya said, her quite soft tone, nearly cool.

She narrowed her purple eyes slightly, the only sign that anger was flowing through her. She took Karatsu's hand, and shoved the food into his grasp before turning back around to leave.

"You can be a jerk sometimes you know Sasaki. I've been giving you space because its what you needed, not because I thought less of you." She said, still rather cooly.

[Karatsu Sasaki]

Karatsu stood there as his heart sank. He knew he shouldn't be this way to Amaya, but something compelled him to push her away. It was too painful. What was wrong with him? He felt so strongly for her, so why wasn't he over Okuni? He tried so hard to let her go. If there was anyone to be mad at, it was Orochimaru. It was his fault she was dead. But even as Karatsu knew this, it was too hard to live with her blood on his hands. He couldn't help but feel responsible. After all, it was he who... no. He wouldn't go there. He had too much to do. Before going back to the sanctity of his chamber, he let two very soft words leave his lips. Loud enough so Amaya would hear, but made soft enough so no one else would. "I'm sorry..." After this, he closed his door. Once again, gone for hours on end, to train once again, but someting was different. He left his door open, just barely enough incase someone wanted to see him in person, face-to-face.

[Amaya Takahashi]

Amaya heard Karatsu's apology and it stopped her in her steps for a moment. She nodded a sharp nod incase he was seeing if she accepted his apology, but then she continued her departure from the hall.

She told herself that she'd come back later to check on him.

[Karatsu Sasaki]

Karatsu heard Amaya's fading footsteps. He knew she wouldn't come back for a while, even though he was able to catch the quickest hint of her forgiveness. He figured he shouldn't just keep his door open, so he swung his hand, which made wind strong enough to close it for him. He sat back down, and his candles all lit. The air was so cold, it was amazing they weren't steaming. Karatsu sat back down and closed his eyes. The visualization of his guardian had appeared once again.

[Amaya Takahashi]

---------------------------------------------------

Amaya found herself once more standing outside of Karatsu's bedroom, knocking on his door. She waited a few seconds and knocked again. She stepped away from the door and waited patiently for the door to be answered.

[Karatsu Sasaki]

There was a strange, purple light coming from underneath Karatsu's door. In the distance, his evil laughter could be heard. The light quickly faded, and he answered the door. He opened it just enough to slip out, and no one could see. He stood there at the doorway and spoke. "Make it quick, crazy." He was back. The old Karatsu was back. His pride, his snideness, his confidence, it was all there in his voice. He couldn't help but smile beneath his mask, as he knew Amaya had missed him. His smile was easily detected by the position of his cheeks.

[Amaya Takahashi]

Amaya's purple eyes took on a slight sparkle as the corner of her mouth slide up a little, "You should watch who you call crazy, people may think you're talking about yourself." She said. Then she straightened a little and shifted her eyes to the door for a moment before looking back at Karatsu. It did seem that whatever he had been doing in his room by himself all this time had helped him return to his oldself, and she did miss having him this way.

"Leader-sama has a mission for us. It seems we'll be on our way to the Wind Country." She informed, "how long do you think it will take you to get ready?"

[Karatsu Sasaki]

Karatsu narrowed his eyes. "Suna? Why are we going out there, into the ass end of nowhere?" He reached over to open his door, slightly enough to reach his arm through. He pulled out the cloak and hat, and his sword.

[Amaya Takahashi]

Amaya blew her hair out of her face then shrugged slightly. "Apparently there's a girl near Suna that's making quite a name for herself. She's very skilled, and Leader-Sama wants us to go see what makes her so special and offer her a place within the organization." She informed.

She started down the hall, looking back to see if he was coming along. She smiled at Karatsu, "I suppose we could see if the new recruite is interested in joining us on the mission." She said.

[Karatsu Sasaki]

Karatsu tilted his head. "Does the noob have to come? It's bad enough we may be getting one more." Karatsu saw Amaya stare back. "Oh god. Fine. Just stop with the face and the looking and such."

[Amaya Takahashi]

Amaya slowed down her steps in order to walk side by side with Karatsu, she bumped into him gently.

"Well, lets see if she actually wants to put up with you for the duration of the mission. I have no choice, but she may choose to opt out." She said teasingly, and bumped into him again.

[Chieko Shimizu]

Chieko pinched the bridge of her nose and glared at Tobi and his party. It's not that she didn't appriciate a good one every now and then, but she was going to have some serious problems if her left eye wouldn't stop twitching.