Nicholas's House

[Nicholas]

Nicholas, in his customary attire sans his travelling cloak and Zanryu, lay on his back in the usual spot on his simple hardwood porch, a book splayed across his face and his hands clasped on his chest as he dozed in the warm summer air and enjoyed the simple sound of the surrounding forest rustling with the breeze, his loose clothing and hair pooling around him.

[Akemi Yamagata]

Akemi walked quietly onto Nicholas's porch, using her years of training as an assassin to keep her footsteps light and nearly if not completely unheard. She stopped just short of Nicholas's sleeping form to study him for a moment, a slight smile spread across her lips.

She lowered herself into a sitting position on the porch and sniffed a flower that she picked along the way. She cleared her throat.

[Nicholas]

"I know you're there, Akemi." Nicholas said without moving, voice muffled by the book on his face.

[Akemi Yamagata]

Akemi laid the flower down on the porch and studied Nicholas who still hadn't moved. "Well thats good to know. What are you reading? Is Kakashi rubbing off on you?" She asked, her voice light with the playful tease.

She stretched her back, and let out a sigh. She had just gotten back from training with a couple of chuunin and though some of it had been entertaining, she was glad to have some peace and quiet now. She closed her own eyes to enjoy the breeze.

[Nicholas]

"No, not at all. You know perfectly well that I don't read those." Nicholas replied, still not making any effort to move. "Anyway, has something come up? Visitors aren't an everyday occurance out here, it's several miles out of town, and for good reason." Nicholas shuddered slightly as Anko, Lee and Guy briefly popped into his mind for less than a second before he squashed the thought.

[Akemi Yamagata]

Akemi didn't bother openning her eyes, instead she laid back on the porch, still a distance away from Nicholas.

"Yes I know, but I do have to give you a hard time every once in a while. I'm tempted to try atleast once. I'm sure I'd regret it though." She replied to his first comment.

"I'm kind of hiding out from a few people and thought this would be the perfect chance to see what you're doing. I've spent the morning with Sachi and a few of the other chuunin helping train them. Your house is always so nice and quiet." She explained.

[Nicholas]

"The fuzzball? I'm guessing you've been by the hospital, then. From what my clones have been seeing she's been there ever since that incident with the Akatsuki."

[Akemi Yamagata]

"I was with Sachi before she went to the hospital. I stopped by for a few minutes, but there's nothing I can do." Akemi let out another quiet sigh then shifted to face Nicholas, openning her eyes barely against the sun.

"What are you doing today Nicholas?"

[Nicholas]

"Absolutely nothing. I doubt that I'm going to get another assignment anytime soon since the village is still on alert from the Akatsuki infiltration, and the higher ups are keeping me and the other heavy hitters in reserve just in case they come back anytime soon, and as usual they're having the Hyuuga clan and I keeping watch twentyfour seven. I pretty much show up like a flare to them when I'm using the shinigan, though, so I've got the day watch and they have the night shift. I might go and train a little later just to keep myself sharp, but until then I'm perfectly fine where I am." Nicholas replied, again making no movement to get up or remove the book from his face.

[Nicholas]

A small smile formed on Nicholas's face under the book as his shadow clone reported back. It wasn't what he had sent it there to do, but the news it brought was just as welcome.

[Akemi Yamagata]

Akemi openned her eye briefly to glance at Nicholas. She let the tip of her foot kick his gently.

"Whats going on? I assume you're not really laying there being as lazy as you're appearing to be." She asked.

[Nicholas]

"The Shima kid just woke up."

[Akemi Yamagata]

"Mm, thats nice. One less thing to worry about. I wonder if the Hokage will send anyone on a mission to find out why the Akatsuki was here." She said quietly, closing her eyes again.

[Nicholas]

"I doubt it. ANBU teams have already been dispatched to try and track them down, but if the Akatsuki don't want to be found they won't be. Besides, it won't matter to me. While I'm officially in charge of the day watch, I've also been told off the record to find a way to deal with them if and when they do come back, and as long as my methods don't interfere with any ongoing assignments or the civilian population I'm pretty much allowed to handle it any way I want."

[Yuu Kobayashi]

Jysika came running toward Nicholas's house. It was the perfect day to train, and she just had to convince her tutor of that fact.

"Hey Nicholas Sempai! Its me, your favorite student.. okay I'm you only...." Jysika's comment was interupted because she tripped stepping onto the porch.

She caught herself before completely landing on her face and looked up and smiled at Nicholas and Akemi. "I'm okay!" She said, laughing.