RP dumps of the Eleventh Kind
Dec. 12th, 2006 11:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kuribohKeji was awakened by the gentle hand of Haruko, and the subsequently loud voice of Kiyoshi along with a bucket of freezing cold water.
Keji screeched and flipped out of bed, regarding his eldest brother and sister-in-law with a look of intense anger. Kiyoshi laughed, and threw Keji's clothes at him, along with a roll of bandages. Haruko smiled and left the room to go and make breakfast. Her husband followed a few moments later.
Keji grumbled and stripped off the wet nightshirt he was wearing, wading it up and throwing it at the laundry hamper a few feet away. As he reached around for his bandages, he came to see his naked self in the mirror. As far as the mirror was concerned, Keji was not Keji, but rather a 12 year old girl on the cusp of womanhood - Nozomi Asa. He hated it.
He finally clapped his hand around the roll of bandages, pulling them off to wrap up his chest. Much to his horror, there weren't quite enough to cover it fully. He'd have to buy more on the way home from the Academy. Today, he'd have to Henge it all day.
Today was just spiffy.
Keji finished dressing himself and decended the stairs to the kitchen - a third chair added to the table just for him. Kiyoshi and Haruko were already seated. Haruko was sitting on the chair sideways; her very pregnant belly wouldn't let her to sit much closer to the table.
"Well," she laughed, "dig in!"
~~~
"Today, we're going to practice the Henge technique. It's useful in covert operations, and ... "
Keji immediately put his head in his hands, sighing deeply. Of all days, why now. Keji wasn't good enough at the jutsu to layer one over the other - he'd have to drop the one he had up currently in order to pull off the form that Iruka-sensei had asked from them...
And he'd been unable to properly tie up his breasts this morning...
Keji snapped his head up worriedly, hoping to catch Iruka's eye. Iruka knew about his secret, but Keji highly doubted Iruka knew of his current state.
As Iruka called off the names, he'd glace up to watch the student. As he reached the "N"s, he looked up at Keji, who was slowly mouthing "NO" at him. Iruka smiled and looked back at the sheet.
"Keji I know hacn already do it...."
So maybe the day didn't suck QUITE so much...
Keji breathed a sigh of releif and flopped back onto his desk.
As Iruka went slowly through the names, Keji watched each one with a detatched fascination untill he called upon Yomada-kun. Keji's ears perked up when the response wasn't an immediate "HENGE!"
When he did hear the command, he shifted his steeley-blue eyes upward, watching the show. It didn't last long as Yomada-kun dropped the illusion. The prompt reply of four Bushin clones was suprising, however.
The class remained silent and Iruka sighed. "That's it for now, children. Study on your own for now. I'll be back soon." their gentle sensei smiled and left the room. Immediately, the class picked back up in yells and screams and badly-attempted jutsus. Keji got up and stalked over to the classroom window, slipping out of it unseen.
"Screw it. I need bandages..."
~~~
It was one of those days where Keji was glad that his oldest three brothers didn't live at home anymore, because between himself, his father and his 4 other brothers, the condo above the Tea Shop was crowded. And that was an understatement.
Keji was alone in his room (he was the only one in the house who didn't ever have to share), long stripped of anything that would mark him as a female...except for one item. The package sat on the centre of the bed, along with Kin. Keji's father was trying with increasing desparation to calm the child who, were he any less of a boy, would have been in hysterics.
Kin sighed and moved from the bed, over to his son, embracing him in a way only a slightly amused parent could. He'd need help with this. Badly. And it would most definately have to come from a female.
~~~
Within an hour, Kaemon, Goro, Kumi and Yasuo had been forcibly ejected from the condo for the afternoon. Keji still found it crowded. Kin was in the living room, explaining the situation to a hysterical Kyoshi and an extremely amused Haruko, the latter of whom entered the room not too long later.
Keji looked up at his very pregnant sister-in-law, and then down at that damnable package that still sat on his bed. Haruko opened her mouth to speak, but Keji's face contorted at that exact moment and the boy jumped, still extremely uncomfortable with the feeling. It didn't help that his head was throbbing and his abdomen was in stitches.
Haruko smiled despite herself and slowly sat herself on the bed, gesturing that Keji should do the same. Keji sat reluctantly, not trusting himself, or this new development quite yet. As he sat, Haruko snaked her arms around his shoulder and pulled him into a hug.
"Your dad tells me you woke up with a surprise of the girly-sort today." Haruko said at last. Keji nodded on her shoulder, now far more stunned than distraught. If this ever got out, everyone would know he was some kind of freak! Haruko sighed good naturedly and launched into an explaination that Keji could never have gotten from his father or siblings and by the end of it, he had pulled away, looking between the woman and the package, clearly labled "PADS".
"It comes EVERY MONTH?!"
Oh. Hell.
~~~
"Yo! Introducing Konoha's Prideful Green Beast!" Gai shouted as he leapt up from the outside of the balcony wall, somersaulting several times in the air before landing in front of the newly created Genin Team 2, who had gathered to meet at the Academy's roof. Straightening with an exageratted motion, Gai thrust out an arm with a thumbs up and grinned widely, sunlight glinting off his teeth.
"And now, the beautiful power of springtime of youth shall begin to bloom today!"
Gai stood in this fashion for what seemed an eternity, neither flinching nor dropping his stance in the slightest. Just as abruptly as he arrived, he moved in to his next line.
"I am Maito Gai, Konoha's Prideful Green Beast! Rival of Hatake Kakashi! We are currently tied with 49 wins each! Now, I wish for you to introduce yourselves to each other as well as me. Give one hobby, favorite food, and a dream you wish to achieve!"
This man...
Horrifying didn't even begin to describe this man, but...
Keji sighed, wishing the ache in his abdomen and his headache would both vanish...or get suddenly much worse so he could pass out and not have to answer. But - just his luck - neither happened. Keji looked between his teammates, thanking whoever made up the teams that Hotaru was there. The tall, effeminate boy stood slowly, mimicking the posture of his father and brothers, and took a step forward.
"My name is Nozomi Keji. My favourite food is dango, my hobbies include cooking and reading and I want to be a Med-Nin like my mother to honour her memory."
Gai's eyes seemed to well up in tears, but before he could fire off another speech about "The Fires of Youth" or whatever, Keji stepped up beside him and beckoned for the man to lean down. Gai looked at him quizzically but did so. Keji leaned up and whispered something into Gai's ear - 'I'll need to talk to you later. Privately.'
Gai blinked, but nodded and stood back up, eagerly awaiting the next introduction. Keji sighed again and went to park himself back down next to Hotaru.
As Gai made his entrance from outside the balcony, Hotaru asked himself several questions: This guy can't be real, what's with those eyebrows? Wasn't this on the fourth story of the building?
To be on the safe side, Hotaru examined Gai from beneath the newly placed Leaf headband. Despite the seemingly bright and rapidly shifting nature of his emotions, there didn't appear to be any chance that Gai was some sort of illusion or trick.
After Keji had gone up and introduced "himself", then whispered privately to Gai, Hotaru stood up slowly.
"Hotaru Odayaku, I like homemade katsudon, enjoy reading novels and historical documents, and I want to protect my mother..."
Having spoken more words to a group of people than he likely had ever done outside of the Academy, Hotaru sat down once more.
Kage opened his eyes momentarily as his new jounin instructor appeared, he was a gaudily dressed fellow but his status as a jounin proved he was more then meets the eye. Standing not far from his teamates Kage had leaned back against the door leading back down into the academy while waiting.
Grinning as he began to speak he glanced at his new companions. Kage was used to training alone so adapting to his new comrades would be something unique in itself. But to learn from THIS man, would yield even more interesting results.
My name is Kage Harumaki, I like korean barbeque from Yakiniku Q, and I want to be a strong Ninja like my father.
Kage then closed his eyes again after speaking, but still completely attuned to his sensei's words waiting for him to speak again.
After introductions, Gai's eyes immediately filled with tears, his bottom lip quivering in an over the top, comical fashion.
"So beautiful! The dreams of youth! I swear by you that I will do my best to help you achieve your dreams!"
Lunging foward, Gai immediately embraced the three Genin in a bear hug that could crush iron. Standing afterwards, Gai's face immediately went from the extreme of happiness to seriousness.
"I give you the rest of the evening off. We'll meet tomorrow by the gates of the village at sunrise. Don't be late."
~~~
The enormous weights weren't so bad after one got used to them. But being "not so bad" didn't mean they didn't still suck.
Keji grumbled angrily to himself as he walked down the streets of Konoha, reading the grocery list over and over again. This would weigh a ton, not even counting the tacky orange arm and leg bands. Keji found that the only way to make them not weigh as much was to swing his arms as he walked - momentum lightened their burden. For the legs, however, there was no hope.
As per usual, the market of Konoha was bustling with life, and Keji was daunted by the very fact of entering it - not because he was shy but still... Too many people was too many people...
The man was sadistic. That was the only thing Hotaru could come up with to explain Gai's mannerisms and training techniques. While Hotaru firmly believe the old saying that "Hard work never killed anybody", Gai seemed to wish to prove that wrong. His legs STILL felt like rubber even after having had all day to recover. And it was all he could do to hold on to the small bag of groceries he was bringing home for his mother to make dinner.
Walking in the opposite direction, Hotaru noticed Keji making "his" way toward the crowded market area. Angling his way toward his teammate, Hotaru wondered briefly if Keji would be in better or worse shape than he himself was after the "jog". He may be able to tell through the use of the Kaigan, but it just felt odd using the eye on Keji anymore. Like trespassing on ground he wasn't supposed to.
Doing his best to wave his hand from beneath the bag of groceries, Hotaru greeted his teammate.
"Hey, Keji."
The bag immediately slipped from his weakened grasp, nearly hitting the ground before Hotaru caught it.
"You picking up dinner too?"
Keji turned at the sound of his friend's voice, lighting up when he caught sight of Hotaru's face. Keji broke off his path and trotted over to the tired boy.
"Still not over that jog?" he asked, falling into step beside Hotaru. "Dad made me wear them again today. He said that the sooner I'm used to them, the sooner they'll stop being annoying." The effeminate Genin sighed and ran a hand through his hair which hung loose. "But luggin' groceries back is annoying anyways. I dont' get why dad doesn't order us food when he orders for the shop!"
Keji was considering asking Hotaru to come with him, but the other boy's pained expression at carrying the bag made Keji change his mind. He turned to face the same direction as Hotaru. "It can wait. Care for some company?"
Kage yawned as he emerged from Yakiniku Q, with the sense of satisfaction about him after a good meal he looked around the market place.
He shook his legs, the feeling in them seemed to drift in and out. Kage had been wearing his leg weights from morning till night since recieving them from gai-sensai. It was as kage had previously believed though. Gai's training would be helpful in building his strength and taijutsu skills.
Then out of the corner of his eye, Keji and Hotaru were seen walking together through the crowd, probably out shopping for dinner. It took but a few moments to catch up with them in time to overhear about Keji's father.Kage slid up quietly behind them and spoke...
Ya know he is right though, Ive been wearing mine since i got up this morning.
Kage chuckled and offered Hotaru a hand with the "heavy" bags, joking around with his new teamate.
So what are you guys up too tonight?
Hotaru smiled in reply. If there was one bright side to being on Team Gai, it was Keji. Where as alot of other students were cold, extremely odd, or just plain false, Keji was genuinely nice and caring, despite the oddities.
"Yeah. I think Gai-sensei's methods are a little... extreme. I could barely walk after that jog.."
Securing his grip on the bag of groceries, Hotaru nodded.
"If it isn't too far out of your way, I'd be happy to have you along."
Keji smiled at both of his teammates. Really, he couldn't have imagined a better pair to work with, only a better Sensei to train under. Keji looked down from the slight incline between his eye level and those of his teammates (curse the early growth spurt).
Keji walked along merrily beside the pair, trying his best to find a way of walking that made his feet feel even somewhat lighter - he'd already found the secret to the arms was momentum. He shifted his slivery gaze over to Kage who seemed to be coping well with them.
"So. How do YOU make the burning agony of wearing these things all day stop?"
Well after a while your legs just become numb to the fact your carrying boulders on your legs. I dont really think theres any secret to it except physical strength.
Kage nodded in a sagely manner as he walked with his companions.
Of course I have been taking on our "unique" sensei's training and jog at least one lap every morning, which also helps.
A snicker escaped Kage's lips as those words crept into his head making him cringe in mid stride.
But I swear if i have to keep hearing that one line....
Kage didnt finish the sentence but merely lowered his head and sighed.
Hotaru grinned as he continued walking, holding his bag slightly more stable with both hands supporting it now.
"It could be worse... at least he didn't hand out those green jumpsuits he was wearing."
Internally, Hotaru wondered why he was speaking as much as he was now. He'd always been quiet, and never went out of his way to speak with his other classmates. Why should that change now that he was a Genin? Perhaps, it didn't really matter anymore.
Keji gave an involuntary shudder at the mere mention of the atrocities that Gai sported every day.
"I swear to god, I'm going to give that man a haircut and an eyebrow plucking until he looks like a normal human being." he swore under his breath. "If he tries to make us wear one of those things, I'm going to strangle him with it."
~~~
Keji had his legs crossed as he sat on his low, but large bed. The sheets were all ruffled up, and the pillows still flat. The normally very neat-and-tidy Keji didn't seem to mind his unmade bed at the moment though. His steely-eyed gaze was fixed on the spot on his bed just in front of him.
The house, usually noisy and eternally distracting, was silent for once, only an occasional creak or clatter from downstairs even giving away the notion that anyone was home at all. Kaemon, Goro, Kumi and Yasuo were all downstairs, working, but Keji was not.
Keji was far too stunned.
Haruka had just had her baby....babies....three of them. And they were all identical. Yes, Keji, at the ripe old age of twelve was now an uncle of three, and if Jiro's new wife was any indication, Keji would soon be the uncle of many many more.
In the other room, the phone rang. Keji jumped up and ran for it, tripping once along the way, but continuing on nonetheless. Finally, his tiny hand clapped around the phone and he yanked it to his ear.
"Dad?" He whispered into the phone, hopefully.
"Not quite, squirt. He's off playing with his grandkids"
"Oh, hi Kiyoshi. Is everyone alright?"
"Yeah. 'Ruka's asleep, Dad's playing with the kids...they're all boys, by the way. I swear to god, at this rate, our family will die off from lack of females." Keji had to laugh at his brother's tone, not to mention the scary truth of his statement.
"So, " Keji asked, "Names?"
"Getting ahead of yourself there, speedy. 'Cmon down and you can all meet them yourselves. Jiro and Haruki are already down here, so bring the clan still at home..."
Keji had barely hung up the phone before he threw up a henge and was practically flying down the stairs, calling for his brothers.
Keitaro
Hiroshi
Yuki
Keji looked at the three cradles in the maternity ward of the hospital. The triplets all lay next to eachother, sleeping soundly. Keji's face and hands were pressed up against the glass, almost willing it to dissapear so he could see the babies better. Kiyoshi was standing next to him proudly, with one arm around Keji himself , and the other in hisx pocket.
"Beautiful, aren't they?"
Untill now, Keji had thought that most newborns were rather ugly, but seeing these three seemed to defy that convention.
"Yeah" the boy whispered, "yeah they are."
Beside them, the door to the ward opened and a nurse popped her head out. She smiled at Keji and, as if hearing his unspoken wish, beckoned him into the room with her. Keji didn't even hesitate to dash in.
The babies were even cuter up close. Keji leaned over the first one, Keitaro, and slowly reached down to pet his tiny hand with one finger. The baby didn't stir, only sighed, and Keji smiled wider.
"Hello there," he whispered, "I'm your uncle. My name is Keji."
Unconsiously, Keitaro moved his hand to grasp Keji's finger with the surprising strength of a baby, but otherwise made no sign that Keji had been heard.
But it was enough to lift Keji's spirits.
'What was I thinking?' Keji thought to himself, as he ran into the triplet's bedroom before their wailing woke a harried mother and father. Yuki, it seemed, was the fussy one this time, and judging by his current track record, Keji was beginning to suspect the poor baby was Colic.
Keji reached in gently, picking up the smallest of the three, cradling the baby close to his chest, sadly unbound. Yuki, feeling once again in somewhat familiar arms, calmed, but did not settle, as his tiny hands began grasping for breasts that weren't entirely there. Keji sighed and took a quick look at the other two - both slept soundly, undisturbed by Yuki's wails.
Keji hefted the little baby a bit higher and padded down the stairs quietly, shuffling into the kitchen and placing his tiny charge into one of the small cradles kept downstairs for them. He knew how to make the formula and did so, checking the clock in curiosity. It was 3 in the morning now, and if Kei and Hiro's feeding patterns kept any form of consistancy, they'd be awake soon too.
But for now, Keji simply poured the finished concoction into a bottle and stalked back over to the baby, again picking him up gently, holding up the bottle, which Yuki took too immediately. Keji smiled as the baby began to feed, and sat down quietly in the armchair, not moving until the baby had burped and fallen back to dreams.
Keji screeched and flipped out of bed, regarding his eldest brother and sister-in-law with a look of intense anger. Kiyoshi laughed, and threw Keji's clothes at him, along with a roll of bandages. Haruko smiled and left the room to go and make breakfast. Her husband followed a few moments later.
Keji grumbled and stripped off the wet nightshirt he was wearing, wading it up and throwing it at the laundry hamper a few feet away. As he reached around for his bandages, he came to see his naked self in the mirror. As far as the mirror was concerned, Keji was not Keji, but rather a 12 year old girl on the cusp of womanhood - Nozomi Asa. He hated it.
He finally clapped his hand around the roll of bandages, pulling them off to wrap up his chest. Much to his horror, there weren't quite enough to cover it fully. He'd have to buy more on the way home from the Academy. Today, he'd have to Henge it all day.
Today was just spiffy.
Keji finished dressing himself and decended the stairs to the kitchen - a third chair added to the table just for him. Kiyoshi and Haruko were already seated. Haruko was sitting on the chair sideways; her very pregnant belly wouldn't let her to sit much closer to the table.
"Well," she laughed, "dig in!"
~~~
"Today, we're going to practice the Henge technique. It's useful in covert operations, and ... "
Keji immediately put his head in his hands, sighing deeply. Of all days, why now. Keji wasn't good enough at the jutsu to layer one over the other - he'd have to drop the one he had up currently in order to pull off the form that Iruka-sensei had asked from them...
And he'd been unable to properly tie up his breasts this morning...
Keji snapped his head up worriedly, hoping to catch Iruka's eye. Iruka knew about his secret, but Keji highly doubted Iruka knew of his current state.
As Iruka called off the names, he'd glace up to watch the student. As he reached the "N"s, he looked up at Keji, who was slowly mouthing "NO" at him. Iruka smiled and looked back at the sheet.
"Keji I know hacn already do it...."
So maybe the day didn't suck QUITE so much...
Keji breathed a sigh of releif and flopped back onto his desk.
As Iruka went slowly through the names, Keji watched each one with a detatched fascination untill he called upon Yomada-kun. Keji's ears perked up when the response wasn't an immediate "HENGE!"
When he did hear the command, he shifted his steeley-blue eyes upward, watching the show. It didn't last long as Yomada-kun dropped the illusion. The prompt reply of four Bushin clones was suprising, however.
The class remained silent and Iruka sighed. "That's it for now, children. Study on your own for now. I'll be back soon." their gentle sensei smiled and left the room. Immediately, the class picked back up in yells and screams and badly-attempted jutsus. Keji got up and stalked over to the classroom window, slipping out of it unseen.
"Screw it. I need bandages..."
~~~
It was one of those days where Keji was glad that his oldest three brothers didn't live at home anymore, because between himself, his father and his 4 other brothers, the condo above the Tea Shop was crowded. And that was an understatement.
Keji was alone in his room (he was the only one in the house who didn't ever have to share), long stripped of anything that would mark him as a female...except for one item. The package sat on the centre of the bed, along with Kin. Keji's father was trying with increasing desparation to calm the child who, were he any less of a boy, would have been in hysterics.
Kin sighed and moved from the bed, over to his son, embracing him in a way only a slightly amused parent could. He'd need help with this. Badly. And it would most definately have to come from a female.
~~~
Within an hour, Kaemon, Goro, Kumi and Yasuo had been forcibly ejected from the condo for the afternoon. Keji still found it crowded. Kin was in the living room, explaining the situation to a hysterical Kyoshi and an extremely amused Haruko, the latter of whom entered the room not too long later.
Keji looked up at his very pregnant sister-in-law, and then down at that damnable package that still sat on his bed. Haruko opened her mouth to speak, but Keji's face contorted at that exact moment and the boy jumped, still extremely uncomfortable with the feeling. It didn't help that his head was throbbing and his abdomen was in stitches.
Haruko smiled despite herself and slowly sat herself on the bed, gesturing that Keji should do the same. Keji sat reluctantly, not trusting himself, or this new development quite yet. As he sat, Haruko snaked her arms around his shoulder and pulled him into a hug.
"Your dad tells me you woke up with a surprise of the girly-sort today." Haruko said at last. Keji nodded on her shoulder, now far more stunned than distraught. If this ever got out, everyone would know he was some kind of freak! Haruko sighed good naturedly and launched into an explaination that Keji could never have gotten from his father or siblings and by the end of it, he had pulled away, looking between the woman and the package, clearly labled "PADS".
"It comes EVERY MONTH?!"
Oh. Hell.
~~~
"Yo! Introducing Konoha's Prideful Green Beast!" Gai shouted as he leapt up from the outside of the balcony wall, somersaulting several times in the air before landing in front of the newly created Genin Team 2, who had gathered to meet at the Academy's roof. Straightening with an exageratted motion, Gai thrust out an arm with a thumbs up and grinned widely, sunlight glinting off his teeth.
"And now, the beautiful power of springtime of youth shall begin to bloom today!"
Gai stood in this fashion for what seemed an eternity, neither flinching nor dropping his stance in the slightest. Just as abruptly as he arrived, he moved in to his next line.
"I am Maito Gai, Konoha's Prideful Green Beast! Rival of Hatake Kakashi! We are currently tied with 49 wins each! Now, I wish for you to introduce yourselves to each other as well as me. Give one hobby, favorite food, and a dream you wish to achieve!"
This man...
Horrifying didn't even begin to describe this man, but...
Keji sighed, wishing the ache in his abdomen and his headache would both vanish...or get suddenly much worse so he could pass out and not have to answer. But - just his luck - neither happened. Keji looked between his teammates, thanking whoever made up the teams that Hotaru was there. The tall, effeminate boy stood slowly, mimicking the posture of his father and brothers, and took a step forward.
"My name is Nozomi Keji. My favourite food is dango, my hobbies include cooking and reading and I want to be a Med-Nin like my mother to honour her memory."
Gai's eyes seemed to well up in tears, but before he could fire off another speech about "The Fires of Youth" or whatever, Keji stepped up beside him and beckoned for the man to lean down. Gai looked at him quizzically but did so. Keji leaned up and whispered something into Gai's ear - 'I'll need to talk to you later. Privately.'
Gai blinked, but nodded and stood back up, eagerly awaiting the next introduction. Keji sighed again and went to park himself back down next to Hotaru.
As Gai made his entrance from outside the balcony, Hotaru asked himself several questions: This guy can't be real, what's with those eyebrows? Wasn't this on the fourth story of the building?
To be on the safe side, Hotaru examined Gai from beneath the newly placed Leaf headband. Despite the seemingly bright and rapidly shifting nature of his emotions, there didn't appear to be any chance that Gai was some sort of illusion or trick.
After Keji had gone up and introduced "himself", then whispered privately to Gai, Hotaru stood up slowly.
"Hotaru Odayaku, I like homemade katsudon, enjoy reading novels and historical documents, and I want to protect my mother..."
Having spoken more words to a group of people than he likely had ever done outside of the Academy, Hotaru sat down once more.
Kage opened his eyes momentarily as his new jounin instructor appeared, he was a gaudily dressed fellow but his status as a jounin proved he was more then meets the eye. Standing not far from his teamates Kage had leaned back against the door leading back down into the academy while waiting.
Grinning as he began to speak he glanced at his new companions. Kage was used to training alone so adapting to his new comrades would be something unique in itself. But to learn from THIS man, would yield even more interesting results.
My name is Kage Harumaki, I like korean barbeque from Yakiniku Q, and I want to be a strong Ninja like my father.
Kage then closed his eyes again after speaking, but still completely attuned to his sensei's words waiting for him to speak again.
After introductions, Gai's eyes immediately filled with tears, his bottom lip quivering in an over the top, comical fashion.
"So beautiful! The dreams of youth! I swear by you that I will do my best to help you achieve your dreams!"
Lunging foward, Gai immediately embraced the three Genin in a bear hug that could crush iron. Standing afterwards, Gai's face immediately went from the extreme of happiness to seriousness.
"I give you the rest of the evening off. We'll meet tomorrow by the gates of the village at sunrise. Don't be late."
~~~
The enormous weights weren't so bad after one got used to them. But being "not so bad" didn't mean they didn't still suck.
Keji grumbled angrily to himself as he walked down the streets of Konoha, reading the grocery list over and over again. This would weigh a ton, not even counting the tacky orange arm and leg bands. Keji found that the only way to make them not weigh as much was to swing his arms as he walked - momentum lightened their burden. For the legs, however, there was no hope.
As per usual, the market of Konoha was bustling with life, and Keji was daunted by the very fact of entering it - not because he was shy but still... Too many people was too many people...
The man was sadistic. That was the only thing Hotaru could come up with to explain Gai's mannerisms and training techniques. While Hotaru firmly believe the old saying that "Hard work never killed anybody", Gai seemed to wish to prove that wrong. His legs STILL felt like rubber even after having had all day to recover. And it was all he could do to hold on to the small bag of groceries he was bringing home for his mother to make dinner.
Walking in the opposite direction, Hotaru noticed Keji making "his" way toward the crowded market area. Angling his way toward his teammate, Hotaru wondered briefly if Keji would be in better or worse shape than he himself was after the "jog". He may be able to tell through the use of the Kaigan, but it just felt odd using the eye on Keji anymore. Like trespassing on ground he wasn't supposed to.
Doing his best to wave his hand from beneath the bag of groceries, Hotaru greeted his teammate.
"Hey, Keji."
The bag immediately slipped from his weakened grasp, nearly hitting the ground before Hotaru caught it.
"You picking up dinner too?"
Keji turned at the sound of his friend's voice, lighting up when he caught sight of Hotaru's face. Keji broke off his path and trotted over to the tired boy.
"Still not over that jog?" he asked, falling into step beside Hotaru. "Dad made me wear them again today. He said that the sooner I'm used to them, the sooner they'll stop being annoying." The effeminate Genin sighed and ran a hand through his hair which hung loose. "But luggin' groceries back is annoying anyways. I dont' get why dad doesn't order us food when he orders for the shop!"
Keji was considering asking Hotaru to come with him, but the other boy's pained expression at carrying the bag made Keji change his mind. He turned to face the same direction as Hotaru. "It can wait. Care for some company?"
Kage yawned as he emerged from Yakiniku Q, with the sense of satisfaction about him after a good meal he looked around the market place.
He shook his legs, the feeling in them seemed to drift in and out. Kage had been wearing his leg weights from morning till night since recieving them from gai-sensai. It was as kage had previously believed though. Gai's training would be helpful in building his strength and taijutsu skills.
Then out of the corner of his eye, Keji and Hotaru were seen walking together through the crowd, probably out shopping for dinner. It took but a few moments to catch up with them in time to overhear about Keji's father.Kage slid up quietly behind them and spoke...
Ya know he is right though, Ive been wearing mine since i got up this morning.
Kage chuckled and offered Hotaru a hand with the "heavy" bags, joking around with his new teamate.
So what are you guys up too tonight?
Hotaru smiled in reply. If there was one bright side to being on Team Gai, it was Keji. Where as alot of other students were cold, extremely odd, or just plain false, Keji was genuinely nice and caring, despite the oddities.
"Yeah. I think Gai-sensei's methods are a little... extreme. I could barely walk after that jog.."
Securing his grip on the bag of groceries, Hotaru nodded.
"If it isn't too far out of your way, I'd be happy to have you along."
Keji smiled at both of his teammates. Really, he couldn't have imagined a better pair to work with, only a better Sensei to train under. Keji looked down from the slight incline between his eye level and those of his teammates (curse the early growth spurt).
Keji walked along merrily beside the pair, trying his best to find a way of walking that made his feet feel even somewhat lighter - he'd already found the secret to the arms was momentum. He shifted his slivery gaze over to Kage who seemed to be coping well with them.
"So. How do YOU make the burning agony of wearing these things all day stop?"
Well after a while your legs just become numb to the fact your carrying boulders on your legs. I dont really think theres any secret to it except physical strength.
Kage nodded in a sagely manner as he walked with his companions.
Of course I have been taking on our "unique" sensei's training and jog at least one lap every morning, which also helps.
A snicker escaped Kage's lips as those words crept into his head making him cringe in mid stride.
But I swear if i have to keep hearing that one line....
Kage didnt finish the sentence but merely lowered his head and sighed.
Hotaru grinned as he continued walking, holding his bag slightly more stable with both hands supporting it now.
"It could be worse... at least he didn't hand out those green jumpsuits he was wearing."
Internally, Hotaru wondered why he was speaking as much as he was now. He'd always been quiet, and never went out of his way to speak with his other classmates. Why should that change now that he was a Genin? Perhaps, it didn't really matter anymore.
Keji gave an involuntary shudder at the mere mention of the atrocities that Gai sported every day.
"I swear to god, I'm going to give that man a haircut and an eyebrow plucking until he looks like a normal human being." he swore under his breath. "If he tries to make us wear one of those things, I'm going to strangle him with it."
~~~
Keji had his legs crossed as he sat on his low, but large bed. The sheets were all ruffled up, and the pillows still flat. The normally very neat-and-tidy Keji didn't seem to mind his unmade bed at the moment though. His steely-eyed gaze was fixed on the spot on his bed just in front of him.
The house, usually noisy and eternally distracting, was silent for once, only an occasional creak or clatter from downstairs even giving away the notion that anyone was home at all. Kaemon, Goro, Kumi and Yasuo were all downstairs, working, but Keji was not.
Keji was far too stunned.
Haruka had just had her baby....babies....three of them. And they were all identical. Yes, Keji, at the ripe old age of twelve was now an uncle of three, and if Jiro's new wife was any indication, Keji would soon be the uncle of many many more.
In the other room, the phone rang. Keji jumped up and ran for it, tripping once along the way, but continuing on nonetheless. Finally, his tiny hand clapped around the phone and he yanked it to his ear.
"Dad?" He whispered into the phone, hopefully.
"Not quite, squirt. He's off playing with his grandkids"
"Oh, hi Kiyoshi. Is everyone alright?"
"Yeah. 'Ruka's asleep, Dad's playing with the kids...they're all boys, by the way. I swear to god, at this rate, our family will die off from lack of females." Keji had to laugh at his brother's tone, not to mention the scary truth of his statement.
"So, " Keji asked, "Names?"
"Getting ahead of yourself there, speedy. 'Cmon down and you can all meet them yourselves. Jiro and Haruki are already down here, so bring the clan still at home..."
Keji had barely hung up the phone before he threw up a henge and was practically flying down the stairs, calling for his brothers.
Keitaro
Hiroshi
Yuki
Keji looked at the three cradles in the maternity ward of the hospital. The triplets all lay next to eachother, sleeping soundly. Keji's face and hands were pressed up against the glass, almost willing it to dissapear so he could see the babies better. Kiyoshi was standing next to him proudly, with one arm around Keji himself , and the other in hisx pocket.
"Beautiful, aren't they?"
Untill now, Keji had thought that most newborns were rather ugly, but seeing these three seemed to defy that convention.
"Yeah" the boy whispered, "yeah they are."
Beside them, the door to the ward opened and a nurse popped her head out. She smiled at Keji and, as if hearing his unspoken wish, beckoned him into the room with her. Keji didn't even hesitate to dash in.
The babies were even cuter up close. Keji leaned over the first one, Keitaro, and slowly reached down to pet his tiny hand with one finger. The baby didn't stir, only sighed, and Keji smiled wider.
"Hello there," he whispered, "I'm your uncle. My name is Keji."
Unconsiously, Keitaro moved his hand to grasp Keji's finger with the surprising strength of a baby, but otherwise made no sign that Keji had been heard.
But it was enough to lift Keji's spirits.
'What was I thinking?' Keji thought to himself, as he ran into the triplet's bedroom before their wailing woke a harried mother and father. Yuki, it seemed, was the fussy one this time, and judging by his current track record, Keji was beginning to suspect the poor baby was Colic.
Keji reached in gently, picking up the smallest of the three, cradling the baby close to his chest, sadly unbound. Yuki, feeling once again in somewhat familiar arms, calmed, but did not settle, as his tiny hands began grasping for breasts that weren't entirely there. Keji sighed and took a quick look at the other two - both slept soundly, undisturbed by Yuki's wails.
Keji hefted the little baby a bit higher and padded down the stairs quietly, shuffling into the kitchen and placing his tiny charge into one of the small cradles kept downstairs for them. He knew how to make the formula and did so, checking the clock in curiosity. It was 3 in the morning now, and if Kei and Hiro's feeding patterns kept any form of consistancy, they'd be awake soon too.
But for now, Keji simply poured the finished concoction into a bottle and stalked back over to the baby, again picking him up gently, holding up the bottle, which Yuki took too immediately. Keji smiled as the baby began to feed, and sat down quietly in the armchair, not moving until the baby had burped and fallen back to dreams.
