[open] April Catch All

[gentledheart]

Who: Hinata and Iruka, Neji, and Obito and anyone else.
When: April catch-all.
Where: Konohagakure.

Please see top-levels for dates and characters. Feel free to either hit me with a starter or PP me to work something out and I'll post the starter.

Comments

Closed to Iruka, April 5th

[gentledheart]

It wasn't unusual for Hinata to be found in a tea shop, a fresh cup of some herbal blend clasped between her hands. It was a nice way to unwind to her mind. Allowed her mind to wander and process the day. It was almost like a form of meditation for her, the way the solitude and quiet contemplation allowed for her put things into perspective.

She didn't always do so at a tea shop; some events required a certain level of privacy. Today, was a normal day though, and she was enjoying a cup of the new blend the owner had just got in when she spotted her former sensei from the Academy enter.

It's been a while since she last even a hello to Iruka-sensei, so she waved in greeting and offered a smile. It was a quiet gesture and there was no expectation of company behind it. Hinata just thought it was good to see the man, especially given how long it'd been since she'd last stepped foot in the Academy.

[senseiofthesea]

He noticed the gesture, stilling thoughtfully for just a moment before making his way over, waving questioningly to a chair. "May I?"

[gentledheart]

"Of course sensei." She says with a hint of surprise that he wanted to join her at all. Not the outcome she anticipated but she wasn't upset about it either.

[senseiofthesea]

He noticed the look and a touch of amusement came to his face as he settled, making himself comfortable across from her. "It's been quite a while since we've spoken, hasn't it?"

[gentledheart]

She nods, "It has. How has teaching at the Academy been?"

[senseiofthesea]

"Ah... unfortunate for a few students, and this year's graduating class was... intense." He sighed softly. "I still have until this autumn before I can graduate out the other half. We've been a bit shorthanded since one of the longer term instructors left."

[gentledheart]

"Unfortunate?" She wonders at that and takes another sip of her tea. Were these students behind?

[senseiofthesea]

"I was handed over another full class in the wake of a mess, and since then there have been some family deaths from among my students. It's made things rather difficult for them, especially given the sudden change of teachers." He ordered a tea for himself when the waiter came by, then turned his attention back to Hinata.

[gentledheart]

She frowns, "Those poor students." She feels for them, having to deal with so many sudden changes in such a short period of time. That probably wasn't helping them any. "It must be making adjusting to their new circumstances and maintaining their academics difficult for them."

[senseiofthesea]

"Just so, but I've been doing my best. I don't want them to be more troubled than they already are, and with my class graduated, I can focus on the one I inherited now." He nodded once, smile wry. "I don't want them to feel neglected."

Closed to Obito, April 17th

[gentledheart]

Her missive asked that they meet for late afternoon- if it fit into Obito's schedule. She didn't want to interrupt if he had work to do. Granted Hinata expected that there was always work to do, so she didn't actually really expect her sensei to be free on those occasions to did ask to see him. She stood in the middle of the training field she'd reserved, remaining idle for only a few moments now that she arrived. She wouldn't waste the time. If her sensei couldn't make it that was alright.

With a breath she settled into a crouch and then launched into a string of common kata to warm up. Eventually working through the movements of some of the more complicated jyuken moves and the 64 palms. There was always a little thrill when she completed that one given how long it had taken to master. The real trick though would be comboing in the Twin Lion Fists. And that was part of the reason she wanted to see her sensei, she wanted to show him what she'd accomplished on her own.

While she moved she gathered chakra to her hands expelling it out to form shrouds around her fists to strike at an imaginary opponent.

[thebestuchiha]

On noting that it was a training date, of sorts, he'd popped by his house to drop off his robes on his way there... and subsequently got waylaid by a lost four-year-old. It had, admittedly, made him a bit late, but he still thought he'd made reasonably good time, arriving in time to see her in the middle of some kind of attack.

It was interesting, and he leaned on a tree, deciding not to interrupt her.

[gentledheart]

She whirls just finishing another combo, the shrouds fading from around her fists. Pushing her hair back behind her shoulder she turns and stops short. She hadn't noticed Obito arrive. Chewing on her lower lip, Hinata takes a few steps toward her sensei. "How long have you been there, sensei?"

[thebestuchiha]

"Not too long. I thought you might see me." He waved absently at his face. "You seemed pretty in tune and all."

[gentledheart]

She might have in the peripheral, an awareness that he was watching that was quickly replaced by her focus on her task. Sometimes seeing everything meant you tuned a great deal out, it was an unfortunate side-effect. "I might have."

[thebestuchiha]

He watched her a moment at that, then burst out into laughter. "Ah, the Byakugan strikes again huh?"

[gentledheart]

She flushes, pouting a little as her gaze shifts to the side. "Yeah I guess it does."

[thebestuchiha]

He grinned at her and moved over to put his hand on her head. "Don't feel bad."

[gentledheart]

"I'll try." She ducks her head and steps a little away. "How much did you see?"

[thebestuchiha]

"I saw part of some nifty maneuver but I think I missed a bit of it. Care to walk me through it or have I ruined the surprise?" He dropped his hand, amused at the tacit dodge.

Closed to Neji, April 12th

[gentledheart]

She'd heard of the incident. There were very few secrets in the clan when it came to disappointing the elders. Failing the expectations set of you. It almost makes her laugh how one failure and the entire clan knows about it. It's the successes that are the best kept secrets within the clan. Ironic considering the pressure to succeed and make the clan look very good to the other clans and shinobi of Konoha.

She can't blame Neji for whatever he's feeling in the aftermath, whatever it may be. But she would be there for her cousin. Especially given how rarely he disappointed the clan.

Armed with a small basic of comfort foot and a brilliant smile she knocked on the door to Neji's apartment and waited.

[heavenly_earth]

Neji's kept to himself since his argument with Tenten, kept a firm hold on his temper when he ventured out, and completed training and other assignments with as few words as possible. Meditated in utter silence and withdrew from conversation as soon as he caught an opening.

He wasn't really in the mood to entertain guests, but the Byakugan revealed his cousin outside his door and found he couldn't deny her. As it was, she was far less likely to pry too far and after a few moments spent hammering down the temper that threatened to flare to life for the reminder of his clan's less than flattering opinions, moved to answer the door.

"Hinata-sama," he dipped his head in greeting, voice and expression schooled to neutrality. He stood aside and gestured her in. "I hope you've been well."

[gentledheart]

The sheer fact that the smile on her face doesn't lose any of it's luster in the face of her cousins so carefully maintained neutrality, speaks to volumes to her determination to cheer him up. Stepping into the entry she slips her sandals off as she steps up into the main part of the apartment.

"Niisan," she murmurs brightly. She refuses to let his tight control to put a damper on her efforts. Just like she intends to put a stop to his wallowing in the dark emotions the snafu of a mission had brought him. "I have. What about you niisan?" She tilts her head waiting curious. Her tone cautious until she had a better idea of where he was emotionally. But it was clear at the same time that she was asking more than just how he was doing.

[heavenly_earth]

Neji pulls the door closed and moves off toward his kitchenette to start a kettle of tea. As good as he's gotten at lying, his cousin isn't here with food because he's fine. He shrugsd and leans back against the counter.

"Lee's awake." Which means he doesn't have his teammate's death on his hands, but the seething burn in Lee's eyes made it clear that nothing would be easy. "He's... very frustrated that he's not advancing as quickly as he'd like."

As quickly as me. But Hinata at least, doesn't know about ANBU- at least not for certain. Probably. It seemed that particular secret wasn't made to be kept without extreme reclusion from the outside world.

"He still has something to prove- to himself more than anyone else, I believe. It's nothing I can help him with."

[gentledheart]

She breathes a sigh of relief to hear that. At least Lee was going to heal, that surely must have been a weight that Neji was glad to know he wouldn't have to carry.

She can't help the small bubble of amusement though, "Aren't we all." Of course her and Lee's concept of advancing were two entirely different things, she was comfortable where she was. The assignments she received still challenging enough that her pursuit of jounin (if she ever really wanted to pursue it at all) was slow and steady instead of a rapid rise like it was for Sasuke and her cousin.

Coming around into the kitchen she places the basket with two small travel pots on the counter. "I made you curry." She offers popping the lid off the pot as steam rises from the liquid within the first container. The second contained the rice it would be served over. Hopefully, she'd made it bland enough to suit his tastes."You can tell me why you can't help Lee-kun while we eat, if you want to, or we can talk about whatever you want." Or eat in silence but that went without saying, if he didn't want to speak on it further or at all she'd follow his lead.