[OPEN] Weapons Exercise

[bunsofsteel]

Just because she was in a strange location didn't mean she was about to take a vacation... Especially not after being beaten so thoroughly by that Neji. The thought still was enough to freeze her blood, the slightest threads of panic starting to set in before her lip firms and she gathers her Chakra in her feet, leaping straight up into the air. For today's training, at least, she'd left the scroll leaning against one of the short wooden posts simulating a human body. Instead, a long katana shimmered in the late afternoon sunlight as she twists in midair, flipping over with a harsh kiai to split the log neatly in two, then turn, weaving her way through another weapon's form, twisting and pivoting as she fought enemies only she could see. Sweat dripped from her brow, the twin buns of her hair disheveled as she panted for breath, unwilling or unable to quit as she keeps pushing herself.

First that Sasuke, then Neji. She kept finding herself forced into situations where she couldn't fight at range. If she were ever going to advance, she needed to get past her current level. They were geniuses, but -- well, if Lee had proven anything, it was that hard work really could beat a genius.

The question would be if she could ever get to that point herself.

Comments

[bunsofsteel]

"Yeah..." It's quiet as she lets her fingers tighten slightly against the back of his neck. "It's selfish of me to talk about this, I know... sorry." The last word is a murmur as she turns her head and presses a kiss to his temple, just holding him close.

[youngesthokage]

"It's fine." It was a murmur, and he moved his hand to touch her jaw opposite where he was resting. "I didn't intend to change the topic."

[bunsofsteel]

"No... it's okay. It's always just been about me and what I think, you know?" Her hand moves from his neck up into his hair, just gently stroking the strands, determined not to let him even start to get hints of that bitterness she'd seen in Neji. "You've got me. It might not be enough, but it's something, yeah?"

[youngesthokage]

He was confused at her need to assure him, and just hummed a soft affirmative. "You've made that clear enough. And we -were- talking about how you've been feeling so that does make sense Tenten."

[bunsofsteel]

She huffs quietly through her nose and gives a one-armed shrug, turning her attention away again. "I guess. I just... I want him to know he's not alone. He seems to think he is, but... He's still Neji. And I care for him a lot, even if he doesn't notice or care."

[youngesthokage]

"I'm aware of that. He's your teammate. Often that bond is not one that will fade or die away. You'll convince him, eventually, but you won't if you simply wear yourself down to having nothing to give." He rubbed his cheek against her again.

[bunsofsteel]

Another small sigh, and she all but melts against the futon, pressing her nose to his cheek for a moment before tilting her head to kiss it softly. "I guess. He was just so much stronger than I was... he used a technique I'd never seen Neji use before, and that's the one that..."

[youngesthokage]

"Hurt you." He lifted his head finally, peeking at her through his bangs. "Pain can be a teacher too, it's just usually more vicious, that's all. You'll grow, don't worry."

[bunsofsteel]

She's shaking her head even before he's finished speaking. "Would have killed me," she corrects softly, moving her hand to stroke through those bangs. "If Lee and Gai-sensei hadn't thought to come back for me..." A quiet huff. "And then somehow I ended up here."

[youngesthokage]

"But you're not dead, in spite of the attempt." It was said softly as he watched her. "So you can learn from it."

[bunsofsteel]

"I wasn't worth enough of his time to finish off." It's a murmur as she glances down to not meet his eyes again, her fingers stroking gently through his bangs and down his cheek. "I'm trying to learn, it's just..." Another helpless huff through her nose as she glances back up. "He's a genius."

[youngesthokage]

"Or he didn't want to finish you off." It was a sigh as he shook his head. "As for the last... so? It means nothing if someone works harder or into the weakness of the 'genius' in question." He never had liked the word genius, truly.

[bunsofsteel]

"I was trying to work harder." Her voice is a little admonishing as she continues to stroke her fingers along his cheekbone. "Then someone had to take me home and give me a massage and distract me."

[youngesthokage]

He nuzzled into her fingers, eyes falling half shut. "Effective training isn't quite the same as frustrated training."

[bunsofsteel]

She just hums, tracing the curve of his cheek and along his jaw before pressing her palm flat against his cheek. "I'm not arguing, really."

[youngesthokage]

"If you were I would feel foolish to have not noticed." He rested his cheek in her palm and let his eyes fall the rest of the way shut.

[bunsofsteel]

She hums again, a little more quietly, and cranes her neck to press her lips gently against his nose. "Is that dinner option still open, or do you want to nap instead?"

[youngesthokage]

He cracked an eye open to look at her. "You're welcome to my kitchen."

[bunsofsteel]

A hint of amusement colors her voice as her fingers trace down his neck. "And here I thought Uchiha Itachi was going to make me rice."

[youngesthokage]

He hummed and pushed up from her, hands on the bedding. "Very well then, i'll make you rice."

[bunsofsteel]

Her lips curve into a smile as she leans up, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a soft kiss. "That would be great," she murmurs against his lips. "Can I use your bathroom to clean myself up?"

[youngesthokage]

He nodded and lifted a hand to run his fingertips over her cheek. "Of course."

After the soft words, he slipped her hold and got to his feet.

[bunsofsteel]

She lets him get up without protest and just makes her way into the bathroom to just quickly rinse her hair and wipe down the sweat from her body. Letting her wet hair stay loose down her back, she wraps herself in a towel before just moving into his room to find a spare shirt of his to wear, then moves to find him.

[youngesthokage]

He had... well, he'd made rice, and the cooker was sitting innocently on the otherwise bare counter as he tended to the few dishes in the sink, head dipped in focus. He was going about the entire thing in a thoughtful sort of way.

[bunsofsteel]

Truthfully, she hadn't wanted anything more. Certain that he's sensed her presence so she won't startle him, she pads in quietly behind him and wraps her arms around his waist, leaning up on tiptoes to lightly press her lips to his cheek. "Thank you, Itachi-sama."