Pausing in a Busy Day (Open Flashback)

[Tensei Kaori]

((This is an open flashback thread, taking place on the day after the Tenth's innauguration. Anyone is welcome to join in in any way they please.))

Akina sighed as she walked down the bustling streets of Konoha. Even now, when she was on a forced lunch break from her duty as the Hokage's liutenant, her steps were quick and her bearing was calm, confident, and in charge.

I should not be out here, she thought sullenly. It was only because Kaori-sama had forcefully turned the fiery redhead out of her office that she was not back at the Ninja Administration building right now. In fact, Akina very highly doubted that Kaori-sama was planning on eating much today, either. Well, there was no helping it. She would just bring lunch back for them to share.

Suddenly she heard someone calling out to her. Turning, she looked to see who it was.

[Kiel]

"Akina-dono." the voice called out.

Walking towards Akina was an enormous stack of books with spindly, wobbling legs. The stack was balanced precariously, looking as if it was about to topple.

"Ara...uwa...ah...AHH!" the female voice squeeked and cried as the books were about to topple.

[Tensei Kaori]

The first thing Akina saw when she turned around was a walking pile of rather precariously balanced books. But to the dismay of the hidden face behind the pile, the stack soon began to fall. Acting quickly, Akina darted over and slid - surprisingly well in her high heels - catching the books as they fell and getting the wind knocked out of her in the process. Some books slid or bounced out of her grasp and fell to the ground, pages fluttering, but that was hardly a surprise with so many falling on her at one time like that.

Remaining where she was for now, pinned on the ground under a pile of rather heavy books, she looked up at the person who had called out to her. "Are you alright?" she asked calmly.

[Kiel]

"Are you alright?"

"Are? Ah...eh?" the voice said, muffled as a book covered her face.

She took it off, getting back to her feet. Brushing off her modest dress, then surveyed the damage.

"UWAAAAAHHH..." she cried, seeing the books fallen and dirty.

She scrambled to pick them up and dust them off, fretting about, pushing her enormous spectacles back onto her face.

She finally saw Akina again.

"Oh, Akina-dono, thanks for helping me." she bowed curtiously, helping the Hokage's assistant to her feet.

Akina recognised her barely as Narusegawa Buyo, one of Konoha's prominant and revered librarians and historians.

"Are...quite a mess, oooh, so many fist editions dirty...makes me sad inside. Thank you very much for catching a few." she said busily, coming off as a complete space cadet.

[Tensei Kaori]

"I did what I could," replied Akina, "but it was so many to catch all at once. But see, look," she continued as she helped Buyo-san pick up the fallen tomes. "Some of them fell with the covers down; this one's pages aren't dirty at all. So these ones won't be as hard to clean off, right?"

[Kiel]

Sighed happily, clapping her hands together.

"Yokatka..." she breathed, "thank goodness..."

she managed to pile all of the books together agin in a much more stable pile, walking a little with Akina.

"Why aren't you with Jyuudaime-sama, Akina-dono?" she asked as they walked. "I imagine with the shift in the balance of power, there would be much bruraucracy and paperwork..."

she hefted the books.

"We've been terribly busy at the archives. Kaori-sama has requested several sealed scrolls from our files and vaults that were put away by The Eighth. I guess with a new leader comes new ideas and beliefs."

[Tensei Kaori]

"It's true that there's a ton of work to do," replied Akina as they walked along. "So much, in fact, that there's hardly time to breathe. I've just stepped out to pick up some lunch to take back to the Ninja Administration Building before half our staff work themselves to starvation." No need to say that she had been kicked out. No need at all.

[Kiel]

Narusegawa nodded, looking concerned.

"Oh my..." she fretted, "that does sound awful."

She rested her books down on the ground for a moment and formed a seal with her hands.

A second later, a bunshin appeared beside her, collecting the books and beginning to walk off.

"Ahh, that's better...as much as my husband disaproves, ninjutsu can certainly be a time saver...

...now, would you like some help, dear?" she asked politely.

[Tensei Kaori]

"Thank you kindly," Akina said with a smile, "but I have everything under control." Best she doesn't see the scene I'll cause by coming back so soon, Akina thought to herself. Honestly! That woman is so stubborn I could scream! "Do you need any help with your books before I go?"