Setting Off! (GttS Phase II)

[JyouNoHaku]

Kirei was just about finished packing when she saw her father's old guitar in the corner.

"I remember when I first got this...back when Dad was still alive..."

She remembered it like it was yesterday:

"See there Kirei, your father even put a little inscription there for you!" She read it aloud, 'To my dear daughter, Kirei. May the music free your soul.'"

"Wow...I didn't even see that."

"That's the one flaw you have Kirei...you always seem to look past the smallest things! Being a good shinobi means you must notice everything around you! Missing some small factor like that in a fight could cost you your life!"

"OK, Mom. I'll do my best do be more aware!"

"I'll do my best to be more aware...pff..I wasn't aware enough when I killed them."

She shook her head. "No! I can't think about that now! I gotta get going." She took one last look at the guitar, closed her eyes, and left her house.

As she started getting closer to the meeting place she heard voices, and lots of them. She took a look around and saw a lot of ANBU, a few Jounin and quite a good amount of Genin, like herself. She took her place amongst the rest and listened to Hokage-sama's speech. "Today we start for Hidden Sand Village in the Wind Country. It will be a journey of about three days, so don't wear yourselves out walking.".

As soon as he heard that Kirei quickly placed her hand over her left arm, which is where she wore her Sand headband. "We're going to Sand...? She got shivers up and down her spine. This was it...she was going back to the place she used to call home...the place where she killed her parents.

[sufuma]

This would be a great day, a day to rememeber, a day where when Yukios dad would enter his sons room, he would actually be standing, awake and ready.

Once Yukio was able to get beyond his stunned parents and out the door, he began to walk towards the meeting place. As he walked, his thoughts went to his grandfather. Yukio paused and pulled a scroll out of his bag.

"Don't worry grandfather, I'll make you proud, I'll make sure to increase my skills"

Placing the scroll back in his bag, Yukio began to run towards the gathering. He arrived just in time for the thunderous clap and listened well to the Hokage's speech.

"Sand," Yukio thought, "Wonder if I'd be able to find any good minerals"

[JyouNoHaku]

Out of the corner of her eye Kirei saw her fellow team mate, Yukio.

"Oi! Yukio!" she yelled, "Over here, it's me, Kirei!"

She waved her arms frantically above her head, trying to get attention but at the moment all she seemed to be getting was strange stares from the shinobi around her.

[Tensei Kaori]

Kaori lay back in the wagon, not really wanting to start the discussion she knew they had to have. Akina sat opposite her, gazing serenely at the passing scenery and humming softly to herself. Kaori could hear people chattering away, enjoying - she hoped that was what they were doing - the most pleasant part of the journey. The sun was warm, the breeze was blowing, and the road would still be smooth for the rest of today.

They were off, wherever their path might lead them.