Christmas Time in Konoha

[Hatake Hiroshi]

It was mid-afternoon, and the Yanagawa family was gathered together in the comfort of their living room, working to unpack the many, many Christmas decorations. The family worked on and on, Christmas music playing low in the background.

Aijou and Kohana worked on putting the ornaments on the tree while their father worked diligently by the fire place, putting up the Christmas garlands for his wife, and their mother sat on the sofa, going through boxes of decorations, setting what she wanted out off to the side so it wouldn't get put back in the attic with the packing boxes.

After finishing with the tree, Kohana and Aijou grabbed their thick winter coats from the hall closet. Aijou would be going out ot help his father string the Christmas lights on the house, and Kohana would run to the store to pic up the ingredients for her favorite Christmas cookies. Their mother continued to work inside to make her house has perfectly Christmassy as she wanted.

It was cold out and Kohana walked briskly against the frigid breeze, through the streets of Konoha to the store. She looked up at the sky clear blue sky for a moment and closed her eyes. It hadn't snowed yet, and she hoped that this year it would, so that she would have the white Christmas she'd always wanted.

Finally, she arrived at the shops. Lots of people were out today, buying things for the holiday, whether it be presents or food or clothing... She wondered if she'd see anyone she knew...

[Dakk]

Dakk was standing outside of the sake house, arguing with the bouncer. People were beginning to gather, many laughing at Dakk's furious argument.

"Comon! It's Christmas! Look! See the snow? It's Christmas time, and you won't even allow me to celebrate. I don't understand you, man."

The bouncer was no longer amused. "Go away, kid! You can't drink! You're obviously many years underage. Wait until you're older."

Dakk glared at him. "You wanna duel for it? I'll fight you for the glory of entering 'The Painted Geisha'."

The bouncer looked momentarily disoriented. "You want to fight me for the... wha... Kid, this place is called 'The Watered Bonsai', not 'The Painted Geisha'. Run along home, little boy pervert. I don't want to, but I'll report you to the Academy, and they will find a suitable punishment for you."

Dakk kicked snow at the man, and turned to leave, bumping right into Kohana. "Oh, excuse me." He said. "I apologize. If you are angered, challenge that door-keeper from hell." Dakk pointed at the bouncer. "He disoriented me."

[Hatake Hiroshi]

Kohana was walking past one of the local bars when a boy, obviously mad at something, bumped into her, nearly knocking her off her feet.

Oh, excuse me. he said. I apologize. If you are angered, challenge that door-keeper from hell. He pointed at the large bouncer standing guard outside. He disoriented me.

Kohana wrinkled her nose, and raised an eyebrow, wrapping her coat tightly around herself. "Umm..You're excused," she replied, rather annoyed. "What's a kid like you doing trying to get into a bar, anyway? You're underage."



It's not snowing, by the way... It's not supposed to snow for a while...

[Tensei Kaori]

Kaori strolled conentedly through the streets of Konoha, waiting for the snow to fall. Combined with her own jutsu, her dark-colored winter garb did a fine job of keeping her nice and warm. The kanji for 'Hokage' was emblazoned in a stunning red on the back of her black jacket, the only bright color aside from the white trimmings on her top, jacket, and belt. Akina had practically shooed her out of the preparations for the beginnings of one of Konoha's several Christmas parties, assuring her that she had everything under control and that Kaori should be out enjoying the nice weather. That woman certainly gave her a headache sometimes, though Akina's help was worth every second of trouble she gave Kaori. But honestly, it was as if she had something she was trying to hide....

Kaori was startled out of her reverie when she heard the voice of one of Konoha's more experienced Genin.

What's a kid like you doing trying to get into a bar, anyway? You're underage.

"My thoughts exactly," she told them in her musical voice, seeming to appear quite suddenly near the door of the bar. "There isn't much down here for kids your age," she said. "Both of you. Besides," she continued with a wave of her hand, "bars are overrated. You don't need to be going to places like this." The bouncer didn't seem to be too happy about the Hokage saying such things about his place of employment, but what did he expect from a Hokage who rarely even drank on special occasions?

[Hatake Hiroshi]

Kohana was startled when she was suddenly anwered by a familiar voice. My thoughts exactly...

It was the Hokage. There isn't much down here for kids your age...Both of you. Besides, bars are overrated. You don't need to be going to places like this.

Kohana smiled. "Good afternoon Hokage-sama! I was just on my way to the store to pick up some things for my mother." She pointed past the Hokage towards the small store on the next corner. "I come this way all the time."

[Dakk]

Dakk looked back and forth between the two women, an expression of horror on his face.

"Underage!?! OVERRATED?!?"

He stamped around, realizing that the snow he'd kicked at the bouncer earlier was actually stuffing from a ripped pillow. No wonder the bouncer hadn't even said anything.

Kohana greeted the Hokage warmly, and explained her reason for being near the bar.
"I was just on my way to the store to pick up some things for my mother."

[shadow=blue,left,300]"Yeah, right."[/shadow] Dakk thought. [shadow=blue,left,300]"She's just trying to cover the fact that she was waiting for me to get into the bar, so she could follow. I have to figure out a way to follow her... perhaps she'll be able to get into the bar some way that I didn't think of..."[/shadow]
Dakk nodded to Kohana, smiling. "I'd be happy to walk you to the store, if you'd like. You never know what kind of Christmas Criminals there are, lurking in the alleyways!" He made a grand, sweeping gesture with his left arm, wrapping his right around her shoulders, putting his head next to hers, in a dramatic fashion. Stepping back, to avoid any possible attacks, he waited to see what her response to this odd request would be...

(OOC: If any of this is annoying, just let me know. I dunno how you guys will respond to the shadow-text, but I find it to be a good way to convey that he's having thoughts, not actually speaking. Also, he apologizes for touching your character without your permission...)

[Hatake Hiroshi]

The boy seemed rather horrified at the Hokage's comment about how bars are overrated, and began stamping and shuffling his feet around on the cold ground. Smiling, he looked at Kohana, then to her surprise, he wrapped an arm around her and brought his head close to hers.

I'd be happy to walk you to the store, if you'd like. You never know what kind of Christmas Criminals there are, lurking in the alleyways! he said, sweeping his left arm outward, still holding her in close with his right.

"Umm... " Kohana began, "If you insist on escorting me, that's fine... I think I'd enjoy the company...Though, I'm sure I can handle just about anyone that comes at me, can't I Hokage-sama?"

She waited a moment, looking at the Hokage, and smiling.

"The name's Kohana, by the way... Yanagawa Kohana!" she said enthusiastically, pulling out of his hold and turning to hold her hand out for a firm handshake. "And you are?"

[Tensei Kaori]

Kaori chuckled. "Yes, you can, Kohana-kun." When Kohana had spoken to their companion, Kaori stepped in. "Well, you two, I think I'll be going now. Stay safe, and Merry Christmas!"

She turned to go, but in the split second when their eyes met, she sent a facial message to the Bouncer at the door.

Keep an eye out for anyone trying to sneak in.

His eyes said he understood perfectly, and with that, she was off down the street, her jacket blowing gracefully behind her.

[Dakk]

"If you insist on escorting me, that's fine... I think I'd enjoy the company..." Kohona turned to the Hokage. "Though, I'm sure I can handle just about anyone that comes at me, can't I Hokage-sama?"

"The name's Kohana, by the way... Yanagawa Kohana!" She slipped out of Dakk's grasp and extended a hand. "And you are?"

[shadow=blue,left,300]"She's quick..." [/shadow]Dakk noted. Grinning from ear to ear, he put one hand behind his head, and scruffed at his hair a little. "I'm Dakk! Dakk Lymasta. World famous traveller! A pleasure to meet you... If you'd like, I can escort you now!"

Casting a sidelong look at the bouncer, Dakk muttered something about wishing he knew Genjutsu.

[shadow=blue,left,300]"I'll come back later."[/shadow] He thought. [shadow=blue,left,300]"There's sure to be some way in... looks like the building is multiple stories. Two or three... I can't see from here. If she really, truly, is headed to the store, then I'll have to wait until later... But I'm going to get in there." [/shadow]

Dakk rummaged around in his backpack, and pulled out a Santa hat. He plopped it on his head, grinned, and started jogging in place, blowing his cheeks in and out. "Ready to go?" he asked, prepared to sprint, if she wanted to footrace.

[Hatake Hiroshi]

I'm Dakk! Dakk Lymasta. World famous traveller! A pleasure to meet you... If you'd like, I can escort you now! he replied to Kohana, grinning. He then began to rummage through his backpack, eventually pulling out a Santa hat and putting it on. After doing so, he began to run in place, as if he were ready to race. Ready to go? he asked.

Kohana shrugged. "Well, so much for a nice walk..." Smirking, she unzipped her heavy black coat, and dug the ball of her right foot into the cold ground, and readied herself to take off. "No, no, the question is...Are you ready?" she asked her challenger, rubbing her gloved hands together. "Bring it!"

[Dakk]

With the sound of "Bring it!" still being echoed across the street, Dakk took off, one hand on his head to hang onto his Santa Hat.

[Hatake Hiroshi]

Before Kohana could even count to three, Dakk had taken off. It took her a second to react, but then she followed after him, sprinting as fast as her legs would carry her, her heavy black coat waving behind her, her thick white bangs whipping in her eyes.

To her surprise, she passed him, and he faded into the distance. Slowing to a steady jog, she turned to wait for him to catch up before dashing off again.

The store was in clear view now, and approaching fast. She was once again pulling ahead of Dakk, and thought it useless to waste time stopping again. She was in the homestretch now. She was going to win anway, so...what the heck!

Denkousekka no jutsu!

In a quick, bright flash, she disappeared, then reappeared on the small, and rather cold, wooden bench outside the shop, and waited patiently for her fellow racer to reach the finish line.

[Dakk]

Dakk was clearly winning. No problem. After a moment, he looked up, though, and pulled the santa hat away from his eyes. Ahead, he could see the quickly fading into the distance shape of Kohana. With a shout of

"Denkousekka no jutsu!"

she finished disappearing. A few minutes later, Dakk came puffing up to the storefront, where Kohana sat on a bench.

He smiled wistfully. "You cheated, Milady." He sat down next to her, and mused to himself...

[glow=blue,2,300]"I wonder if she's ticklish... that'd show her to cheat."[/glow]
He grinned wickedly.

[Hatake Hiroshi]

Kohana smirked as Dakk arrived in front of the store, huffing and puffing, and plopped down beside her on the bench.

You cheated, Milady. he said, an evil grin spreading across his face.

"Cheated? Excuse me, but if I remember correctly, you were the one way too far behind to catch up, so I thought what the heck? And poof!" Kohana said with a somewhat sarcastic grin, then reached into her coat pocket and fumbled around for her shopping list, while giving a quick glance at Dakk.

He was plotting something. She could tell. The evil grin, the evil look in his eyes...She had to stay alert.

[Dakk]

Dakk waited until she was going to get up, to go in...