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Post by Akimichi Cho on Oct 5, 2006 16:49:02 GMT -5
“Okay and the bonds between fats or lipids are known as Esther bonds. They are formed by what reaction, Cho?”
The auburn-haired girl tried not to look too glum at the prospect of being singled out again by her mum who was pointedly looking at her. She hated that word… fat. The longer the chain got, the more denser the material became- from oils, to waxes to lard. She felt like a big fat piece of lard… but at least that could be moulded. She wished she was made from soft clay, so that she could rip out the pieces that she didn’t want and shape herself like that painfully thin, Yamanaka boy. He was so, so thin. And she was so, so fat.
“Dehydration synthesis,” she answered quietly, trying not to betray her mum and not show any annoyance. If she had answered wrongly, then she’d have to stay longer and be lectured. Her mother was well-meaning and very kind… but Cho didn’t want to know about the wonderful properties of lipids as energy stores or as thermal insulators. “May I be excused now, OkaaSan?” She inquired softly, her head lowering a notch for respect.
Her mum looked put off, but Cho knew about these, so she let her leave. Cho was growing more distant every day she grew. “Remember to take the snack box I made, you left it last time.”
Cho nodded, biting the inside of her cheek. She had hoped her mum would forget, but an Akimichi never forgot food. She shut her eyes, slouching out of the study room and walking outside, putting a lunch-box in her bag.
The fat girl was walking to the park. Normal genin would run and jump through trees and goodness knows what, but Cho walked. It wasn’t that she was slow (well, she was), but Cho preferred walking. She preferred to see other people and watch what they did as they thought they weren’t being watched. She liked them when they smiled and laughed and made silly jokes. She didn’t like it when they shouted or became angry, it upset her a lot.
Pretty soon, her slow, turtle-like pace had brought her to the Yondaime Park. She didn’t frequent this place, mainly because there were too many children. Children who weren’t her friends and didn’t want to play with her, but today, she couldn’t help but brave the streets and see who else was outside. After all, some of these ‘children’ could very well be the people who would end up on her team.
She sat under the shade of a tree, never daring to sit on tree branches at day time. She was about to take out her afternoon snack, and it was in her hands, a pavement slab sized sandwich, until she noticed two butterfly. Odd, they weren’t meant to be here, well… not in this season.
Cho watched with amazed brown eyes, a private moment between a butterfly as he tried to court his (she’d decided it was a he) fanciful taste. It was only a few minutes later, when jam slid down on her clothes that she realised that she’d been staring at the space that the lady butterfly had rejected from the other butterfly.
Cho suddenly didn’t feel very hungry.
“How… incredibly sad for you,” she murmured sympathetically, turning her boulder of a face to the little butterfly that was now resting on her shoulder. She gently placed her sandwich back in her bag and brought out some berries.
“Don’t worry, you don’t lack anything...” she smiled gently, shuffling her hakama trousers’ ruffles to let the butterfly eat away his sorrows. That’s what she did sometimes, but Cho had never really considered being rejected like that. Her eyebrows drooped in sadness. She could definitely empathise with the butterfly now.
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Post by Hyuuga Taiyoukousen on Oct 7, 2006 5:36:38 GMT -5
Hanabi was at the academy and Taiyou was out another day, still waiting for the notification of his genin team he was supposed to be placed on upon graduation. It was just another boring day throughout Konoha, nothing new, nothing exciting. Of course he was not one to let that stop him from enjoying himself, thus how he ended up at the park. The young Hyuuga hoped to come across some sort of activity here. Whether it be playing with other genin of his age or perhaps even training with another, he was up for any kind of human interaction at this point.
As he approached the entrance of the park he didn't see much commotion like there usually was on a nice day like this. Kou figured it was just his imagination as the park was usually filled with kids and the like playing all throughout it, but unfortunately for his hopes of finding someone entertaining, he could not. Taiyou, being the impatient kid he had always been even activated his Byakugan upon entering the park.
"Ah!" He yelled in surprise to see many people throughout the park, well many more than he had thought. "I really need to start waking up earlier." The Hyuuga boy said while rubbing his eyes and deactivating his Byakugan. "Now lets see who's all here." Taiyou said to himself under his breath while walking through the park observing the fellow visitors.
Oh! That looks like the boy I met yesterday. Kou thought to himself while spotting a somewhat plump kid underneath a tree. He quickly ran towards the round figure in the distance without even taking a second glance. The next thing he knew, he was standing upon the person.
"Whoa! You ARE NOT the boy I thought you were." The very mistaken Hyuuga boy said in complete shock. "You aren't a boy, right?" Taiyou continued on without even realizing the girl was in his class at the academy.
He continued staring at the rather large person that sat before him with confusion on his face as he reached up to rub his eyes once more trying to wake up even more. "Oh my. You aren't a boy. Sorry about that." He said while laughing nervously. "Hey! You're that Akimichi girl from the old class at the academy, right?" Taiyou continued speaking almost as if he would never shut up. "How've you been?" He said smiling, trying to pretend there was never a mistake on who she was.
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Post by Akimichi Cho on Oct 7, 2006 12:04:36 GMT -5
To say that Cho had been surprised when she saw someone standing on her and making her little butterfly friend disappear into the distance would have been to say it very politely.
"Whoa! You ARE NOT the boy I thought you were."
She didn’t know whether to look affronted that the boy, who looked very much like a girl himself, was questioning her gender- or shocked that he was actually talking to her. She felt her mouth go dry at his words, but Cho maintained an air of quiet disposition. "You aren't a boy, right?" She shook her head.
Cho couldn’t help but smile at his obliviousness. She should have been annoyed at his ignorance, because she had known him the moment he had shocked her. Hyuuga Taiyoukousen, otherwise, labelled the class clown. Well… sort of. He was always making jokes and making everyone laugh in her class- on occasion, even her Sensei had to duck to hide his smile, but he did it on purpose.
But this time, he was not making her smile, but making her want to hide within herself or become the tree she was leaning against. “Stop it… stop looking…” she thought desperately, her eyes flitting every which way so she could fool herself into thinking his white eyes weren’t scanning her. What was he doing? Why was he still looking… why didn’t he go away? She sucked in her stomach as much as she could, trying not to blush at the embarrassment of the situation.
"Oh my. You aren't a boy. Sorry about that." She had thought that had been cleared up, and didn’t really think much of it. “It…is okay, Hyuuga Taiyoukousen-San” she finally mumbled, making sure to pronounce his name properly and add the proper suffix to his name. His laughter was not confident now, it was nervous. Why was it nervous?
"Hey! You're that Akimichi girl from the old class at the academy, right? How've you been?" He said smiling, trying to pretend there was never a mistake on who she was.
She didn’t look like she was very sure on how she had been; instead, she was looking desperately for a reprieve. She didn’t want him to see her, to talk to her—not like she was now anyway. She knew that it was obvious she was an Akimichi before someone even looked at the clan markings on her cheeks (but since her cheeks were almost the same shade as the markings, maybe it didn’t matter). What was she supposed to say?
“I’m… okay?” her voice became uncharacteristically higher than normally, making it seem like she was actually wondering if she was. This wasn’t far from the truth, to be honest. She really didn’t know what her feelings were, maybe she was already becoming a depressed pre-teen… but feeding that butterfly had made her happy. She lowered her head, so that her hair swept down her shoulders and covered most of her face. His dark hair with bluish tints made a strange, pretty contrast against the paper white of his skin, and once again, she wished he would just go away. Let her be, but in her heart of hearts, she was actually thrilled he was talking to her for so long. Even if it was by accident.
“And how are you, Hyuuga Taiyoukousen-San?” she inquired politely, genuinely interested in how the Hyuuga was doing since he had received his hitae-ate.
She tried hard not to fiddle with the ends of her tunic’s sleeves. Her discomfort by his proximity was evident in her body language, but not once did she say anything to him, or even look at his eyes again. She was a little afraid of what she’d find, trying to fool her foolish heart into thinking he’d ever think of her as anything other than ‘that Akimichi girl’. He’d never find her funny or cool or strong, he was already all of those things… why would he want to continue talking to her? She was just a sad girl who was actually finding it harder to control her urge to eat once more… control those Akimichi appetites.
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Post by Hyuuga Taiyoukousen on Oct 7, 2006 17:17:28 GMT -5
"It...is okay, Hyuuga Taiyoukousen-San"
Ugh, so proper. Thank goodness I didn't completely upset her. Taiyou thought to himself before finishing his thoughts out loud. "The last thing I need is yet another person upset with me, I've got enough of that back at the compound." The Hyuuga boy said while yawning, not even realizing he was talking to himself aloud.
"I'm... okay?" He nodded slightly while saying "Good, good." and listening more to the girl. Wait a second, was that a question she just asked? Oh man, now I'm more confused than ever. He ran his fingers across his forehead removing the hair from his eyes for once, thinking that could have been the reason for his case of mistaken identity. "Geez you're an idiot Taiyou." The Hyuuga said lowly to himself yet again not realizing that he continued to think aloud.
And how are you, Hyuuga Taiyoukousen-San?"
"Me? Oh I'm the same as always, still not sure if that's a good thing or not though. Oh well, I'm happy at least." He said laughing some more. Kou took a few steps back from the girl, all the while rubbing his chin a bit trying to remember her blasted first name. "You're Chu, no, Chouji right?" The highly mistaken Hyuuga boy said with confidence and a huge smile on his face believing that he actually remembered a name for once. "Oh yeah, you can call me Taiyou, no need for the formalities here. No wait, use Kou, it's what my friends call me after all." He said continuing smiling trying to be polite, even though without knowing he had already ruined her name.
Taiyou scanned the park after a while to see if there was anyone else there he might know and there were a few minor people, but he didn't care much, he had already committed himself to talking to the girl that sat before him. Once he had his mind set on something, it was hard to change that. Before turning his head back to look at the girl he said, "So why aren't you out there playing or talking to other genin? I mean, I'm basically always at the compound so getting out isn't something I get to do much, with most Hyuuga being a bit uptight and all." He joked to himself, laughing once again. "But I never thought it was the same over at the Akimichi household."
"OH! Have you been put onto a team yet? I've been wondering if it was ever going to happen." The white-eyed boy continued on with brief moment of time in which he actually took a breath in. "Man, I hope it happens soon. Having patience has never been one of my strong points, then again, I'm sure most or you would have at least noticed that already." The Hyuuga said again ending with more laughter, somewhat joking about himself.
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Post by Akimichi Cho on Oct 8, 2006 0:54:23 GMT -5
"The last thing I need is yet another person upset with me, I've got enough of that back at the compound."
If anything, Cho simply tried to look more like she was not paying attention. In fact, his words had struck a chord within her. It was with bitterness that she recalled how her own Clan was disappointed and upset with her as well, the thought alone made her want to bunch up and cry. “Why would anyone be upset with you? You were and are perfect. You’re born into a Hyuuga with white eyes, but me, I had to be moulded into an Akimichi.” She traversed back into her gloomy thoughts, but she spoke none of this with the boy from her class. They were just that, class mates, and nothing else.
Although he was popular, he had yet to ever notice her. Quite a feat considering how much bigger she was, but it was Cho’s own choice to try and blend into the background. She never took part in lessons or ever contributed to anything, she promised that she would when she was thinner- a strange concept, but to her disproportional state, where everyone looked so much better than her, it seemed to make more sense than wondering why she couldn’t go two hours without eating something.
"Me? Oh I'm the same as always, still not sure if that's a good thing or not though. Oh well, I'm happy at least."
Cho was trying hard to hide the smile that was threatening to spill over her lips. He really was incredibly silly at times- did he do this on purpose? She managed a little curve of the lips, but that was only because her hair obscured most of her face, so he probably wouldn’t see anything, or so she hoped, what with talking to a Hyuuga and all.
“I’m… glad.” This one was said in her normal pitch, so that there was no question about her being glad on his health. She let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding as he stepped back, glad that he was out of her zone of… comfort?
"You're Chu, no, Chouji right?"
She bit the insides of her cheeks, wondering if she should correct him or not. Well, he was almost right, and it wasn’t like he probably cared, so she almost-nodded to his question. She didn’t think she had the spine to correct his misnomer.
"Oh yeah, you can call me Taiyou, no need for the formalities here. No wait, use Kou, it's what my friends call me after all." She felt a familiar wash of hotness prick the corners of her eyes, almost looking silly as she perked up, strands of russet sliding back to rest against the sides of her face. Did he just? It was a quiet and rather sad moment later she realised he was only being polite. Only being ‘nice’ because of the forehead protector that labelled them as ninja from the same place. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but smiling giddily at thought of being even considered friend to him. When he started looking about, fidgeting or perhaps being bored in her presence she felt a desperation gnaw within her to keep him here. This was the longest conversation and perhaps the warmest she’d had in years with anyone outside of her clan, and she wanted to make it stay that way. But how? What could she have that could possibly hold his interest?
When he laughed and joked once again, talking to her though, it relieved her. He was still talking to her… not walking away and she wanted to say something… anything. "But I never thought it was the same over at the Akimichi household." Cho wanted to say it wasn’t the same… nobody was uptight there- everyone was so warm and friendly and the smell of exotic and familiar dishes always seemed to permeate the air… but how to put into words. How to make it seem like she was not a hypocrite and not horrible? But she never had to really, as he started speaking again, a train of words that amused and made her wonder as well.
"Man, I hope it happens soon. Having patience has never been one of my strong points, then again, I'm sure most or you would have at least noticed that already." She didn’t know how to agree without seeming rude, so she simply settled for another ambiguous smile, which he could interpret any way he liked. It was a good thing he had started talking. Cho was better at listening anyway.
But then again, she should reply so he wouldn’t presume that she was ignoring him, some people could be like that when she didn’t reply. She didn’t want Kou to be like that with her, to think she was stupid or horrible. “Me too, Hyuug- Kou-San,” she quickly amended.
Maybe, maybe she might correct his mistake after all… he didn’t look like he would get upset. “And it is Cho… you were almost right,” she added quickly, so that he wouldn’t feel like she was being upset or uptight. After all, he had said so himself, most of his household was like that with him.
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Post by Hyuuga Taiyoukousen on Oct 8, 2006 15:03:00 GMT -5
“I’m… glad.”
"Yeah, me too. Now I just need to convince others of that, certain uptight others." Taiyou said jokingly once more, although he was actually serious, but seeing as he only really knew how to express himself through laughter and jokes this would have to do. "Oh yeah, I'm glad that you're okay as well." He said just now realizing that she did actually tell him how she was.
“Me too, Hyuug- Kou-San,”
The Hyuuga boy laughed slightly upon hearing the correction in his name. "You don't have to worry about the name if you wish. Call me whatever you like, it all works for me." He said with a smile, trying not to make something as trivial as his somewhat annoying name be cause for a problem. "Hey, you never know we might even end up on a team together. At least then I would recognize a more recent friendly face. Plus, an Akimichi and a Hyuuga, plus some random other would be a great team." Kou said with a huge grin on his face sort of daydreaming about being on a really REALLY great team, or at least in his mind it was great.
In Taiyou's mind the conversation seemed to be going really well aside from the beginning, and then it happened. “And it is Cho… you were almost right,” Quickly his right hand came up smacking himself on the forehead, in a small punishing manner for once again being HIGHLY forgetful. "Oh.. I'm really REALLY sorry about that Cho. I'm not the best with names, I hope I didn't offend you. I have enough problems remembering all the various names I have been called. Still, that's no excuse. I apologize." He said hoping he didn't upset the girl as it was FAR from his intentions. "Thank you for the correction though. I'm glad I didn't go on calling you by some false name. That could have turned out bad." Kou said somewhat joking at the end, but still serious.
"Do you mind if I take a seat here? Seems like it be more comfortable to sit and talk than to stand." The Hyuuga asked politely, hoping for a yes as he started to get tired, well that's not true, he was just lazy. "I'm still curious, why is such a sweet girl like yourself not out there with the others? I mean, personally I would try and be out there getting to know anyone and everyone. Then again, I just love entertaining others, love seeing people smiling and especially laughing." Taiyou said completely oblivious as to why Cho would be shy around anyone. He wasn't the best at seeing a good amount of obvious answers seeing as most things were based on his own personal actions or emotions in situations. You'd think with those white Hyuuga eyes that could see just about anything he'd be able to understand what it's like looking through the eyes of another, but he has yet to even approach the understanding of such a thing.
"Sorry if I talk to much, or at least ask too many questions. I get very curious about people that I don't know much about. Apparently I don't shut up quite enough, or so my father says." Kou said while laughing some more, hoping to get a laugh out of the girl herself. "Thanks for putting up with me so far actually. Even if I've been just about talking none stop, you're quite entertaining." He said with his soft white eyes glimmering a bit in the sun and the smile that rarely seems to leave his face as it is.
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Post by Akimichi Cho on Oct 8, 2006 15:46:58 GMT -5
"Yeah, me too. Now I just need to convince others of that, certain uptight others. Oh yeah, I'm glad that you're okay as well."
She looked up once again, glancing at his entrancing face and wondering if she was doing what that thing was- ‘wishful thinking’, but right now, the laughter on his face was genuine and so real, that she didn’t care if he had lied or not.
"Hey, you never know we might even end up on a team together. At least then I would recognize a more recent friendly face. Plus, an Akimichi and a Hyuuga, plus some random other would be a great team." She couldn’t hide the surprise in her usually dull and defeated expression, as if she’d given up before she’d even began—and here he was, telling her that he thought her, an Akimichi, could possibly make a great team. Now… now Cho was torn between wishing and wishing to be on his team, and not be on his. “I should only be on his team… he should only see me when I’m thinner… thinner and nicer… like Uchiha Saya-San…”
She imagined him and her, not just as a team, but as a partnership- a lethal combination of power and speed and wit and leaving others dumbfounded. And then she imagined her tripping and falling, or shaking and trembling as he did all the work while she was dead, dead weight around him- a waste of space on the team and his white eyes became cold. What she imagined, was often a lot more scarier than what a person could say and feel, but still, she had to analyse every scenario.
Cho didn’t think she’d be a brilliant team with him. She’d not be a brilliant partnership with anyone really, and everyone would still point and say to her, like so many years ago- “you’re too slow and stupid and fat. We are being a genin team, but you can go be a team by yourself!” Her skin became sallow and she didn’t want that… never ever ever!
Her frightened eyes failed to catch the humour of him calling her by her false name, but she could do nothing and nod when he asked to sit. Her every pore was on fire and she scooted a little to the right to offer him more space. She made more space than usual, but that was natural considering she didn’t want him to think she took up too much space. Wastefully.
"I'm still curious, why is such a sweet girl like yourself not out there with the others? I mean, personally I would try and be out there getting to know anyone and everyone. Then again, I just love entertaining others, love seeing people smiling and especially laughing."
She swallowed hard, her head lowered and her face was obscured by her reddish brown sheets of hair, not wanting to do or say anything that’d embarrass her further. “You’re a… very kind ninja… Kou-San.” At least, his kindness was not a crutch, but it offered him a leverage into popularity and friendliness, inspiring confidence in his frame. She didn’t answer and satisfy his curiosity, not wanting him to worry or even really care for her so much. She didn’t want to dampen the mood by pinpointing and telling him why and how she’d actually ruin their games. If she played… nobody else would out there, laughing and being entertained or even smiling. They’ll be scowling and frowning at her for ruining their games and getting in the way. It was better this way, really, it was. However, she could no more control the blush at his pseudo compliment. She was not sweet… she was almost wishing that in some alternate reality, he’d be the one tripping over his words and she’d be the one, eating confidently with a friend by her side. She regretted that thought as she received his kindness, looking properly ashamed.
"Sorry if I talk to much, or at least ask too many questions. I get very curious about people that I don't know much about. Apparently I don't shut up quite enough, or so my father says. Thanks for putting up with me so far actually. Even if I've been just about talking none stop, you're quite entertaining."
If anything, her cheeks became even redder at his finalising comment. She was… what had she done but sit idly and listen to him natter on? Not once had she contributed to the conversation, simply offering slight inputs there, and even those were insignificant. How… how could he think she was worth the effort of maintaining a conversation with.
“Putting up? No…” she looked up briefly, but her head shot back down at the utter mildness in his eyes, eyes that were not Akimichi eyes that were looking at her like the way she’d often longed for. “I… I’m glad you…” she took a pause, not knowing how this would sound, but went ahead anyway. “You, Kou-San… should be thanked for putting up with me…”
“I’m not fun to talk with. I like listening to you, Kou-San… but maybe, you might get bored if you don’t get a reply and think I’m not listening…” she thought, wanting to convey this to him, but she didn’t want him to be awkward. He was sitting here, and secretly, she hoped he would be with her for a while.
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Post by Hyuuga Taiyoukousen on Oct 8, 2006 16:38:26 GMT -5
Kou watched the Akimichi girl nod slightly before taking a seat. He kind of laughed in his mind when he saw her make room for him. "No need to scoot over, there's PLENTY of room. We could get a good 10 more people to fit here." He said starting to realize that Cho must be a little upset with her weight. "Now perhaps if there was an Aburame here, then you might want to scoot over, with all the bugs and whatnot." The Hyuuga said jokingly while shaking a bit. "Creepy. Unless you're afraid I'm going to bite or something, trust me, I'm not. That would put us in an awkward predicament, one I'm sure I could joke my way out of." Kou continued to laugh a bit at his idiotic-esque ways of thinking.
“You’re a… very kind ninja… Kou-San.”
"Thanks!! That means a lot actually. Some of my Hyuuga clansmen just say I'm weird or something. I guess Hyuuga men are just supposed to be quiet and uptight all the time." Taiyou said while laughing and rubbing the back of this head. After placing his hand back down to his side he said, "So, what do you do for fun Akimichi Cho?"
“Putting up? No…” she looked up briefly, but her head shot back down at the utter mildness in his eyes, eyes that were not Akimichi eyes that were looking at her like the way she’d often longed for. “I… I’m glad you…” she took a pause, not knowing how this would sound, but went ahead anyway. “You, Kou-San… should be thanked for putting up with me…”
"Putting up with you? Ha ha!" Kou laughed estatically. "You need to start hanging around more people of the Hyuuga clan. They're always so dull and boring. It's always the same. I still don't know where I got my personality from, but I'm lucky it's not like my father's or other members of my clan. I believe talking to a wall is more exciting actually." Taiyou continued joking about his clan and family, of course he didn't mean anything bad by this, it was only that he was still a kid and had a pretty shot attention span. "I'll have to show you what I mean one day. Then you'll understand what I mean." The boy continued smiling with his soft eyes.
"OH! Perhaps you've met or heard of my older cousin Hyuuga Kachi? He was the number one student from last year's class, and unfortunately.. a genius." Kou said a little disgruntled with the last bit. "Even though he's a great ninja, he's still about as boring as they come. Nice, but still insanely boring. If only there was a sense of humor jutsu, if there is, people are definitely keeping that a secret from Kachi." The young Hyuuga boy continued on joking about his cousin laughing here and there.
"Oh well. I guess everyone can't be perfect like me. Well, personality-wise." Taiyou said with a huge smile on his face joking once again. "Nah, I'm kidding. Seriously though, I think we'd be perfect on a team together. I mean with my speed and your strength, we'd be almost unbeatable. If there was someone too strong for me, then BAM! You can take 'em, and vice-versa." Kou said with a huge grin on his face looking towards the clouds imagining what a great partnership that would be. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I almost forgot, there'd be a third genin. Hmm. Oh well, as long as they've got a good personality I'll be good to go." The Hyuuga said while placing both hands behind his head and laying a bit more on the ground to get more comfortable.
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Post by Akimichi Cho on Oct 9, 2006 15:28:19 GMT -5
"No need to scoot over, there's PLENTY of room. We could get a good 10 more people to fit here."
She simply bowed her head even lower. He might have a wide peripheral vision with those unique characteristics, but to her, his white eyes probably hadn’t taken in her as a whole. Cho didn’t know whether this was a good or bad thing. She continued to smile and hear him out, his way of talking was life-giving, uplifting and made her feel just a little bit less on edge, but she couldn’t ever drop the thin fabric of her barriers—if she did that, then she’d end up crying all over again. She hated crying, her parents got worried, her eyes became puffy so she had to squint and if anything, they made her feel even worse than when she began. It was better to be like the boulder you look like and absorb all the damage.
"So, what do you do for fun Akimichi Cho?"
She let the question slide. Because the thing was, she really didn’t know. Cho never really had fun. Sure she liked certain things, like eating and stuff… but fun? She liked cooking, she liked it when other people smiled and laughed, but was that really fun? She liked so much stuff, but the thing was, she was hardly allowed to participate in any of that. She couldn’t play games, laugh and joke like Taiyou could… all she could really do was cook and listen to the people around her and how they had fun. If he persisted on asking her, she might just say something silly, like ‘listening’. It wasn’t fun, but she liked it, and nobody, not even Cho, could fathom why.
"Putting up with you? Ha ha!" Kou laughed estatically. "You need to start hanging around more people of the Hyuuga clan. They're always so dull and boring. It's always the same. For a scary, terrifying moment, she thought he was laughing at her! But then, it sunk in that she had made him smile and laugh. HER! Her own lips tugged into a smile as she listened to him accuse Hyuugas of being boring. Her own father had sometimes termed them as very ‘traditional’ and he was always full of praise for them. Everyone was full of a kind word for a Hyuuga. They were brilliant, beautiful, deadly, precise- perfect. But here was a Hyuuga, laughing and joking with her and outlining their faults. It made her relieved that even a Hyuuga, the epitome of Shinobi perfection weren’t flawless.
"Nah, I'm kidding. Seriously though, I think we'd be perfect on a team together. I mean with my speed and your strength, we'd be almost unbeatable. If there was someone too strong for me, then BAM! You can take 'em, and vice-versa."
Once again the kunoichi was dumbfounded by how he could ever find her a good asset to ‘the team’, as if it was already decided- and the way he made it sound, Cho almost started believing it. Believing that she could be as powerful when he couldn’t do something. To her, the thought alone was surreal. How could a Hyuuga not do something? Cho bit her lip, wondering even more so, how she could do anything. She wasn’t even good for eating! She observed him through strands of hair as he lay down on the ground, his frame was lean and she couldn’t understand the concept of him wanting to do something for her. She didn’t dare ask him- what if she offended him? What if he was just joking? He could do that… and her stupid, naive self would just not realise the jest until everyone laughed at her.
"I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I almost forgot, there'd be a third genin. Hmm. Oh well, as long as they've got a good personality I'll be good to go."
“What…” she stopped herself, her lips parted as she registered that she had actually started speaking. If she’d started… she might as well finish it. “What is a good personality, Kou-San?”
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Post by Hyuuga Taiyoukousen on Oct 9, 2006 17:31:27 GMT -5
“What is a good personality, Kou-San?” Kou had already stopped and turned his head towards her upon hearing the first stuttered word. "Well, it's many things, mainly someone that you can get along with. Whether its sweet and quiet, or even more talkative and energetic person. As long as someone makes you smile and happy, then they usually have a good personality. That's how I look at it at least." He spoke trying to explain it to the best of his verbal ability. "Hmm. Alright." The Hyuuga boy said as his eyes light up and he shot to his feet. "Okay, look at it this way. I believe I have an example. You are someone with a good personality. You're nice, sweet, you listen very well, and most importantly, you don't talk or for all I know even think badly of others. Then there's people like umm.. hmm." The boy stopped while scratching his head and looking up towards the sky trying to think of someone he knew with an actual bad personality.
"Hmm. I guess I don't have an example of the opposite." He stopped trying to laugh at his lack of a memory. "Sorry about that. Apparently that's the best I know how to explain things. Thinking was never my strong point, well, at least compared to other Hyuuga members." Kou said while laughing yet again at himself. "Heh. I thought today was going to be quite boring too. Good thing I came across you." He said with a smile upon his pale white face.
This girl really doesn't talk much. So far she's only had a few comments, still though, she hasn't seemed irritated by me at least. Taiyou thought while looking towards the girl to try and study her characteristics a bit better, perhaps he could see something that he hadn't noticed before. He shooks his head, swinging his hair back and forth until his bangs stopped, and landed covering most of his face. Then he thought of what he believed could be the reason why Cho was so quiet around him. Perhaps his eyes might cause people to feel awkward. The blank white eyes, staring into someone almost as if they could even see what someone was thinking. He knew how that felt when dealing with his father, he knew the awkward feeling so he didn't want to cause it to another being.
"Sorry if I've caused you to feel a bit awkward Cho-chan. I know I've felt awkward when being looked at by the eyes of another Hyuuga. I've sort of gotten used to it by now though. It's just weird seeing someone who's eyes are just about completely white. Kind of creepy at night time, trust me on that one." Kou joked once again, remembering a time that he was younger and his father had almost scared him to death.
The Hyuuga boy leaned back stretching out his back, then coming back to his previous stance. I need to remember to learn more about the Akimichi, then maybe I'll figure out why Cho-chan is so quiet. Taiyou thought to himself as he reached into his kunai pocket and hooked on with his right index finger before bringing it out and spinning it around to kind of entertain him a bit, not because he was bored, far from it actually, but because he's not used to staying still for so long. Kind of something he does out of being so energetic.
"I've always wondered something about the Akimichi. How do you train for that umm.. sorry that I don't know the correct name of the jutsu. I believe it's "Baka no jutsu" or something like that. That jutsu is awesome!" Kou said excited and hoping he would actually find out about that jutsu. Even though he always joked and acted as if he was not the brightest person ever, Taiyou had been quite insightful when it came to other people's techniques. Especially if it had happen to be another clan's personal techniques. Dare I say he was a fan boy of others specialties and techniques. He had even dreamed of what he would have been like if he were part of another clan, perhaps an Akimichi, or Aburame. Sure, he loved being a Hyuuga and the heir at that, but that's what dreams are for. Weird name for a jutsu. The Hyuuga boy thought to himself while awaiting the young Akimichi girl's answer.
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Post by Akimichi Cho on Oct 14, 2006 15:44:56 GMT -5
Cho waited with baited breath for his answer… or his annoyed staring—whichever would come first. She knew it was an awkward sort of question, and even more stranger was the fact that it had been her to have asked that question.
The brunette was glad he answered though, and released her held breath to listen to his words. They were words of encouragement, because a good personality, according to him could be many things. It didn’t even have the word ‘thin’ in it anywhere and she found herself wanting to cry again from relief. Cho didn’t know why, but she had always been prone to crying, but never had she cried in front of anyone except her parents. She didn’t want anyone to see her crumpled face, red and ugly with fat teardrops rolling down her chubby cheeks. So she spared them the sight and held her tears until the night when the hotness behind her eyelids became too much to hold in any longer.
"You are someone with a good personality. You're nice, sweet, you listen very well, and most importantly, you don't talk or for all I know even think badly of others."
She looked up; finally, her full face was in view as her hair fell back. She needed her eyes as well as ears to see that he wasn’t lying… or her ears weren’t making stuff up to make her feel better. Sometimes, they did…
He had… he had just said that she was someone with a good personality. “Thank you…” she mumbled. But the thing was, that didn’t seem like the personality that the teachers in the academy found ‘good’. They found it troublesome, almost believing Cho to be lazy to some extent— but she wasn’t, she was just really, really, shy. Which was not good for a ninja.
“But… ninja are meant to be fierce, brave, confident, loyal to a fault…” she thought, her mind thrown into disarray. So… did everyone else find different types of personalities ‘good’ and others ‘bad’. Was there an absolute or an average personality that she could just fit into? “Fat chance… I can never fit into anything average… not even something like a personality…” Her mind supplied, oddly sour and bitter for such a time of the day. She didn’t reflect any of her inner turmoil on her face, simply settling for an amused smile at Taiyou’s antiques. He was rather charming.
"Heh. I thought today was going to be quite boring too. Good thing I came across you." He said with a smile upon his pale white face.
“Me… too,” she agreed, finding it easier to converse with him a little more, especially when he was giving her such a genuine smile. Nobody had told him to give it to her, it wasn’t like he was obligated to… but he did, and Cho thanked him from the bottom of her heart.
"Sorry if I've caused you to feel a bit awkward Cho-chan. " Her eyebrows rose in surprise at the familiar suffix he had joined to her name and how much he sounded like one of the Akimichi… but his voice was soft and quiet, even if he was considered an anomaly for the Hyuuga, it was still softer than the deep, booming voices of the Akimichi. "I know I've felt awkward when being looked at by the eyes of another Hyuuga. I've sort of gotten used to it by now though. It's just weird seeing someone who's eyes are just about completely white. Kind of creepy at night time, trust me on that one."
She summoned up what little courage she had, opened her mouth to answer, but failed. Failed. Failed. Failed. She couldn’t give him an answer, she was still in dizzy shock at being called ‘Cho-Chan’ by anyone other than an Akimichi, no less, a boy! She shook her head. “N-no…”
She wanted to tell him that he was one of the only ones outside of her clan who had talked this much with her, shared her company and were patient with her perpetual lack of speech, replies, or anything to further the conversation. She swallowed, fiddling nervously with the hem of her tunic once again, but then mentally slapped herself as it would just make him think that she was awkward in his company, which she was not! And then he would walk away and then… she’d be crying all over again.
“It’s not your eyes,” she finally answered, a little too quickly and her voice became uncharacteristically higher. “I-infact… Kou-San’s company is… appreciated. I’m very grateful.” She breathed out, but a little sense of pride ebbed into her mellow, dazed expression. She’d never… put her views out like this… it felt sort of nice, holding the reigns.
"I believe it's "Baka no jutsu" or something like that. That jutsu is awesome!"
A little bubble of strawberry and honey was in her chest, the only way to describe the sound that burst out of her throat, not by her will at all. For the first time in many years, she felt something wanting to peal out and laugh and laugh and laugh, but she quickly covered her face with her hand and muffled the sound of laughter. Though the slight, surprised crinkling of her eyes made her amusement visible.
“Baika no jutsu…” she corrected sedately, but then, quickly added, “I don’t know any of the Hyuuga techniques except their incredibly wide vision… forgive me for my ignorance.”
Really, there was nothing to forgive, because the thing was, many clans preferred to make their techniques as secret as possible. After all, nobody would want every other missing-nin and his sister knowing their techniques, there’d be no element of surprise. But Konoha ninja were supposed to know about the noble clans, and the noblest one in Konoha was the enigmatic Hyuuga family.
“It’s… you… push…” she didn’t know whether to tell him or not, whether she was even allowed to tell him… but… when she saw his smile, and how freely he gave it to her, Cho lost her hesitation for once. “You push chakra in your body and muscle cells… and then ehm… and then you expand them sort of thing…” she trailed off, her non-fluency features in speech were clearly tangible.
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Post by Hyuuga Taiyoukousen on Oct 18, 2006 15:56:49 GMT -5
"No need to thank me for stating the truth. That's one of the easiest things I could ever do. Never the less, you're welcome." Taiyou said while smiling once more, as if that smile had never left his face.
“It’s not your eyes,” she finally answered, a little too quickly and her voice became uncharacteristically higher. “I-infact… Kou-San’s company is… appreciated. I’m very grateful.”
"Oh. Alright then!" The Hyuuga heir's face lit up with joy knowing that he hadn't caused her to feel awkward around him. "That's good. I was starting to think that I should have worn some mask or something, then maybe I could have a normal conversation. Wait a second.. I might have to wear a mask anyways. That could cause for some interesting situations. Hmm.." His voice trailed off as his right hand had approached his chin, placing it on his chin in that thinking position that everyone does for some reason.
“Baika no jutsu…” she corrected sedately, but then, quickly added, “I don’t know any of the Hyuuga techniques except their incredibly wide vision… forgive me for my ignorance.”
"Don't worry about it. I don't think many people do know of Hyuuga techniques other than perhaps our Byakugan. Infact, it was a good amount of time before I even knew about some techniques. I'm sure there are still plenty I've never been told about." Taiyou said while smiling almost laughing a bit at his own ignorance about the very clan he was in.
“You push chakra in your body and muscle cells… and then ehm… and then you expand them sort of thing…” she trailed off, her non-fluency features in speech were clearly tangible.
"Sounds like you have to focus too much for my tastes. Concentrating isn't umm.. something I've ever been all that willing to do." Kou said, even though he knew he had to concentrate a great amount while training and honing his skills with his Byakugan, but that didn't mean he enjoyed it. "I should probably get going.. I wasn't really supposed to be gone from the compound all this long. My father is going to go crazy. Training is going to be hell for a week I bet. Oh well, I'm about used to that by now." The Hyuuga boy said as he turned his back and stared into the general direction of his home. He's going to go crazy and I don't even want to think about my mom's reaction. He continued thinking to himself until sighing after finishing the thought.
"Yeah.. I better head home. It was great actually talking to you for once Cho-chan." Taiyou said while turning back to her and smiling. "It'd be nice to do this again sometime. And who knows, maybe we'll see each other soon. Take care and good luck with the team you get placed on." He said as he started walking backwards waving for a bit, until he tripped over his own foot slamming his back and head into the ground. "Ouch!" He said while leaning up and rubbing the back of his head. "Oh! Lets pretend that didn't just happen." Kou said while shooting up to his feet and laughing. "Okay, now I'm going." Laughing ever more the boy waved once more then turned and started for his way home.
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Post by Akimichi Cho on Oct 19, 2006 16:31:27 GMT -5
"I should probably get going.. I wasn't really supposed to be gone from the compound all this long. My father is going to go crazy. Training is going to be hell for a week I bet. Oh well, I'm about used to that by now." The Hyuuga boy said as he turned his back and stared into the general direction of his home.
Cho nodded diffidently, knowing that her time and luck was up with his wonderful company. The sweetness of being fed a spoonful of sugar, it was short, but it was worth every minute—like with Taiyoukousen. “Of… course…”
She knew she would probably not see him again, probably until she was thin—unless by some miracle, all of Taiyou’s words about them being an unbeatable team would work and if she used her special, super will power (which hardly ever worked) that maybe, she’d see him sooner than she thought. She hoped so, anyway.
She savoured the lingering of the young Hyuuga’s presence, and wished and wished that when she saw him, he’d laugh like he had today and talk and recognise her. But a part of her pointed out that he’d forget about her, forget about a fat girl leaning against a tree who hadn’t spoken much of anything and had a personality as dull as dishwater. She managed a little smile… yes: “Kou-San will forget he had ever talked and laughed with a girl called Akimichi Cho…”
She looked up, shifting her wandering eyes, which seemed full of disappointment and settling them back to the dark haired boy. "It'd be nice to do this again sometime. And who knows, maybe we'll see each other soon. Take care and good luck with the team you get placed on."
She nodded, wishing he really did mean what he had said. There was no trace of a lie in his eyes, but there was hardly a trace of anything in those white eyes, not even a reflection of her fat self… she half-expected there to be. “G-good luck… to… uhm… you as well… ehm… hh…” she breathed, tripping over her words again, but this time, she managed a smile.
She hoped that wherever he was, he wouldn’t stop laughing. She liked the smile that he gave, that didn’t charge anything… Cho found herself returning it herself when he tripped, waving to her. For a split second, her mind was torn between asking him to stay with her, to talk and laugh and joke with her- she could listen to him all day… but on the other hand, she never wanted him to see her again, not as she was now anyway. She wanted him to see her beautiful and thin and she could imagine the way his white eyes would go all wide as he took in bulging Cho to the newer, skinnier Cho. And for that to happen… she better start training her techniques as well.
“Good bye… Kou-San…” she half whispered, knowing it was useless, but it was nicer to say something aloud for once and smile like an average girl as she saw a friend walk home with the promise of meeting up again. For once, she felt like she was average, a girl, just like anyone else—with a friend who would laugh and joke with her.
It would be a happy meal that she would have tonight.
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