Day Off Meeting

It had been over two months since Roku and his crew came back from the village of Inns. He loved the place so much he decided to go back for his time off, he had a couple of weeks to have some fun.

"I really wish the others would have come with me." he groaned.

Natsuki yawned and raised her arms to the sky as she could feel the mist getting thicker and colder. She was traveling to the Water Nation to see family for a few weeks. Her tiger companion, Bagheera walked along side her. He stood as tall as her waist and was solid black with glowing green eyes.
"I hope the village of Inns is close by. I am so tired." The two stayed close as the mist began to get a bit thicker. Natsuki kept her guard up knowing that enemies could be hiding anywhere.

Roku made his way through the mist with ease, but kept his guard in case.

"Nice day." he sighed, "It would have been better if Osawa and Benjiro were with me."

Natsuki was almost at the village of Inn's she could see the small light on the sign just ahead.
"Yay we are almost there Bagheera!" Natuski quickly covered her mouth realizing how loud she had been. Bagheera and Natsuki stood still for a moment. Bagheera leaned forward and arched his back growling.
"Someone is out there." Natsuki pulled a kunai from her long sleeve and stood there concentrating.
"There!" She threw the kunai at the bush but it exploded and threw her back.
"Oh no! A trap!"

"Hey! Watch were you're throwing those." Roku came out spinning his Kunai around his finger, "I wasn't attacking you, so chill."

Then he noticed it was a pretty girl, "OH! Excuse me. I thought you were so trigger happy moron."

Natsuki let out a heavy sigh. She was relieved to see that he was friendly and cute too. She blushed a bit and rubbed the dirt from her face.
"Sorry, can't ever be too careful out here. The mist is crawling with enemies and rogue ninja." Bagheera stood beside Natsuki growling at the man.
"It's okay boy. He won't hurt us. . .least I don't think he will." His chakra seemed ok and he seemed like a very nice guy.

"You're not from kirigakure are you?" he asked putting his kunai away. He kept an eye on the giant cat, "He won't eat me will he?"

She giggled shyly. "He can, but he won't do it unless I tell him to, and I don't think you deserve such a cruel fate." Natsuki pet Bagheera's head lightly to calm him down.
"He just doesn't like strangers. He is very territorial." She walked over to the man. He was pretty tall.
"No I am not from around these parts. I live in Konohagakure. I am here visiting family."

"Oh you're a leaf ninja? Nice to meet you, I'm Ozuru Roku. Mist Shinobi." he smiled.

Natsuki smiled at him.
"Pleased to meet you Roku. I am Shitsui Natsuki. And this ball of fur is Bagheera." She extended her hand to him for a friendly handshake.

" A pleasure and to you too." he said to Bagheera.

"Where are you heading?" he asked her.

"I am actually headed to the Village of Inns to bunk down for the night. I am exhausted from all this traveling." Baheera scoffed at Roku's greeting.
"Don't worry, he will come around. And where are you headed?"

"Same place actually. I'm on my time off for doing well in my missions, I liked this place when we last came." he said shuffling his bag on hid shoulder.

"Oh wow what a coincidence. I have never been, I hear it is very nice." Natsuki bent down to grab her bag.
"Would you like to accompany us? It would be much safer."

"It really is great. I can show you to an affordable INN too." he offered.

"That would be wonderful. Thank you." She followed him as they made their way into the Village of Inn's. It was a gorgeous place filled with tall buildings.
"It is so beautiful here."

"It is. Great tea and massage houses, onsens, therapy baths, its motto is 'A place to let you worries wash away." he smiled.

"I can see why. The aroma is so therapeutic. I can feel some of my stress and worries leaving my body as we speak." She inhaled the air and shifted her bag onto her other shoulder.
"So where is the best and cheapest place to stay here?"

"The Jade INN, nice people, nice cosy rooms, great service and they have their own hotsprings." he said.

"Plus the food here is amazing. Love BBQ pork." he chuckled.

"Oh, that sounds so exciting. I just hope they allow over sized tigers. I seem to run into that problem a lot when finding a place to stay."
Natsuki pet Bagheera's ears and smiled at him. Bagheera rubbed his head into her hand happily.

"I don't know. We'll ask when we get there." they wondered through the village when they finally arrived to a cream building with jade green rooftops, with a really well made sign titled, 'JADE INN'

"Well here it is." Roku made a goofy big grin.

Natsuki looked at him and gave him a shy smile in return. She looked around and saw the few little people giving her a weird and almost dirty look. She just stuck close to Bagheera and ignored them.
"I hate how the people in this village look at me. . ." She sighed.

"Don't worry about them, they're not used to seeing ninja outside the mist come around here. We had Sand Ninja come but no Leaf." he said with shrugged shoulders. He the glared at the vendors and people and the looked away.

Natsuki noticed Roku fend off the evil glares. She was quite surprised at how nice he was for being from the Mist village.
"You are so nice. . .almost too nice to be from the Mist village."

He laughed, "Oh I can be a mean guy in a fight. But when I'mm not fighting there's no need to be a grouchy mean guy." he scratched the back of his head, "But I see what you mean. My team mates Osawa thinks I'm too happy sometimes." he gave his goofy grin again.

"It is nice to meet someone that is so laid back and happy. Everyone these days is just so uptight." The two of them walked into the main entrance. Natsuki handed the clerk her money and she gave her a room key in exchange.
"Guess this means we will be neighbors for a little while." She giggled.

"Yeah. Hey, if you want some company around the village tonight, I'm down the hall." he smiled, "See you later."

"I would love that. Bye Roku." She waved to him and went into her room. It was gorgeous. There was even an extra bed just big enough for Bagheera to sleep on. Natsuki decided to lie down and take a little nap. It had been a long journey for her and she was exhausted. Bagheera cuddled up with her and they both went off to sleep for a few hours.

Roku also wanted to relax for a while. It took almost a whole day to get to the Village of Inns from Kirigakure, he hated travelling.

He removed his purple jumper, leaving on his singlet, flopping down on the futon.

Natsuki awoke and saw that it was completely dark already.
"Wow, I didn't think I would sleep that long. . ." She sat up and rubbed her eyes and walked into the bathroom to take a shower. The hot water felt so good on her skin. It also felt nice to have a real shower instead of bathing in creeks and ponds. She wrapped her towel around her and tried to hurry. She was actually a bit excited to see Roku again.

Roku was trying to get ready to head out. Got a fresh singlet on and a Black vest on and head out with his wallet in his pocket.

He just exited from his room.

Natsuki put on a light blue, almost white dress and a pair of cork sandals. Her hair was up in its usual half pony tail and she wore her red ribbon with the small bell on it around her neck. She tiptoed out of the room past Bagheera to go downstairs to the lobby and wait for Roku. She shut the door behind her and put the key in her pocket.

Roku noticed her sneaking out of her room, "Sneaking out?" he whispered.

"Eeek!" She turned around leaning against the door, her heart threatening to jump out of her chest.
"You scared me. . ." She smiled her face beet red.

He snickered, "Sorry. Hey, you look nice." complimenting her attire.

"Thanks, so do you." She stood up straight and walked over to him.
"So where do you plan on taking me since I don't really know my way around here?"

"Well, we could walk around and look at the night markets, the foods stands are grilling away and the lamps are lit up." he smiled.

Her eyes lit up with happiness. "I would like that very much." Her little bell chimed softly as she walked behind Roku out the front entrance.
"I am lucky to have a wonderful tour guide such as yourself." She teased as she smothered her laughter with her tiny hand.

"Thanks." they headed out to the market area. Red lanterns lined the streets and stalls. Steam rose the from the food vendors grills and stoves, cooking away their specialties.

There were also jewellery makers, clothes and cloths spots and other various things.

Natsuki looked all around taking everything in. It reminded her so much of home.
"I feel like I am home. Thank you for showing me around Roku. You are very kind." She stood close to him and gave him a small little thank you kiss on the cheek.

Roku blushed pink a little from her kiss, but he cleared his throat, "Ah, um, Yes. You're welcome" he smiled.

She returned his smile and continued to walk alongside him.
"Are you hungry?"

"Oh yeah, you gotta try the BBQ pork here its fantastic!" his smile was wide.

"Mm that sounds delicious actually. I haven't had a good meal in a few days. It will be nice to have some real food." She was coming to a stop beside Roku when someone pushed her, probably intentionally and she fell into his back. She had her hands clenched around his vest so she wouldn't fall and pull him down. She gasped, taking in his scent. He smelled so good.
"I-I'm sorry. . ."

"You alright?" he looked around for the one who pushed her, "Whoever did that is a jackass." he growled, helping her stand tall again.

"Yes, I am alright. I am glad you were standing there, otherwise I would have fallen on the ground and could have possibly hurt myself." She released him and stood back. She rubbed her arm awkwardly.
"I am use to it. I have been teased all my life, but it doesn't bother me at all." She smiled sweetly and bent down to pick up her key that had fallen out of her pocket.

"Why would anyone tease you? You're cute." He said, surprised.

Natsuki paused before picking up the key. His words were surprising, but wonderful to hear.
"Because, I am different. If you didn't notice some of my facial features are different." She stood up and looked at him in the face showing her glowing eyes that shined like a tiger.
"I take after my father, he is part wild cat and lots of people tease and torment me because of it."

"I don't say different, I say...unique." he smiled, "Besides, I like cats."

Natsuki closed her eyes and smiled at Roku.
"It is nice to hear that from someone." She stuffed her key in her pocket and continued on following Roku to get something to eat.