A Day at the Old Practice Fields

[Yamashita]

Yamashita walks into the old practice fields, whistling shrilly and off tune. As he breaks out of the treeline,
he shields his eyes from the sun, drops a few bags of things, and starts to stretch.

Keiko lands on a sturdy branch of an old gnarled tree at the edge of the clearing and wipes the back of her
fishnet clad hand against her forehead, clearing away the excess sweat, "Fuck. It's too hot these days."

Ruriko yawns as she stretches and sits up lightly, blinking and wiping the sleep from her eyes. She is sitting
between two larger roots of a nearby tree and glancing out at what looked like a man walking into the practice
fields. Embarrassed she looks down, she must have fallen asleep after practice.

Shiro walks into the clearing flanked on either side by two nin dressed from head to toe in black. Animatedly
he makes hand gestures and says, "That's no kunai, that's my wife." Laughing, he looks over his shoulder at one
of the two solemn ninja. Muttering to himself he says, "What stiffs," which causes him to laugh quietly to
himself.

Having stretched well enough, Yamashita begins on his daily run. He sees the group of ninja entering the fields
and recognizes the leader of the group. He stops and greets them, "Good day, Shiro-san. It's a lovely day for a
run, isn't it?"

Grasping at the branch loosely with both hands, Keiko maneuvers herself about and ends up standing on its under
side, her dark eyes on the child below. "You know, you shouldn't be dozing off in the middle of the woods like
that. Totally dangerous."

Ruriko, still unsure as to whether or not to move, blinks a few times, and decides to slowly stand up, not sure
if she would draw the attention of the two adults that were also in the field. She brushes herself off and
stands up, sighing softly.

Shiro nods and walks over to Yamashita, "Indeed it is Taiki-kun, indeed it is. I thought I would get out today
and maybe do a bit of reading." Shiro glances around the field, "Thought it might be quiet here, but it looks
like I was wrong."

Yamashita replies, "Yeah, it does appear to be busy today. I was just about to go for a run, if you'd like to
join me." Yamashita begins bouncing on his feet, ready to get back to his exercises.

Keiko slides her fingers beneath the fabric of her top and retrieves an old, chipped kunai. Spinning it about
on her pinky, she tosses it in Yamashita's direction, "Yama-kun. You bore me with the talk of exersise all the
time. Can't you ever give me something to gossip about?" Her lips curve into a cheeky smile as she turns
herself upright and dropps down to the grassy ground, stretching her arms above her head.

Ruriko glances up in surprise at the lady who threw the kunai, and grimaces as she realizes she hadn't noticed
her before. Rolling her eyes in frustration she walks closer to the others, rubbing her face with her hand to
get a little dirt off her cheek.

Shiro yawns and shakes his head, "I came out here to get away from working out. The guys back at the compound
wanted me to train with them. It was either that or paperwork, so I chose to come out here." Shiro scratches
the back of his head. "Are you out here with Keiko?"

Yamashita says, "No, I'm not out here with Keiko, Shiro, and Keiko, why would I want to be the object of your
gossip ring? I don't like the way you gals talk about men in the village." Yamashita pulls his right leg up to
touch his back, holding it there for a minute.

Keiko snorts softly at Yamashita, "I haven't gossiped in ages. Though my friends do tell me that you're lacking
in the trousers there." She flashes the chuunin a cheeky grin before her gaze slides to Shiro, "Oh, you old
fart. What're you doing out here? Shouldn't you be doing paper work? Aren't you behind on it?"

Ruriko watches the three adults verbally sparring with great interest. She smiles at the last comment, knowing
how much her own father hated to do paperwork at her old village. Unable to sit quite still she practices her
handseal for a jutsu she just recently got the hang of.

Shiro sighs and shakes his head, "Keiko, you really should be more respectful of your elders. Especially those
who provide you with food and a place to sleep. As for paperwork, that is why I have a secretary."

Yamashita notices the young girl practicing handseals under a nearby tree, and calls out to her, "Good day
miss. I don't believe I've seen you around these parts before. I'm Yamashita, and you are?" He smiles
graciously at the youth.

Keiko gives a soft snort as she steps closer to Shiro, prodding lightly at his side. "How have you been,
Shiro-sama?"

Ruriko messes up her jutsu and sighs, losing interest. She walks closer to the others, "Um, Hiya." She says
cheerfully, a radiant smile on her face.

Shiro dismisses Keiko with a wave of his hand "Too late now to be friendly now," turning, he faces the young
girl, "Fine day isn't it?"

Yamashita grins at the smiling girl. "Haven't got a name? Well, I guess I'll just have to pick one for you.
Smiley, I think. How's that?"

Keiko merely steps around Shiro, paying neither men any mind as she glanced over Ruriko in thought. With a
small smile, the kunoichi flashes a fishnetted palm to the girl in greeting. "Hey there. I'm Keiko. I really
like your outfit. It's cute."

Ruriko smiles and glances up at Shiro, "Sure is, just wish I hadn't slept out here." Hearing Yamashita she
giggles, "No, no, I'm not smiley, I'm Ruriko!" She says lightly.

Shiro grins and ruffles the young girl's hair "Nice to meet you Smiley, isn't it just perfect for taking a nap
today?"

Yamashita laughs and says, "Naps? Why be lazy on a nice day like today? It's a great day for a run! Anyone care
to join me?"

Ruriko shakes her head at Shiro, "Not smiley, Ruriko!" She says with a huge grin planted on her face. She
smiles lightly and replies to Yamashita, "I kinda fell asleep last night..." her face blushing lightly as she
looks down.

Shiro nods "Fine then, Ruriko-chan it is. You need to take better care of yourself and not train till the point
where you fall asleep in fields."

Yamashita nods his head in agreement. "Yep, and there's nothing like a good run to get you awake and alert,
Ruriko-chan." He hops a little more and shakes his arms and hands, readying himself for a run.

Ruriko blinks at the shaking man. "Oh?" She says astonished, "My father always said it was a good hard beating
on the practice field..." Shrugging her sore shoulders, she tried to get the stiffness to go away. She looks up
to Shiro and nods, "Sure thing mister, what should I call you?" she asks curiously.

Shiro says "The name is Tsurugami Shiro, you can call me Shiro" he scratches his chin thoughtfully "That's
funny, my father said the exact same thing. Though in my experience sake in the morning really helps get the
blood going".

Yamashita makes a sour face at Shiro, saying, "Now, you know she's far to young for sake. Don't go corrupting
the youth before they've had a chance to live their own lives, Shiro-san. We need our young ninja to grow up to
be strong, not drunk."

Ruriko giggles, "Sake, I never had that before..."

Shiro says "Swing by the Tsurugami compound some time kid, and we can have a drink. And as for you Yamashita,
you should know that you can find strength in the bottle."

Yamashita flexes his bicep proudly, boasting, "I know of the benefits and the drawbacks it brings, and I much
prefer keeping my wits about me. A proper ninja should always be in control of his faculties."

Ruriko blinks at Yamashita, "Thats a good idea!" She exclaims. "I think I need a bath..." She smiles at Shiro,
"Okay, I'll stop by later and you can show me sake." She giggles as begins to make her way away from the field.

Shiro nods at the retreating Ruriko, "Well it was nice meeting you Ruriko-chan, I'll be looking forward to your
company." Shiro turns back to Yamashita, "I had best let you get back to your run as well.".

Yamashita says, "Thanks, Shiro-san. I hope you find a good place to nap," as he begins jogging off aroung the
field, quickly picking up into a full on run.

[Gatz]

Nice post, 1 RPP awarded to Yamashita.