Sakurai nodded and followed Sachiko's lead, much as he had been doing since he got here. He just wasn't familiar with the compound at all, and still at a quiet awe and curiosity to better know the place Sachiko had once called home. She'd been very happy here once, after all, and that made him want to learn everything about it. But it didn't feel very appropriate to ask her for a tour of the site that technically was the slaughter grounds for her clan. Maybe she was okay walking around the few areas he'd followed her to thus far, but he wouldn't doubt if she were still avoiding other areas. He might get her to tell him more about it and her family some day, but not now. Right now they had a job to do
( ... )
She didn't reply immediately as she walked through the kitchen. The cold stuff was in the back of the cart, the hot food in the front so it could be offloaded first but in the meantime was buried under blankets; the necessary utensils for cooking and for serving were in their own crate. The blankets covering the hot food could be used as pot holders to keep from damaging the tables if there was worry. She doubted there would be; Inuzuka liked their furniture sturdy, after all. A double-check of all the ovens and stove tops both for food and to make sure the gas wasn't still on. The fires that had provided the heat for the ovens Sachiko used a fire-suppression jutsu to douse, but the brick and clay would need hours to release all of the heat. The refrigerator and the freezer were both empty, too, and she felt a momentary pang of loss. At least this time, they were empty because all the food was going to people who would eat it
( ... )
"Actually, I was just thinking of using this." Sakurai retrieved the pole they'd recovered in the back of the cart when sweeping it out before putting the food in. At first it appeared rather random, but soon became apparent to both of them that it was meant to fit in the slots on the handles, turning into a sort of pushcart. Although, for the wagon's size and current purpose, it was likely still to trail behind them. Or him anyway.
"Why don't you hop on? I'll get us there." He didn't want to quite say managing his chakra-strength might be a bit more difficult if he had to negotiate for hers and make sure he never went over. One side of the cart would start getting away from the other in that case. Besides, it was possible a little tiny bit of him wanted to show off. ...Just a bit.
Sachiko hesitated. "Are you sure?" she asked. It didn't seem fair to have him do all the work. But he nodded cheerfully enough, so she relented and climbed up with all the food. She would keep an eye on the food itself, and probably be able to better tell if the cart felt like it was going to come apart.
Plus...
She flexed her fingers, considering, as Sakurai got them underway. The idea of just sitting while he pulled the cart along grated on her; she disliked being useless. Therefore she decided to take the opportunity to experiment with the no-smell genjutsu Asuka-taichou had taught her back when on the Akatsuki-hunting team. The Inuzuka's clan-wide ability to smell out practically anything (with some much better than others) was well-known. That clan was already expecting her to bring a meal, but she wanted the actual details of the food to remain a secret for as long as possible. Therefore, she could get a chance to practice both the no-smell and casting focus-genjutsu
( ... )
Meanwhile...pink_medicineJanuary 1 2009, 03:34:37 UTC
While Kiba and Sachiko chatted, Sakurai found himself a little overwhelmed by the number of children and dogs running underfoot. He didn't often work in pediatrics, so he felt a little inexperienced already, but even when he did help with the kids it had never felt this chaotic before. (And for another thing, animals were not allowed in the hospital unless they had specified permission.) It felt like some of them were in danger of getting stepped on as Sakurai found himself being dragged further away, despite his half-hearted protests that he needed to help unload the food cart. Apparently games were much more important. Ah, to be young again.
At a certain point, Sakurai kinda gave up on fighting them and figured if he promised one game to them, he could hold them to an obligation to let him help the adults as needed. It wasn't until he was being pulled out into a courtyard of sorts that he ran into another familiar face who seemed to be heading towards the kitchens he'd just been kidnapped come from
( ... )
...in a far off place...hyuuga_hinajiJanuary 1 2009, 04:45:56 UTC
Hinaji had his own gaggle of kids around his feet, but he'd grown at least semi used to it, and he rather liked the change from the stoic and silent Hyuuga compound. Although he did feel bad for feeling overwhelmed most of the time, since Kiba always seemed so happy when he visited. He'd nearly made it to the doors to the kitchen, one toddler on his shoulders and two others clinging to his legs, when he heard someone he hadn't expected to.
"Sakurai-san?" He smiled brightly to see the other man being pulled by kids, and carefully slogged his way towards the other ninja as the kids around his ankles protested. "I didn't know you had arrived yet. Kiba said others were coming, but I never heard a specific time." He glanced back at the kitchen area. "Are the preparations already finished?" More than likely not, considering the chaos that was the Inuzuka Compound, but he felt it polite to ask.
...in another time...pink_medicineJanuary 1 2009, 06:55:37 UTC
"Just got here a few minutes ago. I didn't know you'd be here at all. Wow, guess this place is the hot spot for the holidays, huh." Sakurai eyed the number of kids Hinaji had hanging around him and wondered if there was any particular reason why these children had apparently chosen them as their playmates. Maybe they just knew better than to mess with women when they were busy. Hm, smart kids.
"The food still needs to be unloaded but I think Kiba and Sachiko are handling it. I was going to help, but I kinda got kidnapped. ...Literally," he added after realizing the pun.
...something happened.hyuuga_hinajiJanuary 2 2009, 01:58:22 UTC
The Hyuuga boy smiled at the pun. "Yes, that happens a lot around here. They aren't afraid of outsiders at all." He ruffled the hair of one of the kids attached to his leg and the boy grinned. He finished his slow trek towards Sakurai and the kids released him to tackle their kin around the other man. "And I don't think Kiba-chan would mind too much if we didn't help, so long as we keep the kids away." He'd come to realise just how important that duty was to this clan.
"This is your first time here, right?" The girl on his shoulder tugged at his hair and he winced slightly but began to move around again. "Is your family not doing anything for the holiday?"
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"Why don't you hop on? I'll get us there." He didn't want to quite say managing his chakra-strength might be a bit more difficult if he had to negotiate for hers and make sure he never went over. One side of the cart would start getting away from the other in that case. Besides, it was possible a little tiny bit of him wanted to show off. ...Just a bit.
Reply
Plus...
She flexed her fingers, considering, as Sakurai got them underway. The idea of just sitting while he pulled the cart along grated on her; she disliked being useless. Therefore she decided to take the opportunity to experiment with the no-smell genjutsu Asuka-taichou had taught her back when on the Akatsuki-hunting team. The Inuzuka's clan-wide ability to smell out practically anything (with some much better than others) was well-known. That clan was already expecting her to bring a meal, but she wanted the actual details of the food to remain a secret for as long as possible. Therefore, she could get a chance to practice both the no-smell and casting focus-genjutsu ( ... )
Reply
At a certain point, Sakurai kinda gave up on fighting them and figured if he promised one game to them, he could hold them to an obligation to let him help the adults as needed. It wasn't until he was being pulled out into a courtyard of sorts that he ran into another familiar face who seemed to be heading towards the kitchens he'd just been kidnapped come from ( ... )
Reply
"Sakurai-san?" He smiled brightly to see the other man being pulled by kids, and carefully slogged his way towards the other ninja as the kids around his ankles protested. "I didn't know you had arrived yet. Kiba said others were coming, but I never heard a specific time." He glanced back at the kitchen area. "Are the preparations already finished?" More than likely not, considering the chaos that was the Inuzuka Compound, but he felt it polite to ask.
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"The food still needs to be unloaded but I think Kiba and Sachiko are handling it. I was going to help, but I kinda got kidnapped. ...Literally," he added after realizing the pun.
Reply
"This is your first time here, right?" The girl on his shoulder tugged at his hair and he winced slightly but began to move around again. "Is your family not doing anything for the holiday?"
Reply
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