Looking for a Sparring Partner

Kurai stood in the middle of the training area, wearing different clothes from her normal ones. She was wearing a long sleeved black shirt which was baggy around the wrists and a pair of shinobi pants. Maybe this was due to the fact that it was very cloudy today and a bleary mist was creeping its way across the field. She had been here for a few hours, just training by herself but she couldn't really progress when she had nothing to practice with that would provide a challenge...or move at all. She sighed in aggravation as she sat down and crossed her legs in a meditating position. Alright...Just calm down, take deep breaths, let the chakra flow freely.. She thought to herself as she inhaled and exhaled deeply. Before long, she was calm and her mind was crystal clear. "Right....Now back to Square One.." She murmered as she pushed herself to her feet and brushed the dirt off of her clothes. She got back into her fighting stance and tried to imagine a target in front of her but nothing came. She needed someone to practice with or she wouldnt get anywhere.

Xarias` flies into the distance, landing with a kneeling gesture and then standing up opposing a far superior alignment in her solemn steps. The mist had now caught up with the two due to the quick speeds Xarias` wings had possessed. If anyone thought her wings were fast, they should see how fast she runs. But this was not of the point. She had heard a new person had arrived in the Nation's and she decided to go and check it out. When she landed, a large wave of mist sent out a burst of water particles, which leveled mostly anything within the vicinity. As she walked towards the mysterious girl with cat ears, she grinned. "Ah.. Your a Gyouan. How fortunate." Her prestige elegance let out a sort of odd beauty to her, despite the darkness which truly lurked in her heart. She took a deep breath in. "Who are you.." She asked, almost a couple feet from the girl now. She stood straight, not moving at all. Her face lay still. Emotionless. Dark. Deep.

She felt her body tense. Who was this woman? Sure, she was pretty but there was a darker person behind that mask of elegance. Her ears pressed back flat against her head, she didnt trust this woman. Then again, if she didnt tell her who she was, chances were that she'd attack and that wouldnt be good for Kurai at all. She was only a Genin, there was no way she could stand a chance against her. She held her head high and cleared her throat, trying to sound confident as her ears perked up again. "Kurai Gyouan...And who might you be?" She tugged lightly on her Cloud headband to try and calm her rising nerves. If this woman attacked, she could run into the mist. No, that wouldnt work either. She'd be caught far too easily. Right now all she could do was try and keep the peace between her and this mysterious woman. She relaxed her stance slightly as she slipped the kunai she had been carrying back into her pouch.

Xarias looked upon her. She was small. Feeble. Somewhat weak. Atleast some power was sensed, atleast that was good. She took another breath. "I am the Kuraikage of the Village Hidden in Darkness. The First Prophecy, of death and chaos. Former Second in Command of the Akatsuki Tenshu, and host of the two Titan-Bijuu known as Valkyrie, and Seiyuuki. The God of Light, and the God of Death." She walked towards her again. The dark chakra which was so immense, it was leaking out of her and capable of being seen through the human eye, made the ground crack under her feet. The mist thickened and got more dense as time went on due to the constant radiation of mist build up.

The village hidden in...Darkness? Oh boy, this cant be good...And look at that chakra! One hit with that and i'm done for! She nodded a little, standing her ground although not wanting to come across as a theat, as if that would even happen. She bowed. "I...I see...Its my pleasure, Lady Kuraikage.." She murmured as she concentrated the little chakra she had into showing this woman that, even though her power was small, there was at least something there. Her wolf ears twitched anxiously as she straightened up again, her eyes trying to avoid looking into the womans at all costs. Such a dark aura surrounded her, and Kurai didnt like it one bit. She might try to be cold around people but when it concerned someone as strong as this, it didnt hurt to show a little respect. After all, if she was sarcastic it might just be the last thing she would ever say.

Xarias simply looked at her. She noticed the small, yet obviously noticable burst of power in her. She smiled. "You have potential. I give you the E for effort in trying to impress me. And do not stutter; I will not harm you unless you should attack me. I will have you know however, even if you were foolish enough to, which I know your not, I am invincible. Immortal." Xarias bowed in discretion. "You are new here. Would you like to be my apprentice?" She smiled.

"I..see.." Kurai nodded, feeling a little more at ease around her. "I wasnt trying to impress you, i just dont like backing down, no matter who it is," She said truthfully, not wanting to irritate her. She thought about the womans proposal about becoming her apprentice. It did sound tempting being trained by a kage, and an immortal one at that. But she served under the Cloud, so she couldnt just give that up either. "I wish i could, but my loyalties lie with the Cloud. I have a family there that needs my help...If youre asking me to leave the village then i just cant. I'm sorry," She wasnt sure if that was what the woman had meant but she had to make the point clear enough.

Xarias laughed lightly. "I know your not trying to impress me, hunny. Im not asking you to leave your village either. Im asking you if you would like to train under me. As in, I train you to become more powerful? Your Raikage has claimed to be the most powerful Raiton user in the world, but I know far more then he ever could about electricity, lightning, and thunder combined." She took another breath in. "So.. What do you say Kurai?"

"I see..It does sound very tempting but i'm not a raiton user..My element is water funnily enough," She smiled a little. She froze a little. Wait, this woman knew her name? How? "Uh..Wait..How.." She shook her head, it was best not to ask, she thought. She seems pretty decent...But would she accept me as a student when my element isnt even the one she's offering to teach me..? Hm..what to do She had to make a decision and it had to be now. "Would you be willing to teach me water jutsu instead of lightning? If not, i totally understand. I mean, you have your own genin to teach," She nodded in understanding, she didnt want to trouble her in any way.

Xarias looked at her and sighed. "I know your name because I can read your mind. Also, im not trying to teach you Raiton. I am fully-mastered in every aspect of human nature, coordination, jutsu, chakra, and elements. There is little I currently do not know, and that which I dont.. Well.." She smiled, closing her eyes. Once opened, her eyes were rotating, her Mangekyou Sharingan was activated. ".. Lets just say I will know soon enough." She smiled once more.

"Thats..Amazing," She couldnt help but look at Xarias in awe. Would she really have the time and patience to teach someone as feeble as Kurai? "If you wouldnt mind teaching me then i'd be honoured. I wanna become a chuunin as soon as i can so i can earn more money to keep our household up and running. Y'see, i'm the sole wage earner in the house since my brother isnt exactly old enough to get a job," She chuckled a little. "Despite what he thinks," She realised she was getting carried away and cleared her throat. "Sorry, Lady Kuraikage, i'm sure you have no interest in something as mundane as that," She shook her head in apology.

Xarias created a wind-type like seat, and sat down on it. She was sitting on nothing. Or so it seemed. She made another one, and quickly positioned it under Kurai, sitting her down; and uplifting her up to Xarias. Xarias lifted her hand, and gently moved the seats into the sky, high above the villages. They began to soar, and glide across the skies. "No, no. You can continue now. I do wish to teach you, specifically because I know what a Gyouan is capable of. Now, tell me about yourself." The wind brushed through their hair, Xarias` ghost-white hair letting a breeze move into the winds. The wind was cool up here, gentle.

She looked down in amazement. I REALLY hope i dont fall... She thought as she looked up at Xarias again. "Well...Ugh, where to begin. Well, when i was young my mom was hardly ever around cuz of family matters elsewhere so i had to help my dad run the household by picking up odd jobs. When i went into the Academy, he became ill and is still hospitalised to this day. When my mom came back and saw the poor state we were in, she left and i havent seen her since. So, i'm taking extra shifts at the hospital to see dad and get some money, picking up any missions i can even though i'm late a lot for meeting my squad and doing all the chores. I have to look after my little brother too," She sighed.

Xarias looked at her and laughed lightly. "Okay. As for money, I have endless amounts. I can supply you with Ryo. As for healing your father, I can do that too." She sighed, taking in a large amount of breath. ".. That is. If you want me to?"

"Oh, i really wouldnt want to cause you any trouble!" She shook her head rapidly. "I mean, i'm not even one of your villagers. I wouldnt want to distract you from your duties," She looked down at the view below her. "I really wanna see my dad back on his feet again...But i dont wanna hinder anyone else to see him do so..Ugh, i even confuse myself sometimes, i'm sorry. When i'm like this, its best if you ignore me, Lady Kuraikage,"

Xarias sighed. "I am the Kuraikage. Queen of Death. My demons in my village do my work for me, they keep all whom dont belong - Out. Also, my fortunes range back from billions of billions of years ago. I have a never-ending amount of money. Heh. And believe me, healing your father wont be a problem. Not only do I have a God of Death inside of me, but I also have a God of Light, and healing. So if you want to do so, I will heal him." She made the air-thrones speed up, whizzing through the air with great speed. The colors both beyond, and below were beautiful.

She looked down, smiling a little at the beauty. When Xarias said it wouldnt be any trouble to heal her father, her head jerked up in suprise. "Y-you mean it? If you did, i would be eternally grateful, i really would! He's been in hospital for so long..He didnt even see mom before she left." She wanted to stand and bow, but it was obviously not a good idea at this moment in time. "If he was able to walk around again, i would honestly be so happy i wouldnt know what to do with myself,"

Xarias smiled. "Yes, Kurai. I mean it." They flew to the ground and landed. She stepped off of her throne of air, and picked Kurai up in a funnel, lifting her gently over to Xarias. Xarias then sat her down in front of her.

She missed the excellent view slightly, but sat in front of Xarias all the same. "In that case, i'm very grateful..And if i could be your apprentice, i would be very honoured," She smiled as she bowed her head in respect, trying to keep her excitement at bay for as long as she could.