Talking Over Ramen [P]

Musashi had scampered straight from his training to the ramen shop, too hungry to train any longer. I hope Tenshi doesn't get too upset about it... he thought as the owner came out. "Oh, hey, I want a soy sauce ramen please!" he said, the owner nodded and went to work on it. Musashi spun around on his stool, leaning against the bar's counter. With a small yawn, he stretched his arms. "Ya know what old man?" Musashi said.

"Hmm?" Teuchi asked over the ramen.

"I've been training hard, so I worked up an appetite, your gonna have to make me some really good ramen, you know?" he said with a laugh.

Teuchi chuckled. "Don't I always? Don't worry kid, it'll be great, I've been feeding the shinobi of Konoha for years now!!"

"I know, I'm just playing around!" Musashi laughed, he relaxed, wondering who he'd find here.

Hanataba had just left the forest, where she had been talking to a Genin girl. She had realized how hungry she was getting, and headed over to the ramen shop. When she got there she heard voices, and saw that one was Musashi. She'd met him and the new Hokage in the forest, and he had been in the Chunin Exams with her.

Entering the shop, she sat down next to Musashi. "Hi Musashi, we meet again, huh?" She said with a grin. "I would like some scallop ramen please." She told the old man. He nodded, and went back to the ramen. "How have you been?" She asked Musashi, conversationally.

Musashi was glad to see someone he at least knew a little. "Guess the two of us are peers, but we've never really talked much," he admitted. "Well, you want to know what I've been up to?" he repeated with a smile. "I've been training with Hokage-sama and a jounin named Rai. Plus, Hokage-sama even told me just to call her Tenshi, so I'm kinda on a first name basis." he bragged. "How about you?" I guess I've never thought about it... but... this girl is kinda... hawt... Musashi thought awkwardly, he almost blushed just thinking it.

Hanataba knew he was probably exaggerating a little, still. "That sounds interesting." She admitted. "I've just been doing my missions, hanging out, not really anything big though. I took today off, seeing as I wanted a break." She said. The way he's looking at me... is... "Musashi, can I ask you something personal? Why are you a ninja?" Hanataba asked out of curiosity. She'd never really thought about it, but everyone must have a reason, right?

As Teuchi brought his soy sauce ramen, Hanataba asked Musashi why he was a ninja. "Hmm?" Musashi muttered. He sat for a moment, thinking over the question. Really, it's not like I had a choice, seeing as I'm a jinchuriki, but, even I have my own reason for being a shinobi. I guess, I'd have to say... he thought it over, and slurped up his ramen contently. "Because I want to protect people," he decided, "My family, and my friends. Sometimes I forget that's what matters, and I get caught up in specifics, like promotions and training, but really, all I want to do is protect what's important to me." Musashi nodded, and grinned, "Yeah, what about you?" he asked her in turn.

Hanataba listened to him, "Because I want to protect people, my family, and my friends. Sometimes I forget that's what matters, and I get caught up in specifics, like promotions and training, but really, all I want to do is protect what's important to me." She grinned, That sounds a little too noble for someone like him. If I remember right, he's a complete joker. she thought. "Yeah, what about you?"

"I guess, really, I became a kunoichi because my parents wanted me to. I didn't really have a choice... Not to say I dislike being one, I just didn't choose my fate." she explained.

As Hanataba spoke, Musashi listened, and Teuchi sat Musashi's soy sauce ramen in front of him. "Hmm, I guess, well," Musashi picked up his chopsticks, and pulled them apart, "I didn't really have a choice either. My father decided I would be the host of the Kyubi, and so, naturally, I became I ninja so I could learn to control it better." he explained, slurping down some ramen. "But, it's not how you ended up in a situation, it's how you deal with it, that's what I think. You know what I mean? Why we became ninja doesn't matter, it's what we do with the power we've been given that defines us. Don't you think?" Musashi grinned, downing his ramen gleefully.

Hanataba grinned as the old man gave her the ramen she had ordered. "But, it's not how you ended up in a situation, it's how you deal with it, that's what I think. You know what I mean? Why we became ninja doesn't matter, it's what we do with the power we've been given that defines us. Don't you think?" Musashi had said.

As she ate her ramen, she grinned. After swallowing, she said, "Some pretty big words from such a kid." She teased. "But, yeah, I guess you're right." He does seem really immature at times, but he is pretty deep I guess, maybe he could be a good friend. She thought, as she continued with her ramen.

"I'm not just a kid," Musashi said, indifferently, "I'm a shinobi of Konohagakure no Sato. Besides, your only a little older than me..." After finishing his ramen, rather quickly, he grinned. "Thanks for the meal, it was great!" he told Teuchi. Then he looked over at Hanataba, slurping up the rest of her own ramen. She's pretty nice too, but she acts like she's years older than me. She's probably got a swelled head over her promotion to chunin! Humph, still, I guess I would be the same if that were the case. he admitted.

"You what I've decided?" he asked, and without waiting for an answer, continued, "I think you and I should be friends. After all, we're close in age, and graduated together, so we're peers. What do you think, will you be my friend? I'd appreciate it!"

[[OOC: I just assumed we graduated together, since your not much older than me, if that's okay]]

{It's fine ^.^}

Hanataba smiled with nary a thought. "Yes, I'd like that too." She said. She had just finished her ramen. "Thank you for the meal, Teuchi."

Looking back to Musashi, she grinned again. "Yeah, let's be friends then! Well, for now, I'll go. I'll see you later, we can talk more next time, I'd enjoy it." She said, standing from the table, and leaving money for Teuchi. "Bye now." Hanataba added, stepping from the shop.

{Exit}

Musashi nodded. He gave the old man his pay, and grinned. "Later, pops," he grinned, heading away from the ramen shop, fully fed, and glad to have made a new, pretty friend.

[[EXIT]]