Mirrors in the Sand(Rai x GaaraXask/invite)

[Haku]

Contination from What does it mean? a meeting in the storm

Players: Gaara of the Sand, Rai of Suna and Haku formerly of Kiri Alias Yuki Shira

Part two of my last post in 'What does it mean?'

A little time later as the sun was getting higher a small group wander in the desert heading for a spot of green and blue in the distance. Haku quietly fallowed Gaara at a short distance from him. He was privately debating weather or not to turn tail and speed as fast as he could way from the suna ninja. It was a toss up between reason and his curiosity. Then there was the girl to think of she had wanted him to teach her and had used an interesting argument to say the least. “What weight do you two carry in suna that you could make such a claim? Who knows if I’ll ever be back this way or that you will see me?” He didn’t say no outright because he wanted to gain some more information in a backwards manner. He wasn’t going to let on that the girl was being to free with her information because then she would likely shut up and fast.

He still carried the remaining eighteen ice senbon and the water canteen provided by the girl. Haku would put both to good use when they got where they were going. He would have to thank the girl in some manner for the use of her water. Haku knew she didn’t have to do so and he gave her credit for even letting him near her. “What is your name, miss? If I’m going to give your instruction I should have something to call you. Or would you rather I continue to refer to you as miss? It’s your choice of course.” He called half over his shoulder and glancing sideways at her. It was still rather cool but warming steadily as the sand absorbed the heat from the sun. Haku felt his stomach growl and recalled that he hadn’t eaten sense before entering the country some hours ago. He had food with him and was half tempted to eat it right then. Although he hadn’t anticipated the storm he had expected to be gone all night, preferably in a place with a bed and a means to get food. He had brought his own just as security measure and was now grateful that he had thought ahead. It was dried traveling food but better then nothing at all as he knew well. It was his bout with street living that caused him to always have some food on hand. It was also why he did much of the domestic work round the camp.

[raiwatanabe]

Rai followed along with Gaara and Yuki slowly, pacing herself in the heat of the desert. It was only a little further to the oasis. Still, the strain was not simply walking the distance, but avoiding letting too much information free to the hunter-nin. Regardless of her attempts, she could not avoid being in a position of weakness during this exchange. She wanted what Yuki had, and he would be unwilling to provide it without some motivation. However, she did not yet know what his motivations were. If she could just have known that, she could get somewhere.

"We are simply genin now, but as you suggested, with Gaara's talents, he could easily become someone of great influence. As for myself, you don't know what I am capable of achieving unless you show me how to better improve." She waited for a moment, wondering when he would speak again. It was a struggle, but she would not say anymore, not until she was asked.

Then came the obvious question: her name. She was hesitant to let it out, not really for her father's reputation, and the possible link a foreign shinobi might make to it. Rather, it was for the protection of her mother and grandfather. Looking over her shoulder to Gaara, she wondered if what she was doing was right.

"Miss works just fine," she answered calmly.

[Gaara of the Sand]

Gaara hadnt spoke since they departed from the rock cavern. He hadnt been sure what to make of Yuki's words. He'd make a good leader...but needed more than skill alone? How would he, the feared Gaara of the Sand, ever lead Suna? He had half wanted to say something, or at least react in some way, but he cast the thoughts aside. Gaara almost found it a bit...enlightening that someone believed he could lead. Then again, this Yuki person was not from here...how much would his vote count in a ballot for some sort of leader? The best Gaara could assume was that the type of leader Yuki was talking about was Kazekage.

...I would like to see that happen.... Gaara had thought sarcastically. His father, the current Kazekage, wanted him dead. There was no way that he even had the slightest possibility of being considered to be Kazekage's replacement. However, Gaara hadnt let this sit in his mind for all too long on the journey. The sun had made it high in the sky by the time Gaara led them to the oasis closest to Suna. Somehow, Gaara knew it was closest, he couldnt explain it though.

He had to admit that he was very faintly amused by the recent exchange between Yuki and his Suna counterpart after they had first been able to see the oasis. Concerning her name...Gaara didnt have the faintest idea, but he didnt care all too much to think of it. However, Yuki had been polite to ask, but his fellow Suna-nin rather pushed him off like he was some sort of pest. Although Gaara didnt see too much harm in giving out a name, he could guess why she was hesitant, and he said nothing because of such.

Having finally reached the oasis, he increased his stride length to get just a touch in front of the other two. He walked to the edge of the water and looked around. There were a few palm trees bordering the fresh water, and an abandoned shack. Turning to face both of them, he spoke plainly "...Well...we're here. You should prepare yourself in any way necessary. It's only fair because, as you said, I have the advantage..."

[Haku]

"Alright miss as you wish." He gave a small nod and smiled in a friendly sort of way. to be honest he had partially expected as much. He actually commended her for growing some sense. It showed promise and good hopes for the future. If she could learn from watching it should be interesting. The fight was just about to begin. When they reached to oasis his smile warmed. It was lovely just to be nearly flowing water again. Setting his things down, he walked to the water's edge and took off his shoes. He did this because he didn't want to dirty the water. Haku proceeded to walk on the water as though it was solid beneath his feet. it was a trick of control that most genin's master at some point in their training. Crouching down he cupped the water in his hands and then dumped on his head and shoulders.

"You do have the advantage but we've leveled the playing field some what, I think." to emphasize his point he flicked water at the girl and motioned for her to come to the edge. “The water is quite fine, miss. He still smiled but it had turned into something cold and menacing. Haku knew what the choice of mirror meant. He wanted to see what they thought of one of his favorite traps. "Now if you don't want to get caught I'd suggest you get to the other side of the water. If you'd like to see this thing from the inside just tell me or go to stand by Gaara." Haku's tone was business like and professional as could be. This was a game after all.

Haku ran through a series of half-seals, one handed versions of normal two handed seals. They were fairly quick set of seals and he was taught to do most everything rapidly. The mirrors came together slowly as there wasn’t as much moisture in the air as in some of the other places. there were twenty-one in all twelve at ground level eight above those and one completely horizontal from which Haku could attack some ones head dropping down and disappearing the next instant into another mirror. His speed while using the mirror was so fast that normal speed seemed slow by comparison. The naked eye would not be able to fallow his movements. Only those with genetic vision enhancements would be able to do that. Haku could merge with the mirrors and travel through them instantly. If he wanted to get from one side to the other he would need to leave the mirror and enter another. Haku can leave or enter any mirror he chooses. His image appears on all of them from the inside but only the one he’s in from the outside. This jutsu takes a lot out of Haku and he is winded afterwards. He can maintain it for a hour at most then it shatters into white fragments on its own.

Haku walked to the edge of the water and slipped his shoes back on. He walked to the nearest mirror and pressed his hands up against it leaning forward. His hands slide easily through hard surface as if it wasn’t there. His head and shoulders fallowed then his lower and finally his legs. The dome from the inside was a single crystal icy clear corridor with clear openings. Haku felt it was one of the more beautiful and deadly sights in his current life. It symbolized himself and his master. It also showed his commitment to Zabuza’s dream. He would do anything be anything to see it come true.

[raiwatanabe]

It was an interesting choice. Would she stand in the center of whatever technique this hunter-nin would use, or stand behind and outside, observing from a safe distance? As much as she wanted to understand the technique, Rai considered safety might be the best option in this case.

Standing behind the hunter-nin, she was not able to observe the hand seals he used. Cursing herself for this, Watanabe tried to remind herself the shinobi was probably too fast for her to recognize the seals, anyway. However, she did notice he had once again used only one hand. However, she did notice Gaara's reaction to the formation of the ice mirrors, and knew the boy saw her hands twitch nervously as she took a step back.

Yuki, whoever he was, definitely surpassed her own limited skills. But, would he surpass Gaara? If he did, what, she wondered, would happen? If Gaara won, though, she was starting to wonder if the stories were true about the boy.

The series of mirrors were incredible. Rai stood in awe for a moment, then reverted to a sense of dread. Would she always feel this far behind the others? Would it always come down to her being outclassed, or could she somehow find a way to develop a technique like this?

Sitting on the raised sand just beyond the water, she did not want to seem indifferent to Gaara's life being in jeopardy at this "game" of theirs. However, what was there for her to do, if anything? She couldn't compete against them, not by any means.

[Gaara of the Sand]

Gaara eyed Yuki critically as he stepped onto the water. It was strange…Yuki seemed to want to be one with the water. He took off his shoes and stepped onto the water daintily as though he feared harming it. The next thing he did seemed even more peculiar to Gaara…he cupped the water up and tossed it over himself. That was rather strange…he seemed like he wanted to be in the water more than anything.

Gaara picked his head up a very small bit as Yuki spoke. Indeed…we have leveled the playing field…but you don’t have the faintest idea what youre up against. Gaara thought maliciously But then again… it occurred to him Neither do I…. Gaara’s head turned a very slight bit as Yuki began to talk to his Suna counterpart. He warned her to go to the other side of the water…unless she wanted a second-hand view of what it was like. Gaara’s eyes narrowed. Now what could be so bad that Yuki wanted her to move to the other side of the water?

The next move was Yuki’s. He once again ran through the one-handed hand seals that were so peculiar to Gaara. Ice… Gaara thought. Last time Yuki did that, he had created ice sebon. However, there was very little water there. Now that there was a good deal of it…what would be next. He’d been asked mist or mirror. Mist, Gaara knew, was created from water. However…what did the mirrors do? Ice was sort of reflective like mirrors. But… Gaara could only wonder what awaited him. Would it be interesting? Would it be a challenge? Anything compared to the constant attempts on his life by the Kazekage would be interesting.

As soon as the hand seals were done, Gaara’s attentive eyes captured everything that was happening. The Suna nin had heeded Yuki’s warning, and crossed to safer area. Ice slabs were appearing out of thin air…all around him. Except..they were ice, so they had to be made of water…which is why Yuki had wanted a greater water source. It makes sense now… Gaara thought. He crossed his arms as the mirrors formed all around him at hip-level. Then they were sort of slanted towards the top, with one directly above him. It was quite a jutsu, but Gaara remained still as ever, yet to be fully impressed.

Yuki got his shoes back on and did possibly the strangest thing Gaara had ever seen. He pressed himself against the mirror…and sank..into it. Gaara’s eyes widened slightly and his head turned a little as he looked at the reflections that appeared as Yuki sank into the mirror. Copies of Yuki came from every angle. Well this is interesting… Gaara thought. Setting a deadly smirk on his face, Gaara figured he could play a little.

Putting some of his chakra into his sand in the gourd, he drew all of it out of the gourd. It rotated around him, fidgeting and twitching as though it were alive. It was his quickest sand…and his most deadly. However..he wouldn’t attack with it yet. He would defend. But for now...Gaara poured some of his chakra into the sand at his feet. It drew up, in spikes like it previously had been in the cave. Except, it flickered like flames as it moved from side to side. The darker sand from his gourd moved in a calm circle around him at shoulder level. No matter how quick, his sand was faster, and it would always defend him.

”Good luck landing a hit…” Gaara hinted maliciously. ”Now…lets play.” he said, with a cold smile.

[Haku]

"Yes lets get started." He agreed amiably. His voice was a bit mufflied.Haku nodded slightly as he watched the sand surround gaara. That was to be expected of the sand wielder. He wouldn’t have to worry about killing this one. That sand should be able to catch much of what he threw and he would fix what it didn’t catch when the game was over. Haku felt that this game would be mutually beneficial to all parties, which is why he suggested to it in the first place. Gaara with his strange and unique defense could not be mortally wounded by just his senbon and that make Haku feel better about the whole thing. He could aim at any and all pressure points and still be sure of his survival at the end of the day. This jutsu was designed so that he could be sure of his opponents survival on the whole, although they appeared to be to the entire world dead. It was designed by him to separate teams and pick them off one by one.

Haku preferred to leave his opponents alive and wiser if possible. One of the few exceptions to this rule were hunter-nins and anyone who dares threaten Zabuza’s well being. For with them he had no mercy or kindness. This makes seems though as Zabuza had become Haku’s meaning in life. Its down sides include the sheer amount of energy it took to maintain it and the fact that he was almost completely focused on the inside. If Zabuza got into trouble while he was using this jutsu he might not know it until late. This was a calculated risk however as how often did the great demon of the mist get into that much trouble? Haku had great faith in Zabuza’s abilities and thought he could do no wrong by him or anyone else. Gruff Zabuza might be but Haku had come to view this as a sign of his worth. Haku knew that if he didn’t prove that worth then Zabuza would kill him or leave him behind which was the same thing in him eyes. He never wanted to be abandoned to the streets again, he would die first.

Needles flew and rained down from above and on all sides as Haku began his attack on Gaara. He moved in a blur changing position at random but always raining needles down. Let’s see how many your sand can catch before you’re a pincushion gaara. Haku aimed with deadly accuracy at gaara pressure points. He was moving faster then the eye could see but still staying in the mirrors where he was safe. He knew that if he tried to leave the mirror that demonic sand would get him. He paused for breath briefly so that he could survey his handy work and take a look at rai... the girl was just sitting on the ground. that would never do. He had wanted her to see things. The ground inside the dome was littered with steel needles. He leaned back ward beckoning to rai with one hand out of the mirror. His hand was three dimensional in stark contrast to the rest of him body which was two dimensional! "like what you see?" Haku called back to the girl from within the mirrors. he was try to engage the girl but she wasn't making it very easy. also he could take his eyes full of that dancing sand.

[raiwatanabe]

Rai stared out at the mass of senbon pouring down over Gaara. She resisted the urge to scream, but only barely. Even seeing the boy's defenses in action, she knew it was only the fact this was a game that Gaara was not in any true danger. As for herself, well, she couldn't be sure how the situation would play out.

To think this was the person she wanted to learn from...

All she could do was sit and watch. Even when the boy tried to engage her in some form of conversation, what was there for her to say? She was in no position to critique.

"It's, well... it's nice..."

[Gaara of the Sand]

When Yuki spoke, his voice came out muffled. Gaara assumed it was because of the ice surrounding him. Water muffled sound enough, so ice would obviously be worse considering it was solid. Yuki was silent for some time after he spoke, as though thinking and/or analyzing the situatio nat hand. He could tell Yuki already made note of his ultimate defense. So then what is your point in the fight? Gaara wondered, his cold eyes illuminated slightly from the light refracting off the ice mirrors.

Despite the silence, Gaara knew better than to relax even in the slightest with an opponent as unique as Yuki. Then the attack came as suddenly as Gaara's antagonistic actions in the cave had come. The next thing Gaara saw was a flash in the mirrors of Yuki's hands before senbon came from all angles. Gaara barely needed to twitch his hands and the sand formed an oval=like cocoon around him.

The sound of Yuki's voice reached through the darkness towards Gaara's head How long until I'm a pincusion, eh? Gaara asked sarcastically back in his head. The steel senbon thunked dully against the sand around him...he knew this Yuki person was moving incredibly fast, but he wasnt willing to find out how fast today. The dull thunking of needles embedding themselves in sand had ceased, and Gaara parted the sand, a crack's width so that he could stare haughtily out.

The ground was covered in shining silver senbon, so Gaara imagined his cocoon was looking about the same. Wriggling the sand, Gaara heard the senbon click against each other. Guess its my turn for a counter-attack now, huh? Gaara thought. Now...what could he do? He closed the sand around himself to think, but then...it came to him.

A night without much excitement had caused the beast inside him to get rather restless, and Gaara felt that he should entertain it in the very least. Gaara melted the sand around him, causing all of the needles to fall to the ground. The sand separated again, the desert sand dancing around his feet, and his darker, bloodied sand shifting around his shoulder height. He moulded Shukaku's vile, potent chakra into the dark sand, letting its bloodlust fill the air with an uncomfortable feel to it. He quickly formed some hand seals and sent the sand around him straight towards the mirror he'd seen Yuki go into. But that wasnt all, he raised the sand around him like a spout from water, enclosing it around his body like a wave. He fired the sand from the spout at every mirror, including the one directly above him. While the sand covered him, he melted his gourd into a protective layer around him and sunk into the sand as though it was water.

He had taken a breath before doing so, and moved quickly using the sand to part and pull him along. Releasing the attempt at mirror-shattering, he had no idea if he had succeeded. I'll find out when my oxygen elapses... he thought, wondering what Yuki's reaction to his vanishing act would be.

[Haku]

The tables turned in a spilt second. When gaara smashed his sand into the mirrors many things happened at once.Haku leapt from the broken mirror back wards landing gracefully on the water. He had to perform a somersault to get back up right. He sank in a bit then with some effort managed to stablize himself on the water. He stood and servayed his damaged mirror from the safety of the lake. many of them were scratched some badly so. Appearntly sand was abrasive enough to cuase some scratches in his normally very strong and unbreakable ice. It was an unexpected reaction but then most of this trip had been unexpected in some way or another. Few of the Mirrors had been utterly destoryed including the one he had just been in and the one from above. The Damage was of the Twenty-one mirrors fourteen were now intacted. All twelve of the lower ones were intacted and only two of the ones above. Haku was intrigued that Gaara could destory that many with one blow or even a sereis of blows. THis would make him or his sand Demonicly strong as he had strangthened those mirrors to with stand anything but a blow from the demon of the mist.

He puased to catch his breath then walk straight towards the remaining mirror. Haku gently pushed them aside and stepped into the dome. He wanted to examine his mirrors from the outside. He had an eye trained on gaara though as he walked around the ring feeling the scratches and in some places very deep gouges. the deepest ones he saw were nine inches deep! He ran his finger along the edge of one and cut himself. He stuck his figure in his mouth without a sound. Sucking on his finger he wanted to see if he could merge with the scratched mirrors safely. Haku didn't try yet as he noticed gaara had disappeared into the sand.

Haku patiantly waited for Gaara to re appear he wanted to talk to him.

[raiwatanabe]

Observing the two fight, Rai winced. She had assumed initially that Gaara was outclassed. As much as she heard about the Kazekage's son, perhaps she was more conservative in her estimates than others in Suna would allow. However, as the battle progressed, it was clear fighting in a desert, and Gaara's own unique assets would eventually overpower the hunter-nin.

She found herself rising to her feet, unable to sit still as Yuki jumped from mirror to mirror. How was such a technique possible? The human body could not be broken down and transported as light alone through materials such as ice or glass. It had to be an illusion, perhaps an elaborate genjutsu? That would make some sense.

One advantage to observing the battle, however, were the ideas forming in her head. The positioning, attacks, and defenses of these two were perfect examples of what she should have been learning all this time. Rather than simple infantry tactics, it was this interplay of illusion, ninjutsu technique, and bluff that made the difference between simply being a soldier, and being a shinobi. Perhaps, she considered, it was this mysticism, this illusion of being an invincible, inhuman creature, which gave each shinobi their advantage.

She would have to think on this further.

[Gaara of the Sand]

Gaara stayed beneath the sand for a little over a minute, until his oxygen ran out. Gaara formed a specific handseal and slowly pulled himself towards the surface. He wasnt too far beneath, about six inches at most. From the second his mouth and nose broke surface, he automatically opened his mouth so he could take a deep breath of air. His breathing was irregular for a few seconds until he got it under control once again, and then he walked forward. He observed his work mildly with hardly moving eyes as he stepped between a gap in the lower mirrors.

He didnt bother to count how many mirrors were there before his original assault, but there were noticeably less than before. Some were scratched and not destroyed. This didnt bother Gaara in the slightest. He did give Yuki some credit, though. Being a primarily water-and-ice user, and given that they were in the middle of the desert, Gaara's best guess was that the mirrors were not nearly as strong as they normally would be. He took his stand in the middle of the circle of mirrors as calmly as before. Since he had dissolved his gourd to surround him to enable him to push through the underground, he felt noticeably lighter. However, something was different. Yuki was not in the mirrors.

Turning to the right slightly, Gaara's pale eyes searched just behind the mirrors for Yuki and found him relatively easily. Blinking, Gaara walked forward slowly, pulling his sand out of the ground and separating it from the normal sand. As he did so, the darker sand belonging to him rose to the top and sifted itself until it was completely separate. This would take another few minutes at most, so he had time to talk. Assuming that is what he intends to do... Gaara thought.

Since Yuki hadnt returned to his mirrors, Gaara guessed he was playing safety, but he kept his guard up. Glancing to the girl from Suna, who was on the opposite side of the oasis, he stared at her for a good few seconds. Her expression was a mixture of reactions, and Gaara assumed they were directed at Yuki's technique, which Gaara silently admitted was rather impressive. Also, she was on her feet. Gaara kept her eyes on her calmly until he reached the area just in front of the ring of mirrors. He didnt step outside of them, crossed his arms and looked at Yuki.

For a moment, he thought of what to say, before he finally spoke. "Well?" he said expectantly, before he almost hurriedly added"...Impressive technique..."

[Haku]

Haku watched quietly as Gaara seemed to melt up from the sand or maybe the sand moved away revealing him. It didn't matter at the the moment, He thought of what he wanted to say to the boy. i'll muse on the actual mancanics of it later when i'm safe back in Wave. Speaking of which... "your abilities are impresive as well."He motioned to the scratches that gaara had created. " i don't mind telling you that this doesn't happen often." He backed away as he was talking his ice mirrors catching the sunlight as they shattered into a millon peices. He had released the mirrors, it took alot of engery to make them solid and these were damaged. they werent worth the effort anymore and besides he was sure if they would be effective as they were against Gaara. He just didn't have time to come up with something new to try in the next five seconds. The shards cuased a glinting glittery glare as they fell.

He had to mantain a concous will to hold his mirrors togather or they shattered on there own.They made an interesting destraction he supposed. This was a weakness that he was trying to over come. He was having indifferant sucess with it but had not stopped trying to work the kinks out. Also he had never tried to summon the broken shards of ice and reform them into some thing else. After this fight he might just have to do that.

" Have we played enough for today or do you want to continue, your choice." Haku puased to consider what to try next as he stood on the edge of the pool. He would let gaara make the next move he dicided as he got to his pack and pull out some traveling food. This would be his breakfest and he planned to enjoy it. He returned to stand out in the middle of the pool and began to eat. In his seemingly relaxed state he considered both of the young genin.

[raiwatanabe]

Rai just stood there, watching in surprise. Yuki was definitely not someone she wanted to mess with. As he sat and ate, Watanabe moved quietly, taking a seat next to Yuki. She studied every movement, trying to obtain some form of insight as to his training techniques. There was no question Yuki noticed Rai's staring, but whether he was annoyed or not, she could not tell.