Spit Balling an Idea [OPEN]

[Riku]

Riku leaned over the railing of a single story building, watching all the people pass through the crowded streets. An amused look on his face. sitting atop the ledge is a note book with some paper torn out of it. He held in one hand a straw. He'd stick some paper in his mouth and chew it up for a short while until it was just how he liked it then put the straw to his lips inserting the moist ball of paper into one end. Then with all his might, he exhaled all the contents of his lungs as hard as he could.

Down on the streets, he had hit windows and signs and even people. They didn't know where it was coming from. He watched them search for the culprit, but they never did find him on the roof. Every person he aimed for was hit by those spit soaked paper wads in the face. On the foreheads, cheeks, eyes, in the ears, he even manage to get one into some poor guy's mouth.

By his side was his partner in shenanigans, Tora. Another boy about the same again as Riku. Though Riku would be the only one able to see the boy as he was mere figment of his imagination. But to the young lad, Tora was as real as any other boy could be.

Riku giggled playfully after getting on in some boy's hair as Tora scoured the streets for his next victim. Who knows, he might even make this tactic useful in battle.

[WC: 258]

 

[Emi]

Emi trotted her way through the streets, wearing her signature bright smile. It was just a grocery trip. Not much, but some essentials. Tea, a few canned goods, and a new ribbon. The ribbon was the MOST essential, obviously. He only regret was having the money of an academy student so that she can't buy MOAR RIBBONS! She took a spare hand to dig through the bag until she found it. Giving a sigh of admiration, she twirled the silky fabric in her hand, and gave a mental pat on the back for a job well done. Many people didn't have the eye to spot the 1% tone difference from this bow, and the one in her hair, but SHE could, and that was all that mattered!

She tittered along the street like a dumb girl with gum in her brain until she turned the corner and into the target zone. People seemed a bit more wary here, and she couldn't help but wonder why. They seemed to be looking for something. Maybe there was a murderer on the loose! Or a kidnapper! Or... A thief... She mentally noted, shoving the precious fabric into her pocket quickly, her eyes whipping back and forth to make sure no one knew her (momentarily) most important secret... Or maybe-!... Emi shrugged, and began her little walk down the street once more, her bundle of groceries hugged tightly into her chest. Someone had probably just dropped a contact lens, or something.~

[MFT]
[WC: 250]

 

[Riku]

Both pre-teens searched the busy streets below for their next victims. That's when Riku noticed a young girl around his age. If fact, he recognized her. He squinted his currently sky blue eyes as if that would make him see better. "Is that...." He murmured under his breath as he was finally able to recall the girl he recognized. He had seen her at the Academy once before, but he had never talked to her. She was kinda cute.

"See someone?" Riku's imaginary friend, Tora, questioned after noticing Riku focusing in on someone. Tora's eye caught the sight of a pretty girl whom Riku had been fixated on. "Oh, she's a cutie. Why don't you go talk to her?" Tora teased with a sly grin.

Riku wasn't too fond of his best friend picking on him. "Ease up, Tora, she's just a girl from the academy." Riku tried to play off his infatuation of the young girl whose name he couldn't recall.

"Then you won't mind this!" Tora exclaimed as he blew an already prepared spitball right towards the young girl.

Riku watched in shock as there was nothing he could do to stop it. He turned towards Tora who had already vanished into thin air. Then his head snapped back towards the street and he prepared himself for all the blame. 'Damnit Tora...'

 

[Emi]

Emi's armed flailed the moment she felt the slight sting on her cheek, as if she was trying to fight off a swarm of bees. Her groceries were quickly flung about street, her mouth opening with alarm. "Ambush!" She whined, rubbing her cheek to notice what had hit her. Her eyes became disks of furry, while a deep red blush, and humiliated pout destroyed any chances they could have had at being intimidating. Not that her general stature, and pigtails didn't already do that.

Emi sank to the ground, scrambling to pick up everything she had just lost, the blush glowing that much brighter. Immediately after her eye shot about to find the perpetrator. Nothing seemed to be on ground-level. Only faces of mixed expressions. Some laughed, some looked surprised, and some seemed to understand the feeling. Her eyes snapped up searching the roofs, and her eyes locking onto her aggressors with intense disdain. She took a moment to seethe, and the throw a random can from her assortment. "Whaddya think you're doing!? Th-that's not funny!" She pouted up at him.

 

[Riku]

Riku's face brightened up a nice shade of red when the girl glared up and made eye contact with him. Not only was he caught red handed but he was ditched by his best friend to take the rap. Riku ducked out the way as the can soared through the air towards him. She had good arm and an amazing aim. But Riku felt so bad for Tora's action. How was he going to explain this one?

Retrieving the can from the roof top, Riku started to make his way down the fire escape until he was on level with the street. Jogging over to Emi's position, he kneeled down to help her pick up the rest of her groceries. "I'm so sorry, he didn't mean it." Riku stated vaguely before realizing he should explain further. "I actually wasn't the one who got you, that was my friend, Tora." He gazed back up to the roof top where he was stood preying on the innocent people in the streets. "He ditched me soon as he hit you though..." How crazy did this sound to her? After all, how could an imaginary being cause something so real to happen?

It was then that Riku realized he was in enemy territory now. Now only had he revealed himself to the girl who found him and call him out, but the other innocent targets on the street were eyeing him now. Noticing that the culprit to the spit balling menace was a sitting duck in their midst. Riku was in for some trouble now.

 

[Emi]

Emi's look was frozen in anger as the boy made his way down. Her fist was clenched, and ready to be thrown when he instantly dropped to pick up her things. He seemed so quick to apologize, and his face was an adorable shade of red. Her mouth curled into a nearly mischievous smile. As long as he was this sorry, she couldn't see a reason to do it again.

After a moment, she noticed the foul looks in the crowd. People smelling revenge, and the blood of weak deserving prey in the water. She quickly burst out into a nervous giggle, trying to salvage the situation. "H-heh. I'm really sorry about that, I'm pretty clumsy." She said a bit loud for everyone to hear, and stuffing the groceries back into the bag. "Um!... Thanks for all the help, but let me make it up to you okay? Lets go for tea, or somethin'!" She blurted out, the last word punctuated by a nervous laugh, as she quickly took the boys hand and began to lead him out of the street. She was a little upset, but those faces looked a little less reasonable than hers was.

 

[Riku]

The intensity of the crowd only continued to grow as more and more citizens realized who the Plaza spit ball enthusiast was. Riku could feel animosity growing. The boy glanced around to notice practically the entire street starring him down. His own tender amber eyes darted from one angry face to another. All they needed was some pitch forks and torches and they would be an angry mob. Something in Riku clicked. The hair on the back of his neck, as would everyone else in the plaza, would begin to rise. A tingling sensation tickling their skins. A sensation which would gradually grow as if RIku's body was activating a defensive mechanism to frighten off his predators.

But it all came to a sudden stop when Riku had become distracted as he was yanked away forcefully. His head snapped forward to take in the sight of Emi clasping his hand and stringing him along. She was holding his hands. Perhaps Riku took it out of context, but he couldn't help his cheeks turned a light shade of red. "Where are we going?" He asked, not really caring about the answer.

 

[Emi]

Emi ran down a series of alleyways, considering the question but not really taking the effort to dwell on it. "Um, how does away from the people staring daggers at you sound?" She said, stumbling over her words a bit with worry. She WAS going to pay him and his friend back for getting her with that spit ball, but she didn't want to see him torn limb from limb for having a laugh.

She finally came to stop in a vacant alley, huffing slightly. She wasn't so sure why she was tired. Maybe it was just the excitement of being surrounded in that much negative energy and foul looks. "I'm Emi. Pleased to meetcha'." She cooed, giving a small bow in greeting. "And don't think I'm not gonna make you pay me back for that!"

 

[Riku]

Though it was not the answer he was expecting, Riku didn't argue with it either. He did have to admit that the citizens of the plaza looked quite furious back there. Luckily they didn't bother to follow him. Put a bit of truth to the phrase kids will be kids by just shrugging off the young Riku. Emi had finally stopped after getting a safe distance away from the scene known as the Dawnbringer's Plaza and into some sketchy alley way.

Emi introduced herself with a small bow, making Riku feel a bit out of place for not being so classy. "I am RIku." The boy said with a slight rose pink tint coloring his cheeks. He was slightly embarrassed. Not by being saved by a girl, but by being put in some an awkward situation. Next time he saw Tora, he would have one hell of a bone to pick with him. "Th-thank you for saving my butt back there." Riku adverted his eyes down to focus on something else other than Emi's beauty. He located a puddle of water on the ground close to his feet and deicded that is what he would keep his eyes on. Maybe then he would be able to get his blushing under control. "Oh, I will. I'm sorry about my friend back there" He nervously laughed.

But his eyes suddenly caught a glimpse of something strange in the puddle. The reflection of something. A shadow? A person? It quickly began to grow in size. It was right then that Riku knew he must act quick. His hand grasped Emi's hand and pulled her towards and behind him out of the path of danger. The being that had jumped from the roof came swooping down, missing the girl and landed in front of Riku bearing a knife and attempting to slash at him. Though RIku's reactions were barely able to keep up, allowing him to dodge one slash after another. until his back had literally been put up against a wall 'Damn...' It was the only thought that went through Riku's mind as a knife was aimed for his neck. His only saving grace was the fact that he had caught the perpetrators arm with his own hands. They struggled against one another with a blade just inches from Riku's neck. One threatening while the other protected. "Just give me all your money and I won't finish you right here." The man threatened.

Riku remembered in a self defense course that thieves who were willing to go this far would simply lie to get what they want. If Riku gave in here, the man would not hesitate to kill both him and Emi. And he would be damned before letting that happened. That same switch as before clicked inside of Riku. Eyes flashing a bright golden color as the hair on the nape of his neck rose. A static crackling filled the air until. Becoming physically visible as the seconds passed. The man shouted in pain as Riku's hands had become electrified. The knife fell from his hands to the ground as the electricity caused his nerves to spasm. With a scornful look on his face, the man left in fear of being electrocuted again. Riku fell to his knees. Suddenly feeling drained of energy. "Emi...are you....alright...?"


[MFT]
[WC:557]

 

[Emi]

Emi's eyes ran over the boy. For such a hooligan, he certainly was timid. His voice seemed meek in comparison to how she figured his sort might wield it. It was a bit cute in a way. She wondered just what changed his act up. What begged at her mind even more was why exactly he wasn't looking at her. She looked down to the puddle holding his gaze, simply trying to find what was so interesting down there.

She would squeal as she was yanked forward, no knowing what to expect. She landed on her face, and scrambled to her back to see the armed figure. Her heart was racing, and her head felt light. She watched the two dance in combat, as she made a few shaky hand signs as fast as her fear addled mind could. As Riku was pinned, she threw her arm out to use her Water Gun Jutsu, but there was no reaction. She couldn't focus at all. Here this boy protected her, and she was helpless.

Emi lifted her arm to protect her eyes from the light of Riku's technique. He kept a cool head even as he was the target. When he asked he she was okay, and collapsed, she wiped the mud across her cheek with an utterly humiliated, doing little to actually remove it. What a shameful way for a ninja to act. She sat on her legs across from the boy, fighting of the urge to cry and complete her shame. "I'm fine, thank you... Are you okay?" She asked, hanging her head, unable to meet his eyes.

 

[Riku]

"I'm glad." Riku said as he struggled to push himself to his knees only to fall back on his rear. A strange feeling over coming his entire being. Almost as if his body was being run like a generator powered by electricity. It was strange...but in a good way. What was this power?

Riku glanced over at Emi Who did look so well. "I'll be fine.." He wasn't quite sure what to do, he had never been in such a situation before. Not only with an attacking threatened to kill him but also with a girl who seemed sad. The guy in him kicked in, trying to fix a problem at all cost. "Don't be sad, we're safe now." Riku used his remaining strength to push himself to his feet. He extended a hand out to Emi to help her up as well, giving her a brilliant smile as if their lives weren't just threatened by some random street thug.

"Let's get out of the alleys before someone else around here tries something." Riku stated, worried that it might happened again. And that if it did, he wouldn't be able to fend them off. Not knowing exactly what happened, he wasn't even sure if he could do it again. Or if he even had the energy to do it again. "Allow me to walk you home." The boy asked with a pink tint coloring his cheeks once more. Even his new found power couldn't help him with the girls.


[MFT]
[WC:252]

 

[Emi]

Emi continued to wipe at the mud on her cheek. She saw the boy's hand but couldn't really stomach taking it. He did all of that, she could at least stand on her own. She looked down at her filthy clothes, then at the groceries that had been flung about once more. Surely the bulk of them were ruined by now. She wiped a bit of dirt from her outfit, before moving back to her knee's to pick up her artifacts. She wanted to be mad at him for getting her into this, but couldn't considering he had gotten her out of it. For now, she was genuinely glad the both of them were relatively unharmed.

She stood back up once the groceries were gathered for the too-maniest time today. She could only manage a nod in response to his request. She had certainly had enough of that for the day. The only thing she really wanted for now was to go home, and get into a bath, and sleep. Pretty sad considering the hour. She would need to re-consider herself as a ninja, but put it off for later. "Thank you..." She finally managed, her eyes still unable to meet his. "I-I'll show you the way." She offered turning on one heel, and making her way home. As sad as it seemed to her, she was glad to have an escort after that.

 

[Riku]

Riku couldn't help but feel sorry. Emi was still sad. Maybe even more sad. And Riku couldn't help as much as he wanted to. Emi gathered her groceries and stood on her own, rejecting the hand he had offered. She thanked him then turned around to show him the way home. At least she would allow him to escort her home. He was glad she would give him that at least. So he followed the girl silently hoping that there would be no more attempted muggins. Both already had their fill for the day.

He had so much on his mind, so many questions to ask. What happened just then? That spark. That powerful sensation filling his being. But even with all that on his mind, it was being overshadowed by the saddened girl leading him. Soon, they would emerge from the alley way to the streets populated by ordinary citizens. Ones that didn't want to rob them.

"I'm sorry." He blurted out just loud enough for her to hear. "If you hadn't saved me from what would have been an angry mob, we would have never ended up in such a situation." Thinking back, they were only in the alley way due to fleeing from a group of outrage citizens. People Who were angry cause Riku had rained a barrage of spit balls upon them. "I hope you can forgive me."

 

[Emi]

Emi staggered down the streets, still taken aback from what had just happened. This shouldn't be a big deal to her right? She joined the academy to learn how to do just that. Fight people. But that man's intent. His ferocity. Did she have it in her to look at a life with so little value. Her arms naturally hugged the bags deeper into her stomach. The mere idea that she might turn out as anything similar was cause for disgust. He thoughts moved her deeper inward. The crowds became a deafening silence, broke only by the sound of her breathing. An absolutely unbearable sensation.

His voice broke through, eliciting a small jump of surprise from her. How long had she zoned out? Were they there yet? Registering the words, she shook her head furiously. That's right it's all your fault! I was just shopping, and if you hadn't hit me-!... I-I would have went home alone... And if he hadn't been there. She whipped her body around in an instant, bringing herself to face Riku. "N-not at all! I'm sorry! He attacked you, a-and I froze! I just couldn't do it, I tried!" After a moment of choking on what she was to say next, she turned back suddenly, hoping he didn't catch her growing redness.

She felt a growing conflict within her. Two greatly different paths. She was a ninja now. She would aspire to be great, whatever the costs. However, what could she really do? She could try healing, and avoid descending into such a heartless state of mind, while helping people and her comrades. Or she could be like Riku. Fearless. Strong. And never need someone to protect her like that again.

 

[Riku]

Riku could tell that this conversation was going no where. No matter how they looked at it, they each saved one another from a dangerous situation. Riku was both thankful for her, and sorry for getting her in such a situation. He had to make it up to her some how. But the question is how?

"Hey Emi.." Riku trailed off when he glanced towards her, noticing her face. He could see her hiding her emotions. It showed. "To make up for ruining your groceries, I could take you to get something to eat some time." Slyly asking Emi out, Riku's eyes averted away from her beauty as so he could avoid the inevitable blush upon his face. He awaited a response. Both excited and scared of an answer. It didn't matter what reply she would give him, he didn't know what to do anyways. This was a first for him.

Sorry it took so long for a post. Was in a rut for a while on what to do.

 

[Emi]

Emi gave a harsh swallow, and tugged at the collar of her shirt, feeling everything extremely tight now. She wasn't sure if she was blushing because a boy just asked her out, or because she had thoroughly humiliated herself several times in the past few hours. How could she know? This was the first for both. She had never been asked out, and honestly didn't expect something like for many many years. To hear it from someone that just hit her with a spit ball was as frustrating as it was flustering. At least he wasn't some creepy looking guy.

Emi's thoughts seemed to be becoming more frayed by the minute. Mentally, she hadn't caught a breath in some time. She needed sleep, but first she had to get there. More importantly, could she realistically say no to the person that just saved her from being beaten, robbed, killed, or... Much much worse? She finally turned her head to face Riku, and hand nervously combing through one of her pony tails. "S-sure Riku, that sounds found." She managed in a meek tone, and offering a gentle smile. Was there any other answer she could really give him? It wasn't so bad.

After a moment of thinking, her face grew a worried look. "Y-you make sure to tell your friend he can't come, okay?" She requested in an surprisingly genuine tone, lacking the hostility she tended to wield when frustrated. She had to imagine his friend was about as strong as he was, but less benevolent. Her mind toyed with several grim possibilities before coming to the conclusion that if she ever met this person, he would kill her on a whim.

[MFT]
[WC:290]

 

[Riku]

She said yes? She said yes! Riku was ecstatic at her response but attempted to conceal it. 'Gotta be cool, don't screw it up.' After all, it's not over yet. Asking someone out was supposedly the easy part. Next came the actual date. Oh how awkward it would be for two young child, simple pre-teens, to go out together. Soon, the duo would find out.

"Of course, he won't be there. I promise." Riku said with a smile. Speaking of Tora, Riku needed to have a chat with him. He had quite a bit to talk about. But that was for another time.

The two students leisurely strolled right int the housing district of the village. Soon enough they would come up on Emi's home where he could bid her a good day. "It was lovely to meet you, Emi. I look forward to to seeing you again." Riku said, the blush returning to his face. This time, however, he wouldn't advert his eyes.

 

[Emi]

Emi kept her nervous smile through the boy's words. She was definitely happy to know the other boy wouldn't be there. She had had enough excitement for now. She forced herself to think of this date as more of a reward than an actual romantic engagement. She barely knew this person after all, and even she knew she was far too young for that sort of thing.

She gave a small bow, preparing to take leave into her home.Yes, I'm happy to meet you too! Although we should meet on better terms next time." She giggled a bit timidly, and rubbed the back of her head with a single hand. "S-so when should I expect to meet you?"

 

[Riku]

Good question. Riku hadn't really thought of it. In his mind, he had a date with a cute girl. From the stories his parents told him, things just kind of fell into place from there. However, without an exact date, it would be difficult to continue. "How about this Saturday? Is noon alright?" Vague, but at least he had the day and time down. And why so early? They were young kids and not supposed to be out too late. Plans started to form in Riku's mind for what he wanted to do for this date. Which would he choose? 'I hope nothing goes wrong...' the thought crossed his mind. That's all he needed was another mugger or killer to cross his path while out with Emi again.

"I can come and pick you up around that time and we'll go from there." Riku stated with another gentle smile and light blush on his face as he glanced in Emi's direction.

 

[Emi]

Emi nodded, still wearing her sickly nervous smile. "S-Sound's lovely. I'll be sure to be ready." She barely managed past a stutter, her tone polluted with uncertainty, and her cheeks still a bit rosey. With her plan set, she finally turned and entered her house, preparing to go no where for the rest of the unspeakably unfortunate day.