A/N: Originally posted on Tumblr earlier today, as a contribution to the first day's prompt of the RuroKen Week, 'lesson or technique'.
Misao ran through the woods. Senses hightened and at top speed – fast legs and light feet on the forest floor. Bole, jump; puddle, leap; branch, duck. She could feel it, She was right on his tails. She'd get him for sure.
Black berries, remember for later; twig, hop; spider web, side step. She noted she was going quite a bit into the woods.
There! She'd spotted him. He was hers.
From behind a tree she watched as Han'nya sat meditating 'neath the green canopy of a weeping willow. With a fluid movement she drew three previously invisible kunai. The vibrations stirred the air just enough to cause a sound only audible to dogs, and maybe Aoshi-sama. He'd be so impressed if she caught Han'nya by surprise! 'Decent work, Misao-san,' he'd say in that neutral tone of his. Cool as a stone, but she wouldn't be fooled by his aloof demeanor, she never was. Besides, stones heated up when left in a sunny place… And sure as the ticking of a clock were the warm and bright traits of the Sun her character's own. She allowed a small grin to light up her face. She could hear him even now. Maybe he'd have a thing or two to say to Han'nya too. She had to suppress a snicker at the thought.
She inhaled and exhaled silently and crouched into position, drew her arm backwards and up. A fly landed on her forehead. She registered it, but let it; nothing would now come between her and her target.
"Misao-chan." Her eyes widened in horror. "If you sink half a centimeter deeper into your pose, your throw will gain twice the amount of force."
In one leap she stood before him. "You couldn't even see me, nor hear me! Han'nya-san, how!" The arms of the girl were flailing wildly. "Han'nya-san, I had you!"
"No. You thought you had me." The statement was unforgiving, but not unkind. "You were thinking of your success before it was yours. It gave away your ki from way over there," he motioned to a place even further than where she had been hiding.
She let her frustrating mistake sink in. "Han'nya-san…"
"C'mon. Train with me. And then you go and surprise Beshimi."
Her eyes brightened at that and she bent over, whispering in a conspiring tone: "And then…"
"Yes," the masked man agreed, not needing the rest of the sentence. "After that…"
She knew that behind his mask he was sharing her maniacal grin. The Okashira had her coming for him...