Rai ran into the village looking for Batsu and Ai, when she found them they were eating snow cones together at the edge of the village. Just as Rai was about to approach, Ai and Batsu kissed, surprised Rai jumped into the nearby bushes, blushing. What was that? Thought Rai as she tried to calm herself. Have they always been like that. She continued to think. "I'm a little surprised too." A voice said behind Rai. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she slowly turned to see who was behind her. Looking behind her she saw nothing but another bush, feeling a tap on the back of her head Rai rolled away and faced the person. The woman was bent over looking through the bushes at Ai and Batsu "Sensei?" Rai asked unsure.
The woman turned around with her hands on her hips and another pair of arms crossed "Who else did you think it was sweetie?"Asked Rai's Sensei. Rai rubbed the back of her head, feeling silly and mortified she started saying "I'm not really sure, Nala Sensei." Nala looked at her adorable student and smiled saying "It's a little to close to the exams for you to be getting all weird on me." Rai looked down at the ground saying "Yes Sensei." Nala turned her attention back toward her other pupils, looking back at Rai from the corner of her eye saying "You are ready for this, correct?" Questioned Nala. Rai nodded her head furiously, "Then you had better keep your chin up, so your teammates remain confident in your abilities." Rai stood there for a moment unmoving as she thought about her squad mates, and how she didn't want to let them down. With a look of determination Rai slowly nodded her head. "Good then lets leave these two alone for now, tomorrows the big day, you all ship out to Banju. Rai paused as her heart began to beat rapidly she had forgotten how close the exams were. She was so caught up in her insecurities, she forgot to pack.
"Uhm, Sensei I have to go home and. . . uh, do stuff." Rai said with a shallow laugh as she began to walk past her Sensei, then start running. Nala just shook her head smirking as she thought about her lovely students. Ai and Batsu continued to make out as they held each other tightly " Wow, why don't you just mount him already and get it over with." Said a woman approaching Ai and Batsu. They quickly released one another, their faces red with embarrassment. "What do want Aya?" Ai asked her big sister as she looked off to the side. "I, think I'm gonna get going, Ai" said Batsu as he began to slowly back away. Ai reached out toward him saying "No don't, she's not gonna be here for long." Ai switched her attention to her sister and continued "Right?" Aya grinned devilishly "No this will take sometime, run along Kajina-san." Ai frowned, Batsu bowed to Aya and ran off. "I hate you." Said Ai to her sister. Aya laughed at Ai's words "Come now, it's not like he couldn't have said no." Said Aya laughing. Ai began to walk away from her sister following the path Batsu took "You know he wouldn't be disrespectful to a Chuushin." Ai said as she shook her head in frustration. Aya wiped a tear from her eye as she reveled in messing with her sister's love life "Wait, I do have something I want to tell you,. . . wait." Aya vanished in a cloud of black smoke reappearing before Ai with a serious look on her face. Aya's red eyes looked deep into those of her sister's saying "If and only if you make it to the finals I will introduce you to the Leech clan." Ai raised her eyebrow in confusion, but shrugged it off walking past her sister.
Aya was dumbfounded as she watched her little sister ignore her "Wait, don't you wanna know who the Leech clan is?" Aya asked. Ai remained silent as she continued on her way back to the main village. "Okay fine! Once the preliminary matches end you'll be begging me for an edge." Aya's words went unheeded as Ai continued to onward.
