Extention.
Kankurou decides to stay in the Konoha a week more.
He and his siblings had meant to leave today, but he doesn't want to. Instead, he wishes to help the repairs a little more, do a couple of little errands, see a little more of Maren... washing away the village and her from his mind is suddenly too hard and complex a thing to do in a day. So he asks for another week.
Though reluctant, his siblings grant him the extra seven days, and Kankurou runs off to find the girl he'd so gladly accepted as his friend. She is not in her usual spot near the sky, no.. this time he finds her by the lake, below a cliff and across from the dock where fishermen enjoy casting lines. She is alone, and from afar, she looks troubled. Kankurou dashes quickly across the water and joins her.
"Good morning," she half-greets him, and he sits at her side.
"You seem upset."
She smiles and looks up at him from the sparkling water. "You're leaving today," she replies simply, the smile frozen on her face even as her eyes begin pinching out tears. He is quick to correct her statement before they fall.
"A week," he tells her.
"A week more?"
"Yes."
She smiles more. "Then I am happy."
"Maren," Kankurou begins, "what's something you've always wished to do, but never have been able to?"
Her brows furrow; not in wonder of such a silly question, but in wonder of a good answer. "Fly," she answers after a moment or two of concentration. "I know I can run through the treetops, but I wish I could fly, like the birds do."
"If you could, would you fly right now?"
"Of course."
"Lay down."
This time her curious expression is one in wonder of such a silly request. Though, as she looks at him, she obeys. He only smiles down at her. "Don't panic," he says gently, and raises his hand. She raises with it.
Gasping, she floats over the water and watches her reflection dance in the sky. She laughs, and looks back at Kankurou. He smiles with her.
Another wave of his hand and she floats up further, arms outstretched and legs straight. She swears she can feel wings on her back and he knows it's the slender strings of chakra he's extending from his fingers. Her eyes are wild with excitement as she continues going higher, and his are full of joy upon watching the fragile girl laugh and cry out while the wind embraces her body's natural curves and lessens his work.
"You're beautiful in the sky," he mutters to himself, knowing she can't hear him but generally not caring at all.
A few more moments of the thrilling event and she's finally back at his side on the small slice of dry land before the lake. She throws her arms around him, pecking him quickly-but not nervously- on the cheek, and says in his ear, "You're the best friend I've ever had, Kanku," and forces them on the ground. His heart flutters with her words fresh in it.
"I will miss you when you're gone," she sighs after they calm down, returning to their original positions on the ground. "Even though you're a simple three days away, you won't be back for months, and I won't have time to come and see you... is this a goodbye, Kankurou?"
He is partially stunned at her sudden change of emotion, but quickly recovers with another soft smile on his face. "I'm here another week, Maren," he tells her, a tone in his voice complaining of her silliness, "please leave the goodbye speech for when I really am leaving."
She smiles back at him, nodding. "Of course."
And just like that, their heart-to-heart is ended. Now they move on to other things, like how to climb the earth-wall behind them, and why Kankurou can't make himself fly like he did her, and where did he stalk off to at night, anyway? And soon, the day is at its end; they say their goodbye-for-now's and go off on their own seperate ways.
Oh, the glory of an extended summer trip, and summer love...