Note: I pretty much just invented most of their names from the top of my head. If it means anything super-special, that's great, I guess, but they're mainly supporting characters. Rest assured, the story isn't about an army of OCs. Well, I do know that Taki means Waterfall, and Torikawa could be written as Bird-River, I suppose, and Yamamoto is Foothill/Mountainfeet, but that's a pretty generic Japanese surname anyway. Basically, there's no need to read into it too much.
15
They say dragons roam
In breaks between thunderclouds
And sleep in sunshine
Kamomi had worked desperately over the years to keep up with her friend, and the two had taken the exit exam on the same day. They were assigned to the same genin team, and met their jonin guide and third group member in the spring. ("I told you we'd be on the same team," Kamomi couldn't help but rub it into her friend's face. Inazuma pretended to scoff, but secretly she was happy too.)
"Hello, I'm Goren Kajiya. I'll be your jonin teacher until the three of you graduate into chuunin. Go ahead and introduce yourselves, you little brats."
Inazuma twitched at the word "brat," as though flicking a fly off of her shoulder, but it was Shin who stepped up first.
"I'm Shin Yamamoto. I'm twelve years old, and slightly irritated that I have a pair of weak little girls on my team," he said blandly, glaring a little at Inazuma and Kamomi with his pale green eyes. He sat back down at a desk.
Inazuma's eyes flashed and she stepped up before their teacher could yell at Shin for being rude. "I'm Inazuma Hachi. Nine years old, and apparently talented enough to graduate, unlike some late bloomershere." She glared pointedly at Shin, who simply rolled his eyes.
"Now, Ina-"
"My name is Kamomi Torikawa," Kamomi interjected, her melodious voice cutting off their teacher yet again, "I'm also nine years old, and Ina-chan here is my best friend! The hawk's name is Taki, and don't forget it or he'll probably tear your hair out. Sorry if he does, but he can be a little temperamental," she apologized. Taki shrieked loudly at Shin from his position atop Kamomi's head, flapping his brownish-grey wings.
Shin and Inazuma glared at each other for a while, Kamomi sitting in between them and with an extremely fake smile fixed on her face in a desperate attempt to ease up the tension. Goren sighed, and wondered if he really should have volunteered as a jonin instructor.
To celebrate their graduation, Kamomi invited Inazuma over for a slumber party. Shin was not invited.
The two girls shared whispered secrets and hushed giggles as they bounced on Kamomi's generously fluffy, purple bedspread.
"So what do you think of Shin?" Kamomi asked, fingering an pale pink flower that was embroidered onto the sleeve of her pajamas. Taki shrieked and flapped his wings from his position on the windowsill.
"Oh hush, you stupid bird," Kamomi laughed. He cawed indignantly in response.
"Shin's a stuck-up brat that's sore about being the oldest. One of us should give him black eye to let him know what's what," Inazuma muttered.
"Her competitive streak shows! She must come out on top of everyone or the world will end!" cheered Kamomi. Inazuma threw a pillow at her. A knock came from Kamomi's door, and a soft parental voice reminded them that it was getting late. The night was already pitch-autumn black, after all.
Inazuma sighed and began undoing her braid. She tugged out the hair tie that kept it back from her face and combed her darkly tanned fingers through it.
"Let me help you with that," Kamomi said. Inazuma nodded, smiling.
"You know," Kamomi said, once the braid was completely undone, leaving Inazuma's hair slightly wavy, "you look nice with your hair down. You should wear it like that more often." She rearranged some strands of Inazuma's hair so that it fell softly around her ears and framed her dark face with flossy-white strands. Kamomi sat back and tilted her head to the side, admiring her handiwork.
"It's impractical. I can't have it flying all over the place in battle," Inazuma shrugged. Kamomi sighed.
"Sheesh, Ina, you're always worried about battle. We're genin! They aren't going to give us battle-likely missions. Once you're chuunin or jonin you can tie your hair into a grandmother-bun if you really want to. In the meantime, at least let some of it out of your braid. It makes you look real pretty."
Inazuma rolled her eyes, "Fine! Whatever gets you off my back."
Kamomi clapped her hands with glee.
The soon turned out the lights and continued their whispers in the darkness, where the style of Inazuma's hair didn't matter. It was too dark to see, after all.
Note: And yes, as stupid as it seems, the hair is part of the story. I swear. Reviews are love. Especially critiques, because I have a feeling I need them. :P