[b][center]Oukami Takara[/center][/b]

It was dark, damp, and generally uncomfortable. The blindfold was slick with sweat, as was the rest of his body, and Takara felt searing pain throughout his bones. He didn't know what had been used on him, senbon perhaps, or someone especially adept at sending precise lightning charges through his veins. Whatever it was, however, it made Takara sore to the point where he shook, no longer sure if it was from his sweat mixing with the air, or general fatigue. How long had he been down there, he wondered? 

And, just as he started to re-run, hazily, through the questions he'd been asked, the blonde haired Takara felt the bindings on his arms loosen, followed by the ones on his legs. And with a small sigh of relief to himself, the new genin raised shaking fingers to undo the blindfold, his eyes blinking at the light. His trainer stood by the door, silently and waiting, and after a few minutes of Takara getting used to standing- had he really be sitting for that long, or was the after-effect of having his nerves played with?- the fluffy haired child nodded at the stranger before heading out.

The climb up the steps and out of the Basement was long and arduous, but got him back to remembering how his legs worked, and by the time his pale skin opened the door, Takara was feeling a bit more like himself before the Basement. Behind the door was his mother, already waiting with a smile on her face, a towel on her lap as she often did. Takara couldn't help but smile in relief at the sight of her, walking closer so she could wipe at his face.

[b]"I'm glad to see you worked so hard- today's the big day, you know,"[/b] she cooed as she patted at the sweat and blood that had mixed at his lips. The sudden sting surprised Takara, but he showed no sign of it, wondering when he had been in so much pain he didn't even realize almost biting his lip off. The self-evaluation was so intense he tuned out of his mother's speech, tuning back in just as she finished with, [b]"... shower and you'll still make it on time."[/b]

[b]"Mm,"[/b] nodded Takara before planting a loving peck on his mother's cheek, wrapping the towel over his neck as he started for the showers, joined by several others who'd just finished their Basement training as well, offering Takara a pat on the back for his exciting big day. Big day? Big day! Today was the day Takara would be placed in a team-- jeez, he thought that wasn't until tomorrow. Well, [i]that[/i] answered his question regarding the time spent down under.

After a quick shower and a quick change of wardrobe, Takara did some simple stretches to try and soothe the soreness of his body, his mother interrupting to give him his hoodie and a goodluck kiss on the forehead. With rituals all said and done, he waved at her goodbye before heading out, starting with a fast walk that worked up to a quick run towards the Academy. The Oukami clan was not a well-known clan, and though the Basement went deep underground, above ground their home was but a humble abode. Large enough to show that yes, there was a number of them inside, but not so large as to take up a compound. It was easily dismissable, it was home.

Slowing to a stop in front of the Academy, Takara put on his usual soft smile, fair blonde hair bouncing at each step as he made his way to class. It was quiet, spare the sound of silent crunching, Takara's honey brown eyes easily identifying the owner of the sound and offering her a smile before heading to his seat, taking one beside a certain white haired student who seemed to be meditating. Keeping silent, Takara merely sat down, leaning overt he desk in cheerful nonchalance as his eyes surveyed the class. 

Fuu... only a few more minutes...