[center]WHEN THE SUN SETS WE GO HOME TOGETHER
EPISODE HOTARU - CHAPTER 0
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[color=black]CRIES FROM THE MOON VALLEY [/color]
[color=white]CRIES FROM THE MOON VALLEY[/color]
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Midsummer’s is a small bar with a somewhat somber atmosphere not a lot of people can appreciate. It doesn’t help that it’s one of those hole in the wall places that the eyes easily sweep past without really taking notice of it. It’s the meeting place of people with very specific niches, seeking an undisturbed environment away from prying or judging eyes. 

It is also the meeting place for the not at all famous, nor infamous, Team Kinryuu. A shinobi duo who, for all the initial glamour one might conjure up in their heads at the sight of two handsome men from two very distinctive families, actually consist of nothing more than an Uchiha without Sharingan, and a Hyuuga without Byakugan.

Chisato doesn’t really give a fuck about that, though. Or so he’d like to claim.

But, to be frank, it was annoying to constantly be looked down by their superiors. They were both at the butt of their clans, never mind that his sis is at the head of the Uchiha casino, and Hotaru’s granny is the matriarch of their clan; neither of them carried much of the prestige usually associated with their clans and, for that, the Shinobi HQ treated them like trash cans and gave them only the missions others didn’t want to take.

The fact that they had yet to be sent on their first B-Rank spoke for itself, even after years of working together as a team and bringing back positive, if slightly chaotic (what fun would it be otherwise) results. But it would all change soon. They’d gone above and beyond during their last C-Rank and, right now, Hotaru was probably already leaving the HQ after a good ass kissing session to get them their very well deserved first B-Rank.

[color=FF4500]“Hey, Mimi, get me a refill,”[/color] he called for the waitress, raising his coffee mug with all the manners of a street dog. His was already empty and Hotaru would probably still take a hot minute.
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[color=black]MASHIRO MIMI [/color]
[color=white]MASHIRO MIMI[/color]
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Somewhere at the corner, standing on a three foot ladder and having a look at a broken lamp, Mashiro Mimi gave him a withering glare. [color=FF8C00]“Get it yourself, can’t you see I’m busy?”[/color]

Chisato glared right back. [color=FF4500]“This is why we’re your last house regulars.”[/color]

[color=FF8C00]“There can be none for all I care,”[/color] the blonde told him, setting her eyes back on the broken electricity cords. Looks like Chisato would have to get his own darn coffee.
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In the northern side of the city, inside the tall Konoha Shinobi HeadQuarters tower, an enormous glass building that reflected everything that made outsiders green with jealousy, Hotaru stood somewhat nervously in front of a large mahogany desk.
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[color=black]SHUEMURA KOU [/color]
[color=white]SHUEMURA KOU[/color]
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His last mission with Chisato had resulted in a less than stellar performance and he was probably in, once more, for a good chiding from the Head of Foreign Affairs shinobi department, also fondly dubbed ASSFACE by his gentle mannered team mate. Shuemura Kou was a brute man with a dark glare and little patience; which usually led to some very interesting reporting experiences after missions. 

[color=9400D3]“Hyuuga,”[/color] Shuemura called, dropping the young man’s report on his desk and pulled out a box of cigars.

[color=FF00FF]“Sir?”[/color] Hotaru mentally hit himself for how uncertain he sounded. He knew that would just annoy his superior even more, and result in a longer period of getting chewed out. 

[color=9400D3]“Can you tell me where we’re standing right now?”[/color]

His superior’s face was passive, not betraying his thoughts and Hotaru swallowed. This was obviously a trick question but he couldn’t get away with simply not answering. [color=FF00FF]“Shinobi HQ Tower, sir?”[/color]

[color=9400D3]“You asking me, Hyuuga?”[/color] The commander snapped.

[color=FF00FF]“Shinobi HQ Tower, sir!”[/color] Hotaru answered, shoulders straightening compulsively.

Shuemura sat back in his chair and blew out a cloud of smoke. [color=9400D3]“And tell me, does the Shinobi HQ Tower look like a fucking kindergarten to you?”[/color]

Shit. [color=FF00FF]“No, sir!”[/color] Hotaru knew better than to let his anxiety show again and readied himself for the incoming wave of insults.

[color=9400D3]“Then why the fuck are you two constantly pulling back to Konoha with your asses needing to be wiped?”[/color] His commander demanded, all the danger in how low he kept his voice the whole time. It was never the shouting that Hotaru should fear, it was when the commander spoke quietly like this. It usually only happens once or twice a year, when a mission ends in a particularly nasty manner and Konoha is forced to intervene to clean up after them.

Chisato kept his eyes firm on the wooden floor. [color=FF00FF]“My apologies, sir.”[/color]

[color=9400D3]“You know Hotaru,”[/color] another drag of smoke as the commander looked up at the ceiling. [color=9400D3]“I have real respect for your clan. Never mind the Uchiha, can’t really expect Chisato to come out any different when his entire clan is such a hot mess.”[/color]

[color=9400D3]“But your grandmother, she’s a real lady. She’s seen more than her fair share of the deal and that is why, when you first got here I accepted you into our ranks.”[/color] Shuemura got up and turned his back to Hotaru, looking out the window as he kept speaking. [color=9400D3]“And, by yourself, you’re not such a bad kid. Bit of a nerd, but no one with half a working brain in here has any doubt if your team brings results home, those results are thanks to your hard work.”[/color]

This would sound like a compliment. Anyone else would be stoked hearing this. However, Hotaru’s eyes hardened and his heart froze painfully because he knew where this was going; it wasn’t the first time the commander was touching this topic.

[color=9400D3]“Chisato is not cut out to be a shinobi.”[/color] The words were raw and burned like the skin after ripping off a band aid. [color=9400D3]“If you want any success in this branch, you need to drop him out.”[/color]

An image flashed inside Hotaru’s mind then. [i]Somewhere bright, with an overbearing smell of disinfectant. His eyes covered with bandages and someone holding his small hand in their even smaller ones. [color=FF4500]“We can find out who did it. We’ll do it together.”[/color][/i]

Resigned, Hotaru looked up to the commander, shoulders slightly more relaxed. He knew where this talk was headed…the commander wouldn’t threaten to dismiss Chisato if he didn’t need to ask something out of him. This time, however, Hotaru had a request of his own; so this deal didn't come at a bad time. [color=FF00FF]“What are your terms?”[/color]

Shuemura grinned, a wide stretching of his lips that showed his teeth, tinted yellow from his smoking habits. [color=9400D3]“See. Smart kid.”[/color]