medicalpunch | 1st Punch

[Action: Where the rivers meet in the village]

[Sakura's arrival in Luceti comes with a short, bitten-off yell of surprise and a splash as she drops into the icy water. The white-clad figure vanishes underwater, then reappears, struggling, fighting to surface long enough to catch her breath. It's shockingly cold, iced over in places -- although thankfully not where she fell -- and even if she knows nothing else yet, she knows she must get out of the water.]

[Flailing, gasping, reeling in shock from the sudden cold, it's extremely difficult for her to get atop the water as a ninja would normally go -- but she's too cold to swim properly, she knows that all too well, and with the ice besides, she has no other choice.]

[She's proud of her own strength and control, and she makes herself display it now, pushing up out of the water and working her way until she is balanced by chakra on the surface.]

[Now, though, she's exposed to the bitter air, soaking wet, with nothing but a thin, backless white dress to cover her. And she's freezing.]

[She makes her way toward the shore, where there's a journal waiting for her. Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be a warm blanket or anything like one. Just the journal, with her name on it, and a biting chill to the air.]

[Video]

[Sakura's hair is is still damp when her face appears on the journals. She's managed to get dry and warmed up -- and much more warmly dressed than when she arrived -- but she looks disoriented, worried, and worn.]

I don't know what this place is, where it is, why it is. I'm not sure I even want to speculate. But if there's anyone... familiar out there, anyone who knows me -- I'm here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sa...kura-chan, wasn't it?

[And that's not a familiar voice - then again, she's met so many new people with the joint army, she can't rely on that anymore.]

I'm sorry, do I know you?

If you don't know, then you don't know, but I know. Intimately.

[Well, that is the best way to assure a girl that you're completely on the up-and-up.]

I'm sorry, what?!

[He had said that first bit without missing a beat, but now he just laughs]

[Creeeeeeeper.]

Whoever you are, just try that in person.

Eeeeeeh, I'd be willing, of course.

[It may be a little unclear just from the sound, but that's Sakura cracking her knuckles.]

And wherever shall I see you for it?

I'm sure we'll run into each other sometime.

[And that's a threat.]

Hhhhnnn, and with that, you could say, I've made my "mark" on you?

No, I really wouldn't say so.

But I'd be happy to leave a few 'marks' on you!

See, see. A "grudge" is one of those things which sticks with you.

I don't hold grudges. But I don't tolerate creeps either!

Maaaah, then it's a good thing I don't know that many.

Not much for self-awareness, then, are you?

Mmm. [HE rocks back on his feet, and grins, bowing at his book]

I'm Masaomi Kida, the roommate of one Shikamaru Nara and a close friend of his. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other, Sakura-chan.