Room 504, Tuesday Early Evening

[intraspective]

Ino had taken a long shower after getting off work in an attempt to pretend that the giant bug thing hadn't happened to her. Ew. She was now dressed in her flying pig and daisy patterned pajamas - what? they were comfortable! - and sitting on the floor gazing thoughtfully at the contents of her open closet. Her door was wide open just in case anyone felt like stopping by.

There was a book she'd handwavily obtained about fire laying open next to her, and she was wondering if she ought to call Yondaime-sama and see if he'd be able to help her. He'd promised training, right? And that was less weird than going and bugging Haku.

She shook her head - she'd think about training later. Right now she had more important things to think about.

Like what was she supposed to wear for her date? She didn't want him to think she cared or anything. Because she didn't. Obviously. It was a matter of pride though to make sure she looked nice, even if he probably wouldn't notice. Or care.

And what was she going to do if her Dad showed up for Parent's Weekend? So far hiding in her room for the whole time sounded like the best plan.

[Open~]

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[intraspective]

Ino took a brief pleasurable moment to mentally calculate the amount of effort it would take to lug buckets of grease from the common room to his, and if it would be worth it.

Then she flung her book at him. "You know what I meant!"

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Kabuto caught the book and looked at the cover, wondering what she'd been reading. "...Fire? I thought you were interested in water techniques."

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"I want to learn water techniques," Ino nodded her head firmly, "but I thought it would do me good to do a bit of research about fire too. Know the enemy and all that."

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"Smart, actually," Kabuto commented. "Surprisingly. Who are you planning to fight?"

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"Johnny Storm." Ino said, trying not to look pleased with the compliment, "Do you know him? He said he's been around since the start of summer."

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"From a distance," Kabuto said. "I don't know him personally; I could stand to gather more data on him." He might have to come along with Ino if or when she made her challenge. It would be a great opportunity.

[intraspective]

That would be Ino rolling her eyes at him, "It's always about the data for you, isn't it?" Then she shrugged, "I don't know much really, hence the research, though interestingly his clothing doesn't seem to be able to survive his fire."

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"..."

Kabuto thought about that for a moment. "This definitely requires researching," he said finally, smirking.

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Ino made a strangled noise somewhere between a shriek and a roar, shot to her feet, took the few steps over to him and brought one hand up to slap him. Hard.

"You've got a filthy mind!"

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It was one of those times when Kabuto let her connect. But not because he was mildly paralyzed due to the high-pitched shriek. Really.

He gave her a wide-eyed, shocked look. "What was that for!?"

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She bristled with indignation, "Like you don't know!"

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"No, actually! Such things do exist, believe it or not." Kabuto sounded disgusted, stepping back from Ino and out into the hall again. One hand began to glow faintly, and he reached up to touch the reddened spot on his face. It faded instantly.

[intraspective]

"Oh come on," Ino looked irritated, "I didn't even use chakra to hit you. Don't be such a baby."

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Kabuto was an overactor sometimes. This being one of those times. "You still hit me," he told her seriously. "What kind of person hits someone for no reason?"

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"A deeply horrible one." Ino told him, trying not to laugh in his face, "You've discovered my darkest secret - I have a horrible temper. Shocking."

"And it wasn't for no reason." She huffed.

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"And you think I'm bad," Kabuto grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Maybe we won't go out for tea milkshakes tomorrow, then. I can see you don't want to."

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"I want to just fine!" Ino snapped, then looked surprised at her vehemence.

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Kabuto blinked at her, then grinned. "I guess you really do."

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She went scarlet. Then spun around so she didn't have to face him. "You're still a jerk though!"

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Kabuto was smirking now. "I agree. Yet you still want to kiss me. Does that mean there's something wrong with you...?"

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"There's nothing wrong with me!" Ino paused, then said unconvincingly, "And I don't want to kiss you!"

...

Dad was going to kill her.

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"Hmm," Kabuto said noncommittally, unconvinced. "Then you're an even better liar than I am."

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Yeah, Ino was totally blushing even harder now. "Oh shut up." She muttered, still not looking at him.

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"As you wish." Kabuto bowed his head politely. "Shall I leave you to your research, then?"

[intraspective]

"You don't want to help?" Ino asked, spinning around to look at him, "I'm sure you could tell me a lot about internal temperatures, and how hot people things have to be before they start to burn."

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

Kabuto shrugged. "You're talking about someone who is obviously not an 'average' person. Most normal humans can't sustain a body temperature of more than 106°F for very long, or their cells begin to die." He pushed his glasses up higher on his nose. "But in his case, I very much doubt that is true."

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Ino made a face at that, "How much chakra do you think it would eat up to protect skin from temperatures like that?"

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Kabuto snorted lightly. "If you're planning to sustain it, you're unlikely to be able to. But it doesn't take too much to deflect fire; otherwise you'd find the Uchiha clan, and the others who are of the fire affinity, winning every fight they get into." Uchiha was rather obviously a dirty word to him, the way he sneered when he said it.

[intraspective]

Ino looked disheartened, "Somehow I don't think deflecting fire is going to be much use when fighting a guy enclosed in fire. I couldn't get near him yesterday."

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"If you can focus your chakra enough," Kabuto began, obviously thinking hard. "You might be able to form shields around various places. Shields that could withstand the heat enough to at least land a few hits..." He trailed off, pondering the logistics of it.

[intraspective]

Ino scribbled that down, hey it sounded like a neat idea, then looked thoughtful, "Want to try and see if we can work something out tomorrow after milkshakes?" Milkshakes shouldn't take up the entire afternoon right?

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"Sure. It's worth experimenting, at least." Kabuto nodded. "And it'll help you warm up if you get too cold."

[intraspective]

"Awesome." It was a date that only other ninja would think counted as a date. Ino grinned at him, "Or I could just bring a blanket? That's what I've been doing lately."

"I'll see you tomorrow then~" Ino said, daringly going to kiss his cheek.

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

"See you tomorrow," Kabuto echoed, air-kissing her cheek at the same time she kissed his. "Sleep well in your bacon pajamas."

[intraspective]

Ino grit her teeth, "Good night, Kabuto-san." She might have been shoving him towards the door.

[sound-loyalty.livejournal.com]

Kabuto laughed, letting her push him. "Don't sleep in the mud," he advised, sidestepping just out of reach and heading across the hall to his own room.

[intraspective]

"Watch out for dirt." She retorted, slamming the door. The grease idea? Sounding more and more fun.