[Mikazuki Aikawa]

[googlefont="Playfair Display"][googlefont="Alice"]

I really can't remember if I'm insane or insomniac

Squeakers watched as the girl's head began swimming with ideas and things took a sharp turn--well, not south, but... certainly not the direction he was expecting. She spoke of relying on others and the importance of knowing one's own limitations. It was true--there was strength in numbers. And he was certain that relying on other people was a good and helpful thing--certainly something he couldn't argue against.
    But it only comes from a place of weakness.
    Relying on your teammates was an important skill to have--not being consumed by pride and arrogance, knowing how to cooperate with other shinobi, and adapting with unfamiliar allies. It was all valuable. And strength came in numbers, Squeakers knew that. Different people added different skills to the team, so they could operate in different ways which was appropriate and useful for unorthodox situations.
    But, still.
    It was foolish to always rely on them. There was a time and place, and when all else failed--you had to rely on yourself.
    There were many times when it was all you would ever have.
    Asking for help wasn't always an option.
    "As great as what you're saying is," Squeakers said, lightly letting go of the girl. She could maintain her balance--barely--or fall back down into the mud. Either way, he'd brush her off lightly and sever any connection that had been there momentarily. "There are some things that you have to do alone. I can help you in times of need. But if you want to push yourself, and train your limits and abilities, I can only guide you through it. I cannot do that work for you. So you can take a break, you can scream or cry, you can crawl or run--but I won't bring you to the finish line. This is something you have to be able to do for yourself. By yourself."
    She wasn't in any danger. Squeakers didn't have to step in to give her aid in this situation.
    Right now, if she wanted to grow, only she could do it.

OUTFIT

Tenchi Kyoko

339

NOTES: notes here

ⒶⓀⒾ of Adoxography and of GS

[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

Kyoko toppled back to the ground with a soft 'Oof!' as her knees impacted the sand. The academy student turning eyes filled with confusion and just a hint of betrayal towards Squeakers as she bit her bottom lip. Her legs hurt. A lot. Even walking that last bit with assistance she thought was a near impossible task and facing it now alone was further daunting. She didn't however cry, her eyes searching the raincoat clad shinobi's featureless mask for answers before something seems to click into place. 

"You're right Squeaker Sensei that was selfish of me. I need to prove I can be relied upon first before relying on others." She deduces eyes casting about until her gaze falls on a piece of driftwood about the right shape for what she needs. Reaching out her fingers grasp it as she pulls herself to her feet leaning heavily on the wood like a crutch to keep herself up right as she flashes the older Shinobi a smile. Before slowly hobbling the rest of the way towards the finish line. Her pace is slow. Painfully so, but her grandfather had always told her slow was fast. Once you know how to do something properly speed would come soon enough. 

Finally reaching the dock she let herself fall once more into a graceless heap with a laugh as she gives the chuunin a thumbs up. Her good nature enduring even if her body was sore. "You can rely on me Sensei."

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[Mikazuki Aikawa]

[googlefont="Playfair Display"][googlefont="Alice"]

I really can't remember if I'm insane or insomniac

"I don't think it's selfish," Squeakers corrected. There wasn't anything particularly selfish about valuing your teammates and relying on what resources you had. Trust wasn't necessarily selfish. Certainly, there were selfish motivations that could lurk behind any decision--but he rather doubted they were present in this child. Especially not in her previous conclusion. "Just short-sighted and naïve."
    She wouldn't always have a team to back her up. There might be times when her team failed her.
    Relying on them was great--but it couldn't be an absolute. Not in his opinion, anyway. Any shift or change could make her crumble if she only knew how to rely on everybody but herself, and with a crutch removed she'd topple on her own feet when she needed to run.
    It wasn't selfish, it was just dangerous.
    And balance was important--she needed to keep balance into consideration. Always.
    So, when she came to a different idea--Squeakers didn't contest it immediately. He didn't entirely disagree with the train of thought. It was the way he had been--and there was the acknowledgement of balance, there, too.
    Prove that she was a good teammate that others could rely on--that she wasn't weak and could stand on her own. Prove that others could rely on her first, before she asked for favors.
    Prove that she was a worthy host who had strength and capabilities of her own, and that her beast wasn't a crutch. Prove that she wasn't relying on Gyūki because she was helpless on her own--but rather, that she leaned on him as a partner and not as a crutch.
    "Good." He watched as the girl struggled to find resources in her environment, adapting and overcoming the obstacles that had been fixed in front of her. A tired body, nobody to lean on--but she was smart enough to figure out a way to move forward nonetheless. Even if it was slow--she was moving forward. Progress was progress, even if she could only take it step by step.
    It was better than not at all.
    When she finished and finally made it to the place where they had begun their race, Squeakers watched as she collapsed onto the surface of the wooden deck of the docks in triumph. Letting out a little laugh, she reinforced that she was reliable on her own, and that she had proven the point he'd tried to get across to her. "Good job," Squeakers said, stopping the pocket watch. He walked over to her and knelt by her side, offering the metal device to the girl to take for herself. "Here's your time. Keep this, so the next time you run around Amegakure you can keep record each time you beat it." Then, he offered the girl a hand. "And let me help you up. I'll take you home; you did a good job today and this was a good first step in your training."
    Even Azami hadn't been so cruel that she left me collapsed on the ground when I completed my goal. Sure, she let me pass out, or struggle, or crawl my way to my destination if that's what it took--but once I completed it, she'd bring me home.
    You seem to have taken after her, then.
    In many ways. She and Yuuyake were my first role models. They were tough on me, but I'm grateful for them.

OUTFIT

Tenchi Kyoko

561

NOTES: notes here

ⒶⓀⒾ of Adoxography and of GS

[Tenchi Kyoko]

A Diamond In The Rough

Kyoko beamed at the praised and accepted the timer with quiet gratitude, "Thank you Squeaker-Sensei I won't forget." She promises and despite the last time he dropped her she still reaches out with a trusting smile. Willing to give it a second go now that she'd proven a bit more reliable.

"If you can get me to the Academy I can make it the last little way with my trusty stick. I should make the last little bit on my own just to know that I can." Kyoko requests gesturing to her make shift crutch with a grin. A handy tool indeed as she carefully tucks the timer away in her pocket. She'd reach a better time next time and the time after that. Until time wasn't such an issue anymore.

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[Mikazuki Aikawa]

[googlefont="Playfair Display"][googlefont="Alice"]

I really can't remember if I'm insane or insomniac

"Sure," Squeakers said. He'd agree to those terms if she still had further desire to push herself. Regardless, though, until they made it to the Academy, he'd allow her some opportunity to rest. At the very least, take it easier than it had been for her moments before.
    Scooping the girl up like a princess, the jinchūriki easily hoisted the child into his arms--her carried stick and all--and began heading back into the village. While she would likely protest, thinking that she needed to further prove herself and struggle the whole way there, Squeakers knew she would have to accept the help regardless of her own desires--she didn't have the energy to really fight back. And certainly not against him. And when they got to the academy, he'd be more than happy to set her back down on her own two feet once more so that she could waddle to her home with her stick.
    Which worked just fine for Squeakers.
    He didn't have to fully escort her back, and she got to prove her longevity and strength by accomplishing that feat despite running on what was likely an empty tank. He'd let her have that. "See ya around, and take care, kiddo." He'd wave her off before turning tail and parting ways. It had been a fun little endeavor, training the kid. It was always nice helping the young ones out, but this particular interaction had been... well, nostalgic. It wasn't something he'd been expecting.

/END

OUTFIT

Tenchi Kyoko

248

NOTES: notes here

ⒶⓀⒾ of Adoxography and of GS