He was burning on the inside, and on the outside. It had been quite some time since he'd run in to any of his past team mates, and for good reason. Even when they'd been younger and actually together in their team, they'd treated him like that, though not quite as much since there Jonin leader was there. But whenever their back was turned, those two chided and poked at him, teasing and making fun, making his life a living hell. Once he'd been promoted to Jonin himself, he'd been relieved, leaving that team as soon as he could, and hadn't looked back once. This was another reason as to why he never left the compound whenever he didn't have a mission to keep him occupied. Because for some reason, trouble and pain always seemed to crawl out of the shadows whenever he was around.<br/><br/>Focusing on the path ahead, he was surprised when he felt the softness of another person's hand slip in to his own, making his heart skip a beat. He doesn't look over at Hikari though, instead keeps quiet. But he doesn't pull away, instead gently squeezing her hand to let her know that he appreciated the comfort in which she was trying to give him. Slowly he begins to calm down, the heat in his body returning to a normal temperature, his footsteps no longer leaving scorching marks behind as he walked. Sighing softly, he closes his eyes for just a moment, marking the memory in his mind, knowing that once his plan went in to action...he'd have to push these memories to the side. It caused a rift in his heart, and he wondered if this was all worth the pain...<br/><br/>But for now, all his doubts melted away that she was like any other person, that she'd run away from him. No, she stayed, even after seeing the monster shifting in his eyes, the darkness billowing around him like a cape, cloaking him in the dangerous vibes of a lethal killer, a devil waiting to strike and kill. It confused him to be honest, because even his own parents tried to stay away from him when they see that look start to form, his brother often left, avoiding him completely. And yet here she was, staying by his side, and not only that she was holding his hand...comforting him.<br/><br/>He couldn't help but feel a bit happy that she was there, though he'd probably never say that out loud. So, instead, in silence, they continued on their way to the lake. Thankfully it didn't take all that long, and there were no more interruptions to keep them from arriving at their destination. For such a nice day it was, there weren't all that many people, though there were a few here and there. Continuing on, Kuronotsurugi tries to find a spot where it was out of the way of anyone else, where he and Hikari could be alone, and not be bothered by others.<br/><br/>All the while as they traveled along the edge of the water and between trees and rocks, he had not once let go of her hand, finding comfort and warmth in the simple contact of their fingers and palms. He glances over at her, for a few seconds, wanting to see the expression on her face, his own slightly blank, but there was a happiness that could be seen too, and his cheeks were a pale pink. Earlier, they'd been a darker red when she'd first placed her hand in his, and he guessed that she too had been blushing as well. This was probably a first for both of them, as he'd never held the hand of a girl his age before, since most girls ran away from him, afraid of who he was, and not to mention that dark vibe he often gave off.<br/><br/>Finally reaching a spot, he slowly lets his fingers part from hers, and his arm drops to his side. Turning to gaze out at the water, the sun reflecting off the surface, he smiles a tiny bit, enjoying the breeze that he felt against his skin. He suddenly gets a feeling of giddiness, a playful side to him that he never even knew he had. Quickly, with a big smile forming on his face, he reaches over to Hikari, picks her up and twirls around with her in his arms, before spinning and letting go, tossing her in to the water. And, for the first time in a long time, he laughs, his face bright with joy. His laughter was a sound that was beautiful, intoxicating even, and extremely rare like a masterpiece of music. He didn't know why, why he was suddenly feeling like this, but he really didn't care either.<br/><br/>He too then jumps in to the water after Hikari, and while mid jump he pulls off his shirt, the piece of clothing slowly fluttering back to the ground, landing sloppily on a branch that hung over the edge of the water. Landing in the water, feeling the cool liquid on his skin was enough to make him cool down completely, and he felt...amazing. No doubt Hikari was shocked by this sudden change in his attitude, even he himself was surprised at how he was acting. But he wasn't about to let this feeling go, it had been such a long time, so very long...and he was going to cherish it as long as he could. Laying on his back in the water, he floats, staring up at the blue sky, a smile still plastered on his face.