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"I appreciate your offer to accompany me Lady Kameyo bloop." The pebbles of a mundane forest road being kicked up by their footsteps, the suns warm and tender shine beating down. Some undisclosed days after the events that transpired after the war Arashigakure was beginning the steps towards its reimagining. Kameyo and the Arashikage would both be respectively carrying gift baskets, although Kameyo's would be much larger comparably. A hand basket vs an easter basket in comparison. "I don't know when I'll get another chance to leave my office. It's nice taking in the scenery every once in awhile bloop. We've been walking for some time would you like me to carry the other basket?" The man would say in a wistful manner. Their walk would have gone on for at least forty-five or so minutes thus far. The weather was pleasant if not just a bit hotter than the norm. Having this anticipated Toso had dressed lightly if not the most casually he's dressed since being in office. A simple Yukata.

Heat, after all, didn't agree with the squid man so he'd aim to keep himself as cool as possible. He simply hoped Kameyo wasn't building up a sweat what with the both of them taking in the direct rays of the sun. When asking his question he'd have looked at the Jiongu, his eyes clearly showing the telltale signs of tiredness and stress yet he still offered to carry the basket. After all if Kameyo weren't here he'd have done so himself anyway on this journey as he rightly didn't expect anyone to come what with the mission having no real reward. Whatever her answer this walk would continue for some time. Enough to make a normal person's feet sore, but Toso and Kameyo were, of course, battle-hardened nin. Then what seemed to be a dainty village would appear over the horizon of a hill near the seaside. The refreshing breeze of ocean air would waft by and the familiar caw of seagulls would ring.

"Not much longer now. bloop. Lady Kameyo. If you don't mind my asking. Why did you take this assignment? I can't recall if you officiated yourself as a member of the village and this mission pays nothing, as far as accolades its more a task for a genin if not an academy student bloop." With this question they'd be nearing the entrance to the village Shiofurui was its name. Translated it would be old salt village or ancient salt village or simply salt village. Before entering he'd wait for Kameyo to catch up if she fell behind or wait until she was ready or had any questions. After all the description 'Help the Kage Deliver Cranberries' was incredibly lacking in all manner of additional context.

"Not at all. To be fair. I think its for the best." The sound of a rusty gate and the man opening it for the woman would be a sign that it would be time to procede. When Kameyo would walk by at the kage's insistence of ladies first he'd continute. "That freedom you have is something I'd say I'm somewhat envious of bloop." The gate would close as the walk continued Toso giving Kameyo the time to say anything that could have been on her mind then. After some few steps the roads would shift from dirt to cobblestone, albeit a very tired looking cobblestone with cracks and scars. This village had been entirely ignored during the invasion. Why that was seemed rather clear. This place seemed deserted. Not the sound of a single soul. There were ships in the port but they seemed encrusted having seen little use. The disheveled nature of this village would be reminiscent of giman in that it was looking like it was falling apart at the seams.

"It comes as no surprise, you've never been to this village bloop. This village has been abandoned for a long time. It's inhabitants have migrated to Arashigakure... Save for one person." Kameyo and Toso would eventually wind up shortly after he'd said this at what appeared to be a home, the only home that seemed to still look decent. After three knocks on the door it would open. A short old woman in a white kimono, with a cane in hand, would open it. Her eyes seemed like they were closed from all the wrinkles and she'd look up and down to see who was at the door. Her body seemed weak and frail, lacking in nourishment. "Oh! Sojiro? You're back from hard days work are you?"

Toso would gently take the old woman's hand and gently stroke it before calmly reaffirming. "It sure was, the mines were killer today." Was the Arashikage's real name Sojiro? It was raising a lot of questions. Suddenly he'd get a cane strike to his shin. "Don't you go talking like that Sojiro you want yer poor wife ta be alone the rest of her life." "Ah..yes sorry dear." "Yuki. Tell your dad he shouldn't say such things and hurry on inside, you know you can't be out for too long." The old woman would look to Kameyo when she said this. It would then be made clear. This old woman was not all put together. She turned around and started heading into the home.

Toso would encourage Kameyo to follow as if to say he needed her to him the favor of playing along. The kage would enter the home and remove his geta. The floor was tidy, clean, as if it had been swept consistently and constantly. Overall the home itself was incredibly clean in all aspects, not even a trace of grit on the floor. "I see you brought me cranberries, I completely forgot it was our anniversary. You really know your way to your wife's heart. I'll make sure tonights special." Toso would encourage that Kameyo place the large basket in her possession on the table. He'd then ask if she'd like to sit down. Likely to explain what was happening.

Before he could explain, however, he'd ask the old woman who seemed to have wandered off to the room's corner looking at an old photo. "Are you sure you don't want to move to Arashigakure with everyone else?" Having picked up she was being spoken to, the old woman would then approach the table and say "You know I'm not someone for big cities Sojiro, I'd rather die than be caught in one you know that. Oh? Cranberries? Must be our anniversary. Oh, how you know I love cranberries. Think I'll do todays cleaning first." The old woman left to equip herself with a broom and she began to sweep the floors. Floors of which had no dirt or dust, it seemed she was in a trance repeating this motion. Toso would look across the table to Kameyo just past the cranberry basket. "I'm sure you have your questions"

This old woman, who seemed to hardly know where she was and what she was doing, this was the mother of Toso's former best friend and now deceased love interest of whom he never had the chance to confess Yukihana. She lived in this village alone, by herself, and from her symptoms was suffering from dementia if not Alzheimer's. The way both Toso and she acted, this didn't seem to be the first time Toso's been here. He'd look at the old woman with a worry in his eyes one would give their own family. Despite only being in her late 50's she was in such a condition. A condition that Toso himself feared.

Vice Kage...thats what his advisors were for. 'Advisors' thinking on it now even if the time was short, advisors are for advisory, but if you disregard their advice they what of them...a bitter thought. But Kenshin, he was the lawful radical. At the very least he hadn't lost the APD, even if he had lost Kenshin. If only he could have another chief of police. Mm..putting it that way seemed spiteful. It was best he didn't linger too much on his failures. He'd disguise his despondency by agreeing with Kameyo about the subject matter of a Vice-kage. "Yes, of course, there's a thought." a smile. An empty one but with how the squid held himself always even fake smile would seem just as real. Masks and facades, they were a key tool for the broken and downtrod.

He shook his hand dismissively before he looked back at the old woman. Blinking twice she turned around and saw the basket again. "Oh cranberries! I better save these for later your father must have brought them. You kids play nice." it seemed the old woman had rightly assumed them to other people. Well, she saw Toso as another person in her head Kameyo still remained Yuki. The old woman despite her frail-looking nature picked up the basket and brought to the counter. She inhaled and blew outwards a cold wind which froze them, then popped one in her mouth before smiling.

After she returned to sweeping. "No no no. bloop." Toso would shake his head as the woman started making a move upstairs. Toso would sigh inwardly. "She's not my wife, you see..." Toso grew a bit silent he swallowed then spoke. "That was the mother of a woman I once loved." Ah...it felt like there was a needle in his chest when he said this. "Of course I never had the chance to tell her that bloop." He'd look down at the table where the cranberries once were. Himself still having the smaller basket at his side. His head would rise again with another smile. "But all that's in the past now isn't it no changing the past, time moves on."

As the woman ascended the stairs Toso would lean to make sure she was ascending alright. He'd slowly return back to Kameyo. "That woman's name is Kikuhana. Her husband passed away working in the nearby salt mines some years ago when coming here. Now. Since the time schism, she now suffers from what the doctors brought here call dementia, and alzheimer's bloop albeit her age hasn't changed all that much like some other cases bloop. I've been ensuring her safety since, but she refuses and gets violent when asked or being made to leave...As to why I brought you here..." Toso would stand as the chair made its ee uur noise. "It's because...I could use someone right now bloop. I hope that isn't too impertinent of me."

Toso would say and then encourage Kameyo to follow. In doing so he'd walk and talk after reacquiring his geta he exited through a back door. The back door lead down a steep looking hillside. As they descended. "Whenever she goes upstairs, it means she'll be sleeping for a while. To answer your question, about cranberries. It reminds her of her husband, her anniversary, and a time...when she was happy. Sometimes she will forget to eat, delivering the cranberries at least ensures she'll eat them..and the other reason..." As they reached the end of their walk a gravestone. Toso would place the small basket at its foot, get on his knees and pray while he said the next words. "Yuki also loved frozen cranberries like her mother." suddenly a sniffle. Then tears, but Toso's stoic expression and solid toned voice remained. "Oh....this is embarrassing...the leader of a village actively crying over something he's long said he's moved on from bloop. ah, haha. I'm sorry I took the time out of your day just to see this sorry sight ah ha." Toso would be using the sleeves of his Yukata to try and wipe away his tears but it seemed to be proving rather ineffective at the rate of which the saltwater flowed.

Toso didn't have much to say otherwise. But his tentacles would speak for him. Despite still being on his knees and letting Kameyo envelop him in her embrace the kage's extra appendages would make that embrace tighter by squeezing the two closer. Kameyo's words while genuine Toso couldn't help but feel were praising him too much. He didn't deserve anything, much less the world, but..it felt warm to have someone believe that in his chest. The blacks of his extra limbs started to take on their lighter hue of slight pinks. It was nice. To be on cloud nine for a brief moment in his mourning, Yukihana was and will forever be his snow flower but the wafting spring breeze that was Kameyo was showing that maybe it was time for a natural shift in seasons.

"Ah...I'm sorry I got carried away bloop." Returning to reality now the almost vice-like embrace of his tentacles that brimmed with the desire to be coddled loosened themselves. He didn't want to increase any awkward tensions that it may have induced. "If you don't mind Lady Kameyo, I need to check on Kikuhana before we depart for the day. I'm sure Yuki would appreciate a prayer from you as well." He'd say this with the hope that Kameyo would, in turn, release her embrace and allow him to check on the old woman. After all the grave an old fire would be a rather poor place for things to get heated. If he was successful in leaving her hold he'd leave her with his request of giving a prayer for his lost friend and love before he'd check up on the mother.

Should Kameyo regroup with Toso. She would find him standing in a dimly lit room atop the stairs. There the woman was lying in bed and Toso was looking down at her. But something would ring to Kameyo's instincts the minute she walked in. Toso's index and pointer fingers were on the woman's neck. A tell tale sign of one thing. Checking for a pulse. Toso needn't say anything. The limpness in his arm as it fell to his side would be enough of an indicator. Kikuhana whom was just so sprightly and full of life not long ago. Had died.

"Lady Kameyo I would like to..ask for help now...would you mind...next to her daughters grave...I realize it may be troubling you further so feel free to decline." Toso seemed to be struggling with words but he hoped the context clues would come across. He wanted to ask Kameyo the favor of preparing a grave for the woman. Should Kameyo rush to the old woman's side herself in confusion the old lady would have a serene smile on her face as if she was seeing someone she hadn't seen in a long time again. Despite everything that seemed to be happening Toso's face remained firm and unflinching. If Kameyo agreed, Toso would ready Kikuhana for her burial next to her daughter.

"Lady Kameyo." Toso's voice would come sharp from behind. He carried the woman like a bride in his hands. There was the unfortunate 'clean up' he had to do as many did with most corpses but that was expedited thanks to his suiton nature. The deceased woman still had a soft smile on her face as rigor mortis was setting in and her body growing colder. Not long after did he say Kameyo's name would he be at her side and lowering the woman in the prepared grave. "Thank-you." few words. This was a moment of mourning. As Kikuhana was placed in the grave her body would begin to freeze. Her ice release seemed to be doing what her daughters did years ago. The freezing of her body..she'd then be encased in ice. A petrified glossy figure of a smiling woman. "Rest peacefully auntie Kiku." Truthfully there was no relation between Kiku and Toso but like other families of certain heritage those who were close family friends were often given the attachments of 'cousin' , 'aunt-uncle' , or 'brother-sister'

He'd look to Kameyo to finish the burial, he didn't give her the order to do so but only the implication and like always if she'd have preferred not to or didn't understand he'd do so himself without any qualms. When the burial was done. Toso would close his eyes, say a prayer in silence, then open his again. Yet not a single tear would stream down his face. "Thank-you again Lady Kameyo, for being here with me. I can't put into words how much it means to me." The sun was beginning to set over the hilltop and the ocean creating a somber scene. "Kiku, Yuki, and Soji. They're all together again...part of me wishes I could join them...but you've given me another reason to stay."

He wouldn't elaborate on the statement until suddenly Kameyo would be finding herself in a sudden embrace from Toso. Firm...but gentle, without tears, but passionate. Kameyo would feel the beating of the squid man heart. It wasn't racing like one found in romance but it gave off a soft cry of its own. Toso himself would be looking behind Kameyo toward the village, but Kameyo would see something else entirely looking at the graves. She'd see a family behind Toso. A mother, a father, a daughter. Also embracing Toso from behind and in tandem Kameyo. Spectral their bodies held no sense of touch physically but it could be felt on all spectrums emotionally.

Then...what seemed like a passing of the torch. What would be believed to be Toso's former love interest, plain but reminiscent of Toso's own stoicism and withdrawn nature hidden behind the collar of a coat pulled it down smiled and nodded to Kameyo as the sunset and the spirits were whisked away as if they entrusted the mans well being to her. Because lord knows they knew Toso's family as loving as they were, were just as much overbearing and overly eccentric. "I'll never forget you've done for me today Kameyo. I'll ensure that anything you may want in the village is yours...ah within reason of course bloop." Toso would say trying to use humor to lighten the sadness in his heart...he still hadn't let go of the kunoichi, however.

[Narrative Mission: Lasting Memory x 20 Complete]

"Ah I..." Toso knew what the woman wanted. But could he fulfill that desire? It..it had been so long since he last. Nonono. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Right. Here goes...and so the day would end. But not on a romantic passionate kiss unfortunately. This would end on a rather awkward virgin union of the lips to where he'd withdraw after...unless...unless Kameyo took the initiative. To which Toso would just 'allow to happen' and go with the flow. If anything one thing was for sure he would not forget this moment most of all. His first kiss in over nine years and perhaps for the briefest of moment the squid who had the libido of a rock felt a tingle in his chest and a very slight one in one in his 'head'. At least. Now. He was certain. He may believe himself to be asexual still but at least he could take comfort in knowing at least he wasn't aromantic and thanks to Kameyo he could finally move on from a past love officially without regrets and something in him told him that Yukihana wherever she was, would agree.

The normally pale-faced squid come the kisses end would have grown silent again. His face flush with color, and the words stammering out his mouth in contrast to his usual hardened self. "We..ah..tako..we should head back to the village..yes tako." Tako. That verbal tick hadn't shown up in a long time. Not since he lost Yuki and for it to come back now of all times that certainly would prove something in him had changed. Where Kameyo and Toso's relationship would go from here in the coming years would be a mystery, but one thing was for certain if Kameyo truly wanted Toso she'd have to come down hard and heavy...'in the emotional sense'...and maybe later along the road the physical one to. But nothing like that was anywhere in Toso's head at the moment.

[Narrative Mission: Lasting Memory x 1 Complete]