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 Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:01 pm
"Hah~. I dunno if he wants to come out, but I can go see. Will you come if I hold your hand, scaredy-cat? There's torches a little ways in..."
Syn laughed, and gripped her hands behind her back, bending forward and taunting Iri.
((I'll make sure nothing big happens till the other two get back. I hate to break the turn cycle, but I wanna speed this up a bit XD))
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:17 pm
The taunting doesn't phase Iri. She does realize, though, that hesitating for too long can make her look suspicious. A hint of nervousness alights upon her features. This is partially on purpose and partially a chip in her emotional armor.
"Alright, so long as it's lit."
Iri walks across the clearing and to the mouth of the cave. Nostrils flare as Iri takes in a deep breath and releases it. The butterflies in her stomach don't stop, but they do calm themselves. It isn't just the dark. Iri can sense that much. Whatever's in that cave exudes a presence that has nothing to do with sensing chakra. The wild, instinctual part of Iri is telling her to turn back. The thing in there is like a big jungle cat, and Iri like the dove flying too close to its hiding place. But she really doesn't have a choice.
(( That's exactly what I was thinking. And considering one of them will be going on an extended leave soon, speeding things up seems essential. ))
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:38 pm
Syn grabbed Iri's hand and walked through the cave. It was dark for a little bit, maybe a minute of walking, then there was an array of torches, leaving no substantial shadow for twenty feet, leading into a decent-sized antechamber. Small blue orbs of light were floating around for light. There were benches and bedrolls, with crates stacked all around. There was a fire in the chamber, and a small vent in the ceiling.
"Jii-Sama, I brought big Sis to see you~"
There was a man by the fire, covered in a heavy brown cloak, hood up. He was curled over a book, and there was a small girl with long black hair, adorned in a black and gold robe, laying over a book with interest. She looked up at Iri, and the man turned his head, his face hidden. He stood, a small, unshaven smile showing from under the shadow of his cloak as he waved with his right hand, walking over to Iri. His face came into view, and it was definitely familiar.
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 9:44 pm
"Iri! It's been a while!"
Neko looked a bit run down, and his chakra was flowing mostly free, though it couldn't be sensed outside of the cave. His eyes were light blue, and they seemed to glow under his hood, which he quickly pulled down. his hair was chopped off, and he looked worn and ragged, as if he hadn't slept for days. He approached Iri and put a hand on her shoulder, patting it with a bit of strength as he laughed a bit.
"I figured it was you who this one got latched onto!"
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:09 pm
Iri's knees slightly buckle under Neko's hand. For one, the man is much bigger than her. Another, she's a bit scrawny compared to his strength. And though it doesn't tell in anything else, she's getting a little weak due to waves of nervousness. Maybe it's the fact that thinking of a jungle cat as she entered the cave now seems so fitting? Or it could have been the way his eyes seemed to glow before he removed the hood. It doesn't last long. For the moment, he doesn't seem to be threatening. That fact lets her ease up. Of course she keeps her guard up at the same time.
"Ah, how'd ya know?" Iri laughs a little herself, allowing a lopsided grin. "I mean, really, how many other people look like they're half bird around here? Wonderful child, by the way. Wish I was as friendly and energetic as her as a kid. She's just too cute!"
"Nekojiri," Iri thinks to Tier and Shokubutsu. "Jii-Sama is Nekojiri. Damn, it makes so much sense! There are shadows just within the cave, Tier. I'm thinkin' I'm gonna need back up. Lots of back up."
Iri doesn't really know what to do, so she doesn't do anything other than give a friendly grin. There's no comparing Iri's strength to that of Neko. The best that she can do is pay close attention to what he does and swiftly react. If she's lucky, she might get out of this situation alive.
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:15 pm
Neko turns his back to Iri without a thought, and walks to the fire, picking up a small pot, and pouring a cup of coffee. He offers it to Iri , before telling Syn to go and play with her sister.
"You never know about that place. What brings you all the way out here, hm?"
Neko was completely pleasant, though a little tired-sounding. He wasn't threatening at all, aside from the natural reaction to the great amount of chakra pushing away from him.
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:33 pm
The familiar smell of coffee is indeed permeating the air. Violet eyes widen as Neko offers her the cup. Iri holds up the hand that isn't holding her naginata and her expression turns apologetic.
"I know it's rude to refuse, but I can't accept it. You don't want to know what that stuff does to me. My parents banned me from it before I left home. They didn't want me to wreak havoc on society. If you don't mind me saying so, you sound like you could use it more than me." She glances at the book he had abandoned. "I'm a bookworm myself, but maybe you should concentrate on sleep for a while, eh?"
Iri has never been able to sense chakra. It's a strange handicap. She can, however, feel an odd pressure emanating from Neko. It has to do with the way large amounts of chakra can displace the air. And the amount of air Neko's chakra is displacing makes Iri step up her defenses a little. This reaction is much more out of respect for the man's power than fear.
"As for your question, well, it's a long story." Iri scratches the back of her head in a thoughtful manner. "People have been invading the Academy. A few incidents that I know of, and maybe one or two others that I haven't heard of yet. I was going through the forest, with two others, trying to find anyone suspicious. There's one man in particular that we've been on the look out for. But we happened up on Syn, and I wasn't about to leave her out in the woods to be found by someone with bad intentions. Gotta protect the little ones, ya know."
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:40 pm
Neko stood silent for a moment before taking a sip of the coffee. Syn and Luna were huddled over a book, Luna pointing out things to Syn and scolding her for neglecting her studies. the girl was very well spoken, but seemed a bit timid when her eyes met with Iri's, and she would glance anxiously at Neko as he conversed.
"I haven't been able to for a while now.. Sleep, that is."
He nods as Iri continues, and lets out an exasperated sigh.
"Of course they are. Word has spread that I've moved on, and the people who were kept at bay only by their treaties or respect for me jumped on the prospect of having the GNA for themselves. I would imagine that Kaimen is having trouble with finances, as well?"
He takes another sip of the coffee, and turns back to the fire, walking to sit back on his stool.
"Thanks for watching after her. She can be a handful sometimes, I know. Who are you after, if I may be privy to the information?
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 10:57 pm
Iri gets a flat expression as she remembers one incident in particular. "Finances? Yeah, you could say that. Considering most of the people there can communicate pretty well from distances, I don't see why he spent the money on the stinkin' phone lines. Never used a phone in my life, but I still keep up with people."
She pauses, considering some of the issues that arose with the appearance of Syn. And still, she can't help but think of who the girl reminds her of. "Syn isn't that bad. I wouldn't wish my sister upon my worst enemies, and I'm the only one that would babysit her. Aside from being ornrey, she's a sweetie."
Then she gives her head a bird like tilt. Her free hand snaps a few times. "Oh, what's his name? Some man with red hair. He has an opera mask. It changes expressions, too. Really weird. Steel? Something Steel. He randomly showed up and threatened the Academy's students." This could very well be the truth. Neko isn't the only issue that's arose in the Academy. "There was another problem, but we're not sure how this happened. A bunch of plants popped up near the Kaze Dojo." She pauses again, this time to give a shake of her head. "Not sure if I was poisoned or just high as a kite, but the things messed with my head. And they're certainly not native to this area, so we're out to find out who planted them there. It's either a bad prank or a more subtle version of attack."
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:09 pm
"Oh, that's what Kaimen was doing when he cleared that land?"
Neko shook his head and sat his mug down.
"Warrior's Remorse. It grows around here, but it normally doesn't get enough sunlight to mature, or gets choked out by the trees. It's a hallucinogen, pretty powerful one, too. There's a legend about it being used to disable an entire army, hence the name. If you've been made Sensei, then chances are that you've been exposed to it, and you just have to wait for it to get out of your system, I'm afraid."
He coughed a bit, Luna sitting up and walking over to him to hold onto his left arm. As it emerged from his cloak, Iri could notice that his arm ended abruptly, a few inches above where his wrist should've been.
"Jii-Sama..."
"I'm fine, Dearest, just a tickle."
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:24 pm
An army... Iri thinks about visions of bloody battlefields, dead and dying soldiers, smoke in the sky, and scattered weapons.
Iri does notice Neko's arm. She assumes it's from his fight with Kaimen.
"Warm milk and honey," she abruptly says. "If you've been ill, that's the best thing for congestion I've come across. Warm milk in a pan until it's close to boiling, then pour it in a cup and stir in honey until it melts into the milk." The advice is automatic. It's Iri's nature to do so. Neko is a potential enemy at the moment. There's no way around it. But he hasn't done anything to harm Iri, and Iri has done nothing to harm him. There's no reason she can't be helpful to someone she knew as her leader not long ago.
The girl really catches Iri's attention for the first time. She had noticed her timid nature and anxious glances. This one just doesn't seem like her sister. "This one must be Luna. It's nice to meet you." Iri sweetly smiles at her.
Iri brings her attention back to Neko. "Warrior's Remorse, huh? That legend kinda weirds me out."
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:38 pm
Luna looks up at Iri in surprise, then scowls as she hides behind Neko's arm, glaring back at Iri.
Neko chuckles and pats her head.
"You'll have to excuse her. She's a bit jealous when it comes to my attention. And thanks for the advice, I'll have to send Syn out to the market."
From appearances, it would be quite plain that Neko was just living here humbly. Anything he had in the antechamber didn't look dangerous. Lots of books, and a few old pieces of armor and a weapon or two. He was probably just staying here to let things cool off. Surely he had people after his head, and he didn't look much in fighting condition at all. If Iri could catch a glimpse under his coat, he would look scrawny and pale, the strength he greeted Ally with the extent of his physical power. His speech was slower, and a little slurred from the fatigue, and as for the chakra, he merely didn't seem to have the concentration needed to keep it in check. it was a little pitiful, in all honesty, compared to how he was before.
"I'm not sure if there's any truth to it or not, it's just a legend, after all."
He looked back to her, checking her over.
"Would you like to sit and rest a while, or should you be going back to the hunt?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:53 pm
The two choices weigh in Iri's mind. The former seems best.
"I had better get going. If I'm gone too long, the guys might worry. I may be Kaze Sensei, but it's not thanks to my strength. They could very well believe something has happened to me."
She brings her feet together and deeply bows from her waist. The gesture is sincere. Iri still isn't sure about Neko. There are things that don't make sense, and too many unanswered questions. That doesn't change the fact that he was once her headmaster and leader, though. Whatever and whoever he is now, she can at least respect who he once was.
Iri straightens her posture and smiles. "Take care of yourself, Nekojiri. And I'll keep looking out for Syn. Good bye, Syn, and it was good to meet you, too, Luna." Even if the black haired girl doesn't want to be friendly, Iri is always good to kids.
Iri turns to walk out of the cave. Her step is just as light as ever, betraying nothing.
"I'm coming out, boys. Hang back a bit. I'll meet you outside, but don't show yourselves until I give the word."
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:13 am
The moment Syn had turned her back to Tier in the forest was when he disappeared from sight.
He was among the shadows wherever Iri had been and had recorded the conversation that took place. Where he currently was is still hidden.
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:38 am
Neko doesn't look to her as she bows. he keeps his eyes fixated on the fire in front of him. Syn grins and waves, while Luna just continues to stare at Iri until she's out of sight.
"Take care, Iri."
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