ᑃ Kya's attack hit home and was aided quite a bit. As she fell to the ground, her constricted pupils actually turned into a boon when the inferno really got going. She held her sword in hand, landing and seeing all of the nonsense that was starting to consume the area, able to see that the trio was reacting to something. Her ears perked up and something told her to look towards the village. Among all the sound, she saw it coming. A massive sandstorm, blowing into the forest. She had seen Kanzaki was present. Somehow, he had gotten behind them. She needed her Shakujo to defend herself. Not enough time. She did have one ace up her sleeve, however, and flung herself into air once more, flexing a single finger into a seal to focus herself. Into the billowing smoke of her flames she went, and then she simply was elsewhere. High in the air, behind the blast of sand, she could see it, albeit with increasing difficulty. The village was in pure chaos. Her pray was escaping towards it. ********, they were too far, and she had no momentum. Her blade stabbed into a tree, and her muscles strained as she grinded into it, taking a halt and then bouncing down. Sung was getting civillians who needed help nearby. Kya saw the flames were blown out now but the heat was there and threatening to kick it back up. "Kanzaki!" she called unable to see as she landed near Sung, aiding a pair of the civilians to him. "I'm going to chase them into the village. It's all I can do to help now, everyone needs to be alerted. Come find me when you're done... I'm going to need your and Sung's help." She couldn't see him, she was already running. She didn't know if he survived the blast. But she believed. And she trusted in his resilience. She moved quickly at first, but realized... she hadn't heard a response.
Not among the screaming and pain. Kya bursted from her spot and went far out, risking further dehydration as she headed in. She gathered the children to areas where no live fires existed, keeping them together, telling. Them to hold hands and stay close. The parents, the ones who lived were next. She was doing her best to get the able bodied to help her move the people together. It was proving to be a task to be honest. She used her nodachi to clear a path and stomped out cinders and smaller fires to make a safe pathway towards the hospital, and the first group were outta there. She moved on, using her increased perception to visually pick out the people she could send on the path, and where she found bodies she ignored the rising sense of disgust inside of her gut, churning into pure hatred by the minute. With each evacuated group, or even individual she felt nore like a Norse god of wrath. Her chakra was starting to fume. Those people... those monsters would pay.
And where the ******** was Kanzaki? Arriving where her attack originated she prayed she would not find a corpse. She'd be damned if another friend just dropped dead. Her body forced itself to stop and she turned, feeling the heat start to bother her a bit but ignoring it as she ran towards where Kanzaki's body had been. If he was injured, she had to gather the civilians to him and lead them all out herself. Upon finding him, she was a tad bit afraid of what she found.
His arm wasn't moving any further after his thrust. That probably wasn't a good sign. Body began to register and comprehend the gas, his nose running profusely with clear mucus. Whatever they had done made Kya's Goukakyu, something like what he'd been burned with already, violently explode and consume half of the forest, because reasons. Kanzaki was more than sure he was about to hit by another of her fire techniques, but he paused dumbfounded when not only was he mostly unharmed, but they had used a metal shield against the combined Uchiha's attacks. Little b***h was grinning too. There was a ringing in his ears, but that hadn't been from anyone present. Watching them leave, he'd felt he'd finally gotten a handle on their abilities, none of which his eyes could duplicate. He watched the three of nine flee like Chet, and when he finally stood up straight he was blown over yet again.
Twice now, Kanzaki was two for two. Surviving terrorist attacks, and getting blown up Kya's Katonjutsu. His mouth was dry, his lips were numb, but he stood up anyway, tearing away at his yukata to wrap up his scratched and bleeding right hand and forearm. Ash had dyed his hair grey already. Most of the blood on him was his old burns being reopened from his showing off. Most of it, anyways. He wasn't hearing as much shouting for help anymore, since most of the fire had been put out. Winding the makeshift bandages up, he waltzed over to the last group of civilians, unsure if he was helping one of hem walk, or the other way around."Stay below ground in one of these holes from the trees. Help with come soon. Tend to the others here."
Why was this place so ******** hot? He decided to walk back to the village instead of ninja leaping, using his boots to stamp out the embers as he went along. He could really use a drink, but he'd hold out for the time being. He'd tighten his bandages and reach for two things as Kya interrupted him, calling out her plan to go fight again, able to hear once silence fell after the... whatever that was in the village. Sand and smoke were everywhere. He'd gotten back to where he'd been by the time Kya got to him, and he paused.
From his flask he took a nice big swig of booze, and with no hesitation, shot the stuff straight out of his nose, taking the gas and snot with it, wiping his face on his sleeve. Then he produced a cigarette, lighting it. Finally, he kicked at the ground and spun her shakujo up into the air and caught it, holding it out for her. He had the same eyes as she did, but what was in them was different. He was disappointed, and didn't try to hide it this time.
"...Go on then. I'll catch up."
He expected her to just flit off right away, but even if she didn't, he would keep her gaze and hold it for a breath, only to exhale some clear smoke and keep on at a normal pace toward the village, stomping out the specks of orange and red where he saw them.
神崎 Sharingan: Active
Current BGM: Stats
Konoha Registration #379615709
Village KonohagakurexxxxxTitle ChuuninxxxxxRankCxxxxx Current Chakra 320 / 405xxxxxCurrent Stamina 355 / 355xxxxx Active Techniques:xxxxxxxxxxEnergy Recovery (Out of Combat): [ 15 / 15 ] [ - Rank ]
Passives: • Insight Rain: Sense hostile intent in the immediate area • Hashidzukai: Chopstick techniques cost -5 stamina to perform Personal Attributes: • Professional Drinker: Recovery of chakra (not stamina) via 'Resting' at twice the normal rate while drinking alcohol. • Flame Proficiency: Katon [ Fire ] ninjutsu cost [50%] less chakra to perform. • Chef Hashi-rama: Every 10 Shinobi Chef Missions grants 1 Hashi no Heisei Formless Slot. Class Reductions & Abilities: ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Bukijutsu techniques two [2] posts faster. ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Hashi no Heisei techniques two [2] posts faster. ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Katana techniques one [1] post faster. ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Gunbai techniques one [1] post faster. xxxxx•Mystic Hero: Ninjutsu techniques through held weapon [ D - C Rank ] xxxxx•Mystic Hero: Can use physical bukijutsu techniques to negate ninjutsu techniques [ E - C Rank ] ○ Bloodline Class • Learn Uchiha techniques two [2] posts faster.
ᑃ Why in the ever loving ******** did fire have to goddamn hot. By all of her god's grace, she had never been on fire, but suddenly she felt pretty averse to the thought. Her body felt the effects. Beyond sweating, fatigue was slowly creeping up her body. She was heavy, and yet somehow her resolve was completely untouched. Call it stubbornness or resolve, but Kya was pissed and nothing short of an act of Kortal Kahn himself would dissuade her. Currently that resolve was being slowed substantially by Kanzaki, and his visage. As a somewhat shaky hand went o wipe sweat from her brow only to do nothing to help, the woman's eyes spun back to normal. His body language spoke to that he was angry with her, sure, but moreover she was looking at the cursed eyes. His had somehow awakened it. Her heart was heavy, and she decidedly didn't speak at first.
She heard the jingle of each ring as it came up into the air. Kya approached and observed, letting the storm of her own inner emotive state explode but holding her own pensive stare on him. Once again, a shaky hand took the weapon, unflinching at how warm it had become in the area while she hooked it to her back. Once more, she was omstly whole. Upon hearing his words, she realized then it wasn't anger. Was he chastising her? Was he... was he disappointed in her? Her brow furrowed and her lips pursed. She didn't know guilt. She wasn't privy to it's affects. She was rightly angry when he did what he did so freshly after learning of Oga's passing. She understood very well why in hindsight but it wasn't until she saw him that she understood why.
She released tension. Her shoulders lowered, her teeth unclenched. "No." She denied him. Her hand on her homeless blade was less tight but her eyes administered him. "I get it. I understand, Kanzaki." It was a poor apology. She fought against herself to do better and mean it in spite of herself. Held breath exhaled. "You didn't deserve what I did. I went a little far. Perhaps a lot far. But I am not losing another friend. We will go together. You may want to give up on me after what I did, but I will fight for you, with you, still." With that, she would take her hand and extend it. He could take t or not. Either way, she would stand by him. Even as her very large hair began to mat down, her figure was imposing in it's small stature. At the moment, it was as small as it ever had been.
[ Techniques Used ] Shiraha [ Naked Sword ] Rank: B :: Simple [Double Supreme +Mild Strength Increase on the attack] Description: An attack specializing in its adaptability, at the cost of stability. When swinging the blade, the user prioritizes one stat (strength, speed, fortitude, etc.) above all others; for the duration of this strike, that stat has any descriptive bonuses to it tripled, but all others are nullified. Consumes two activations. If the stat chosen has no descriptive ranks attached to it, it gains a number of descriptive ranks equal to the user's body rank; if the user has only one stat with any descriptive ranks, all other stats are reduced by a full rank until the end of the next post.
[ Other ]
Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:23 pm
He'd watch as the waves of varying emotions ran through her body. Kya hid away her Sharingan, but Kanzaki did not. It had become so much more to him through the blood shed over ages, it was all he could do to honor those before. Suddenly she relaxed, and spoke her understanding. It had to be difficult, truly, for some one like her to say that. He didn't need to speak during their fight encounters then or now to feel that in her. After he got all Ashitaka on her, now that she was able to see with eyes unclouded by hate, would she know he did what he did because he had to. Her hand went out, her guard dropped. He didn't take her hand by the palm, but he'd reached around over the back, jerking her arm forward until they were embracing, his other arm around her back.
"Never forget that. If you begin to stray, let me be the only one you hurt."
He'd leave it unspoken as to what he would have to do if she went off the path and forgot this day, let alone if he had to go looking for her after. Kanzaki had no reason to have faith, not in any of his lifetimes, but the last few reincarnations had been slightly pleasant in that regard. He let her go when he finished speaking, stuffing the cigarette in his mouth and taking a deep draw of it."I'll only slow you down. Go on. Let an ANBU or the Hokage know that the zebra looking one can give those powers of hers to people she touches. She didn't fall out of the air when you and Chet hit her, and all three flew off. The others will be easier without her in the way."He'd leave the shouting to his inner monologue, a wild whirlwind of cursing and screaming about how his brand new, A ranked trump card was stopped dead cold by some dude, a naked furry, and a toddler. Kanzaki didn't wait to see her off, just kept on going at his own pace, getting out the last of the sources of smoke before making his way back into the village proper.
神崎 Sharingan: Active
Current BGM: Stats
Konoha Registration #379615709
Village KonohagakurexxxxxTitle ChuuninxxxxxRankCxxxxx Current Chakra 335 / 405xxxxxCurrent Stamina 355 / 355xxxxx Active Techniques:xxxxxxxxxxEnergy Recovery (Out of Combat): [ 15 / 15 ] [ - Rank ]
Passives: • Insight Rain: Sense hostile intent in the immediate area • Hashidzukai: Chopstick techniques cost -5 stamina to perform Personal Attributes: • Professional Drinker: Recovery of chakra (not stamina) via 'Resting' at twice the normal rate while drinking alcohol. • Flame Proficiency: Katon [ Fire ] ninjutsu cost [50%] less chakra to perform. • Chef Hashi-rama: Every 10 Shinobi Chef Missions grants 1 Hashi no Heisei Formless Slot. Class Reductions & Abilities: ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Bukijutsu techniques two [2] posts faster. ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Hashi no Heisei techniques two [2] posts faster. ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Katana techniques one [1] post faster. ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Gunbai techniques one [1] post faster. xxxxx•Mystic Hero: Ninjutsu techniques through held weapon [ D - C Rank ] xxxxx•Mystic Hero: Can use physical bukijutsu techniques to negate ninjutsu techniques [ E - C Rank ] ○ Bloodline Class • Learn Uchiha techniques two [2] posts faster.
ᑃ When she was pulled into the hug Kya closed her eyes. Her arm came around Kanzaki, sharing in the gesture, all but drinking in it. She spoke a silent prayer for him, then looked him in the eye as he spoke. In a moment too intense and too profound for a good post from my phone Kyas eyes activated and with only a nod she was off once again.
[ Techniques Used ] Shiraha [ Naked Sword ] Rank: B :: Simple [Double Supreme +Mild Strength Increase on the attack] Description: An attack specializing in its adaptability, at the cost of stability. When swinging the blade, the user prioritizes one stat (strength, speed, fortitude, etc.) above all others; for the duration of this strike, that stat has any descriptive bonuses to it tripled, but all others are nullified. Consumes two activations. If the stat chosen has no descriptive ranks attached to it, it gains a number of descriptive ranks equal to the user's body rank; if the user has only one stat with any descriptive ranks, all other stats are reduced by a full rank until the end of the next post.
[ Other ]
Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 1:50 pm
It didn't take him as long as it did last time to save one person from themselves. Maybe this life wouldn't be so bad after all? Steeling his nerves for what lay ahead, Kanzaki headed off into the village to see exactly how bad things were.
[/exit]
神崎 Sharingan: Active
Current BGM: Stats
Konoha Registration #379615709
Village KonohagakurexxxxxTitle ChuuninxxxxxRankCxxxxx Current Chakra 350 / 405xxxxxCurrent Stamina 355 / 355xxxxx Active Techniques:xxxxxxxxxxEnergy Recovery (Out of Combat): [ 15 / 15 ] [ - Rank ]
Passives: • Insight Rain: Sense hostile intent in the immediate area • Hashidzukai: Chopstick techniques cost -5 stamina to perform Personal Attributes: • Professional Drinker: Recovery of chakra (not stamina) via 'Resting' at twice the normal rate while drinking alcohol. • Flame Proficiency: Katon [ Fire ] ninjutsu cost [50%] less chakra to perform. • Chef Hashi-rama: Every 10 Shinobi Chef Missions grants 1 Hashi no Heisei Formless Slot. Class Reductions & Abilities: ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Bukijutsu techniques two [2] posts faster. ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Hashi no Heisei techniques two [2] posts faster. ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Katana techniques one [1] post faster. ○ Bukijutsu Class • Learn Gunbai techniques one [1] post faster. xxxxx•Mystic Hero: Ninjutsu techniques through held weapon [ D - C Rank ] xxxxx•Mystic Hero: Can use physical bukijutsu techniques to negate ninjutsu techniques [ E - C Rank ] ○ Bloodline Class • Learn Uchiha techniques two [2] posts faster.
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Pandora Green
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 6:52 am
< CHAKRA > 2555 / 2555 •< STAMINA > 1395 / 1395 xxxxxxxxxx< A C > 79750 •< RYO > 両34800
Taka was pissed. Her outward appearance didn't show it but she was. So many cries of agony, so much death in the area. She actually had to actively suppress her range on her emotional sensing auras. The gurl she left in charge of some of her duties was doing well. But she still had a mission to complete. Her daimyo wanted this done and her previous group of shinobi and their jonin in failed to even go on the task. She started walking onward, heading towards the minor villages to see what was going on.
On her way out she set down a scroll in the crook if a tee branch 1ith the number 4 on it. She assumed the person following her would find it.
xxxx< Passive Attributes and Jutsu > • Beast Master: The user is able to nurture grow, and bond with up to 3 animals, of various shapes and sizes (one lizard, one canine, one feline, ect), with the user being able to receive similar traits to their animals(must submit to customs). These animals will be close to the users level, though still requiring the leader for nurturing, growth, ect. The animals will not be able to pass Jounin level, even if the user can. They have 1/2 the user's chakra and stamina pool, while only being able to manipulate a single element. At gennin, the user can choose a single trait associated with their animal companion. At chunnin, when the user gains their second animal conpanion, the user may choose another trait associated with this single companion. At jounin, when the user gains their third companion, they may choose another trait associated with that animal. Each trait must be submitted to the custom jutsu thread. • Inception: The user's genjutsu prowess has increased the sheer power of the genjutsu, making them act a rank higher then they are (up to S rank). This increases the Kai cost for an opponent. • Lessons from the Okiya: Gains the kenjutsu style Akira ( Fans ) and proficiency using it equal to a kenjutsu user trained in this style of the same rank. • Lessons from the Okiya: Gains the kenjutsu style Akira ( Fans ) and proficiency using it equal to a kenjutsu user trained in this style of the same rank. • Power of youth: Taijutsu skills are increased. • Shinobi-mas: Santa's Library (good for 10 ninjutsu/genjutsu, 1 buki/tai-style, or 2 custom jutsu), 10 free training/missions posts • Santa's Knowledge (-1 post to any 1 particular learning [nin/gen/tai/buki/etc], job, or mission, pick two), with an additional +50 chakra and stamina. • Regular Thursday (-1 post to any combination of 2: learning [nin/gen/tai/buki/etc], job, or mission), with an additional +50 chakra and stamina. • Assassins mark: Able to attack vital organs with ease of a medical specialist. • Spiral Weave: Giant animal: Red Fox xxxx< Techniques Used > • • •
♫ ~ I feel like laughing- a metempsychosis like this where you can suddenly bubble up and softly disappear. If you want to be loved, say it out loud. Just thinking about it won't convey it. Even the eternal maiden looks away, and heaven moves further away from us.
If he had more time, Soraru would have gone home in order to put on his armor. Instead, he made do with what he had and tied the thick book he picked up from the library over his chest beneath his shitagi with some wire. It wasn't ideal, but his life had been saved with less in the past. His feet took him from branch to branch, his movement both swift and silent to the point where it seemed like a heavy breeze was making its way through. The wind was his primary elemental affinity, after all. He made use of his hands whenever he had an issue with balance, keeping himself steady while he pushed his momentum forwards, hoping that nothing stupid or irreversible had taken place yet.
He only stopped when he had a good view of the waterfall from the image, catching his breath while his eyes darted around for the exact location. He found it. Hanako. I used to come here with her when we were done training. I should bring flowers here, sometime. I'm sure it's what she would have wanted. Of course, that thought just had to tear its way through his mind at that moment. She was dead, that wouldn't change. He still had a chance to save a life, though. That's what mattered. He caught his breath, focused his hearing, and tried to find anything that would help him find them.
Words, a broken twig, a far off figure, anything. At that moment, his eyes hadn't fully scanned the field in front of the waterfall and he was still getting his bearings. If he couldn't find anything soon, he'd have to make use of shadow clones.
The truth is not what you want it to be. It is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie. ♫
Seated near the edge of the small lake, where the grass suddenly drops down into the crystalline waters, was a red-headed figure. Clad in his chuunin uniform, Reihai was seated with his knees pulled up to his chest, arms crossed around them, keeping his body compact. His gaze was distant across the waters, unconcerned about the prone figure clad in white laying still beside him. They could have been sleeping - perhaps they were - but their hair obscured their face, and their body's positioning would not have been the most comfortable.
On the other side of Reihai was a bag. It wasn't overflowing, but its purpose was clear - it was packed to leave. On top of it, sat a sheet of paper, held in place with a lone kunai resting innocently, nestled amongst the soft give of the bag, pinning the paper down without piercing it. To the casual passers-by, the scene may have looked like a sentimental moment, two close friends bonding. Maybe catching up before a mission that would separate them for an unknown period. It was an in-between moment, for sure. Ready to leave, but not quite prepared to go.
♫ ~ I feel like laughing- a metempsychosis like this where you can suddenly bubble up and softly disappear. If you want to be loved, say it out loud. Just thinking about it won't convey it. Even the eternal maiden looks away, and heaven moves further away from us.
Soraru had options, that was for sure.
His eyes managed to lock onto the scene. He knew who the boy was from the picture of him in his youth, even without seeing his face. Reihai. The one lying still on the ground must have been the Shinobi who hadn't been seen for two days. The bag, well, that really wasn't a mystery at all. He knew what that paper was, pinned so enticingly to it. It was all that the Antei family wanted back. This could be easy, but there are risks in all of the "simple" options. He thought. He could put on his Uzumaki mask that he kept in his satchel and substituted the bag for his glass dire wolf, but that thing didn't know friend from foe outside of Soraru himself. Assassinating Reihai was simple enough from his current position, but that's not what the Kage asked for. It's not what Soraru wanted, either.
No, he wanted only one thing. Answers. It's what Lord Antei deserved. It's what he himself was slaving away all day for.
Soraru threw all of his pre-emptive combat options aside in favor of the diplomatic approach. It probably would've felt good to tie up a criminal after all the work he did, but it'd put his mind at east if he just knew what the hell was going on. Instead of diving into a fight, he used the shunshin technique in order to clear the distance between himself and the two shinobi. He was behind, Reihai, but wasn't making an effort in concealing his presence. "This place wasn't exactly hard to find. You're all packed up and ready to go, but you don't need me to tell you that it's a crime. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm guessing that you wanted to be found, Kōka-san." He gestured towards the bag with a nod of his head. "Though I guess you'll want to be called Antei-sama soon enough." He stated, showing that he knew what was going on. The guy was a Chuunin, but Soraru's speed went well above that rank. It wasn't likely that Reihai could do anything tricky to either the bag or the Shinobi without him stopping it somehow.
He knew first hand that when you leave, you start running and don't look back. That's why he figured that Reihai was just waiting to talk to somebody. Or he could be wrong. All the same, he'd be getting answers in some fashion.
The truth is not what you want it to be. It is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie. ♫
A string of tension was pulled taught between Reihai's shoulders at the shunshin arriving at his back, instincts more than recognition acting up. It was Soraru's words, however, that had Reihai reacting, his head twisting sharply in surprise and big, wet, blue eyes stared up at the Kumo nin. "Wha-" He gasped, recoiling back slightly, before realising himself and covering his face, a heat wave of shame flushing his cheeks as bright a red as his hair. "N-No...!" He choked out. "No... I'm not... I'm not running. Please, just..." He gasped in some air, trying to open up his still stuttering throat. Regain some dignity. He shook his head violently at being called Antei, though, and damp eyes gazed up in a barely-concealed plea. "I'm not, I didn't know." His gaze shoots off to the side, glancing at the birth certificate that held not only his name, but the name of both his parents. "Not until she told me..." He whispered before glancing at the prone shinobi. A flicker of emotion briefly crossed his features, an inner debate raging, before he went to hiding his face once again. He hissed out a curse word, hands rubbing hard at his eyes. "I thought about it..." He admits. "I thought about running, but I'm not, I swear. I have nowhere to go." Reihai adds at the end, pain lacing the words sharply.
♫ ~ I feel like laughing- a metempsychosis like this where you can suddenly bubble up and softly disappear. If you want to be loved, say it out loud. Just thinking about it won't convey it. Even the eternal maiden looks away, and heaven moves further away from us.
It took Soraru a moment to figure out what exactly was coursing through him. As a Haekomoto, he was usually in a perpetual state of calm that slightly branched out into other emotions. He was annoyed. Irritation. That's what flooded his very being when Reihai spoke up. If one could even call it that. He would've snapped right there, told to Chuunin to start acting like an adult, but luckily he seemed to understand without Soraru needing to say a word. He recovered some dignity, wiping his eyes and speaking in full sentences. It helped Soraru get a clear picture. He didn't do this. He thought to himself, looking over to the figure on the ground. White, long hair. White robes. Instead of a glimpse of their face, he only saw red. Not exactly the picture of a gentleman. I wonder if it's the same person everyone was mentioning. They're not dressed in a Konoha uniform either. His eyes narrowed, the white hair and outfit bringing a familiar face to mind, but that image turned to dust when he saw the weapon. Not a glass sheath. Had me worried for a moment. Still, it didn't change the fact that they were injured.
"Nowhere to go...I saw your place. It was trashed. My problem with this case is that I haven't been able to figure out why you'd do anything that it seems you did. On the other hand, I could easily imagine why people would want to claim that they're nobility." He stated, walking over to the bag. He was still unarmed, and nothing in his body language showed that he planned to lash out at Reihai. Looking over it, his assumptions were confirmed. His mother was exactly who he expected her to be. "You don't need a paper for proof. An ANBU can search your memories and get a good idea of how honest you are." He paused, looking the man over. Soraru spent years lying to people. Almost for his entire life. He didn't detect that same level of deception from Reihai.
"I'm here under the Hokage's orders. He knows where I am, and what my job is. I can help you better than anyone, but you need to tell me what's going on. You can start by explaining what happened to our friend on the floor." The part about the hokage wasn't entirely true, but what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.
The truth is not what you want it to be. It is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie. ♫
It a moment to compose himself enough to speak without stuttering, to work around that large knot in his throat, and even longer before he felt... quiet enough to be able to show his face. But Reihai began speaking. It was slow, at first, trying to find a place to start, a rhythm to the words. "I never knew my mother." He whispered. "All I knew was that my father died on a mission. I grew up an orphan." His mouth pulled down, disdain and loss clouding him for a moment. "I hated being alone." He pauses, compiles himself, restarts. "I did a mission for them. For the Antei. And then... then she finds me in the street and she..." Reihai looks away. "She says she's my mother, that she can prove it, she has the birth certificate in her rooms and..." His face pinches. "That she's proud of me. And I..." Reihai stops, looks over to the unconscious male, and that look of debate crosses his face once more. "I don't want to be nobility. I just... I just needed to know that she was saying the truth. And I thought for sure the Anbu would be knocking on my door, but they never showed.
And then this Kumo nin knocks on my door this morning, saying he knows what happened - what really happened, and that he understood that I was angry, that I didn't mean to..." Ice-blue eyes pinch shut. "I panicked and struck out at him, pack my bag, left. But I couldn't. I couldn't do it. After everything I've done I couldn't run away... So he found me again and he was apologising, like I wasn't the one who had - just - tsk!" Reihai clicks his tongue and rubs his hands hard through his hair. "He said he trusted me, and sat down, asked to talk. I used a jutsu to put him to sleep, that's all, I swear. He's fine!"
♫ ~ I feel like laughing- a metempsychosis like this where you can suddenly bubble up and softly disappear. If you want to be loved, say it out loud. Just thinking about it won't convey it. Even the eternal maiden looks away, and heaven moves further away from us.
Soraru sighed, suddenly having the overwhelming urge to sit down, but he didn't want to take any chances yet. Why does it feel like the past keeps rearing its ugly head today? Reihai was nobility, whether he liked it or not. They had that in common. He struck the Shinobi, a Kumo nin to be exact. Probably more than once, given the amount of blood he found back in the room. It surprised him to hear that the same Shinobi came back to apologize. His stomach turned. There was only one person he knew in Kumogakure, Shinobi or otherwise who would react to being attacked like that. Everything inside of him screamed to check, but he knew that he had to settle things with Reihai first.
"The Antei pride themselves on stability, not wealth or power. They support the community and have never fallen on hard times, mainly because they do things together. They don't overextend or overwork the people in their care. That's what your uncle told me, give or take a few flowery words." He said, almost envious of how it all sounded. In the Hiraite, you step up or you get tossed to the side. It's a constant cycle of disgrace and redemption. Only the royal family existed as exceptions to the rule. "People know that the document exists. You can't just tear it up since I'll be forced to take action. You could try to leave still, but even if I didn't stop you, someone worse would come along eventually. You struck a member of my village, so I can't just give you a way out. What I'm trying to tell you is that you could make it work with what you've got now." He walked around the fallen Shinobi's body, making sure he could still keep Reihai in his line of sight while he crouched, brushing white hair out of the Kumo nin's face.
"You've got aunts and uncles who have a new hole in their lives, now that your mother is gone. You can fill it, and maybe find a way to make yourself complete while you're at it." He stopped speaking for a moment, a noticeable pause hanging in the air while a sad smile forced its way onto his lips. "You've lived your life alone, but now you know that you have family out there, in a clan that cares about its people. Not all of the lone wolves have that option. It definitely seems comfier than a cell or a life on the run. Trust me. Changing your name, lying to everyone, moving from place to place...you'll lose pieces of yourself along the way. As someone who knows, let me save you, Antei-san."
The truth is not what you want it to be. It is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie. ♫
"My name is Reihai Kōka! Kōka!" He shouts. "I was named after my father, because she chose to keep me a secret. She didn't want me back then, and I don't want their pity now! I ki-" He stops. Breathes. "I can't. The Kumo nin. He said he'd lie for me, if he had to. That neither of my parents would want me being a missing nin or in a prison. And maybe I can live with that. But this?" The Chuunin pointedly looks at the birth certificate, once crisp and pristine now rumpled under the weight of a kunai. "I'm not ready for that. I thought I would be, if I ever found her. The Antei say they support the community, but they threw me away. But if I give the document back, they could burn it and I'll... I thought I'd knew what to say, how to tell her how angry and alone I was. But I'm not. I wasn't. If I was, then maybe she'd... maybe I could -"
"Don't..." a crisp voice softly comes from the fallen shinobi, finally ruffled by the shouting and alert to the world once more. The robes shuffle, the small sounds of glass clinking, as the white-haired nin begins to push himself up, bleary green eyes searching and a gentle hand reaching. "Don't hurt yourself like that..." A beat, a noticeable lift in tension, and the head turns, sees the Hakemoto crouched beside him - "... S'raru...?" And then clarity - and alarm - brightened the moss-green irises and Honō's attention was on Reihai. "Have you..." He hesitates, body shifting. "Decided?" Reihai looks away tot he birth certificate. A long moment passes, a tentative hand reaching for the piece of paper as that debate once more occurs in Reihai's mind. "Shi-sama will listen. Nothing will change if you don't want it to, if you can live for them. For him." Honō whispers.
"... Okay. Okay." Reihai whispers back and takes hold of the certificate, presses it close to his chest and goes to grab his bag - before looking up to Soraru. "I'm going to the kage. I'll tell him what happened." He says, but the tone implies he's waiting for permission, not wanting to start a fight. Ice-blue eyes go to Honō. "I'm sorry for - "
"No." Honō smiles, soft and warm. "I'm quite known for getting hit by branches when I'm running through the trees. Go." And the smile melts to uncertainty and joy mixed oddly together as he turns to Soraru once more. "Soraru-kun," The Hari clan members eye skirt downward, almost shy, but obviously hiding a thought being carried in his face. "Can we talk?"
