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 Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 9:18 pm
They had left shortly after the strange portals had first sprouted up. Mitsu wasn't comfortable at the school anymore, and so Shun didn't make her linger longer than they needed to. He had everything he needed packed up already, so it had just been a matter of heading on out. About two days had gone by now, since they left the school for their little vacation of sorts. He hadn't much of an idea of where they were heading, but that was a part of the adventure in a way. The reaper hoped that this would help her settle down, being away from the school for a time. While it was a home... it was definitely a dangerous place to be in, considering how it seemed to attract trouble.
Granted, things were still a little concerning. Despite being off campus, he had spotted a strange portal in the distant the day prior. The things must have been springing up all over the place. While venturing to investigate might be something he would have done normally, he didn't want to drag Mitsu through that. Not when they were supposed to be having a relatively relaxed time. Whatever those portals led to, it probably didn't make for a good vacation spot. And so he ignored it and continued to walk on with his lycan.
The leaves in the trees were all nearly gone as he looked around the somewhat gloomy forest they currently were traveling through. There was no path for them and from what he could tell, there wasn't anything but foliage in all directions. They weren't entirely alone, however. The chattering of a few birds could still be heard in the trees above.
"Let me know when you're getting tired," he said quietly to her. They weren't in any rush, and so there was no point in tiring themselves out. Besides, he knew that Mitsu had slowly been getting more active before they decided to leave for the time being. He wasn't entirely certain how long she could keep walking before things became tiring.
Then again, he supposed she could always shift to her true state if needed. He imagined walking in that form would be less wearisome. Not to mention that in general, wolves were known for their endurance. Perhaps he'd end up tired before she would. It was hard to say. But, they did have some luggage with them. While he packed as lightly as he could, there were still a few things that was needed. He brought some bottles of water and some rations. They weren't needed really, but they could help ward off fatigue. Not to mention that being hungry and thirsty weren't exactly comfortable things to be. Aside from that, he had some spare clothing and a blanket. There were a few other small odds and ends but that was pretty much the extent of what he had aside from money.
As far as camping and the like went... well. Shun's knowledge was a little limited. He was far more used to city life than with trekking through woods. Hopefully nothing would happen that would call upon the need for such knowledge base.
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:21 pm
With the direction things had been going at school Mitsu was glad they were leaving. She had no idea what the portals meant or what they were for but she couldn't help but be leery of them. It was a relief when they finally gathered their things and took off on their 'vacation' though Mitsu was sure to leave a quick note to their friends outlining that she wasn't sure where they were going but would likely be back soon and not to worry.
As instructed she had packed lightly. Her backpack was a fairly good size compared to her but she had tried to keep the things she had put in it minimal and only what was needed. Two changes of clothes, some light food and snacks, bottles of water, a blanket, her first aid kit and.....something Shun probably wouldn't be happy about but they had already been traveling a full day before she realized what she had that was extra. At least for the time being she was able to keep her extra baggage out of sight and Shun didn't seem to notice, either that or he was pretending he didn't. For now Mitsu just hoped it was the former.
Her attention turning from the forest ahead of them she tilted her head to look at Shun. She shifted her backpack slightly to a more comfortable position but for the time she wasn't tired. "I-I will." Her ears twitched slightly at her stuttering but lately she couldn't seem to help it. It was as involuntary as breathing and probably had to do with the fact that she felt on edge. As glad as she had been to leave they were still out in the open. That thought only had her shifting closer to Shun, her eyes sweeping the leafless trees. Nothing in sight beyond the occasional singing churrpup or a dust bunny rifling around in the fallen leaves.
"Shun," Her voice was soft and barely audible over the crunching of leaves beneath her feet but she turned to look toward her reaper once again so that she wouldn't have to speak louder. "Was there anything you wanted to see? On this trip I mean."
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:32 pm
Shun furrowed his brow as he heard her stuttering. It was likely a habit she was going to need to break.. again. Shaking his head at at that thought, he shifted his own bag over his shoulders while looking down at the werewolf he was traveling with. Her voice was soft, but the area around was pretty quiet. It wasn't dead silent, but there was no need to be speaking loudly in order to be heard.
"I had nothing in particular in mind. There's a number of places we could go," he replied before looking towards the nonexistent trail ahead of them, "Was there something you wanted to see or visit?"
If not, there were a few places they could probably stop by, especially once they reached the next town. From there, they may be able to easily hop on a train and travel.
Perhaps they'd find things along the way as well, for that matter.
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:12 pm
Mitsu looked thoughtful for a moment, her eyes once again peering at their surroundings. Her ears picked up every little noise so the chatter and chirping was hard to ignore.
"I-I've never been on a trip that wasn't with the school." She admitted, crimson eyes turning up to look at her reaper's face. Those trips were often deadly and not always exciting and fun. If only she had gotten to go on the trip to the human mall. It had been one of the few that had been safe. "I think...." She paused again as she considered her words about what she might want to see. This was a new experience and she didn't want to waste the opportunity. "I would like to see where my dad grew up. I remember when I was little he would talk about Howling Crest and how pretty the stars were a night. He never got to take me."
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:18 pm
Shun was patient as he waited for an answer. The place she mentioned wasn't one he was familiar with, but finding directions shouldn't be too difficult. Though, perhaps she had a vague idea of where it might be. Nodding to her, he placed his hands into his pockets.
"We could definitely head out that way. Do you know what region it's in off the top of your head?"
Her sense of direction really wasn't all that great... but it was a good thing that he didn't have that same issue. She could read off any road signs or whatever they might come across, so together they should be able to navigate alright. Hopefully at least.
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:46 pm
Mitsu shrugged slightly indicating she really didn't know. "He said there was snow a lot of the year, so up North?" It had been so long ago when he had told her stories she only vaguely remember his tales of his adventures as a kid and the food his mother would often make him. Mitsu wished the trip also involved meeting her grandparents but she had been told they had ventured away from Howling Crest before she was born and hadn't been heard from since. She wasn't sure if she had ever met them before, they might not even know she existed.
"Shun," One of her hands came up to absently play with the orchid pendant and hung from her neck. "Do you remember anything about your mother?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 2:57 pm
Snow, huh? He didn't bring anything to prepare for that cold of weather, but perhaps they would be able to manage regardless.
"That temple I visited last year is up north as well. Maybe we'll run into it along the way.." he murmured as he thought about the location and loosely laying out a map in his head. However, he soon paused as Mitsu asked him a question that he didn't quite expect to hear. His gaze shifted over to the pendant that she wore, but then slowly shook his head.
"Nothing. I was never really told anything about her either. All I really know is that she was a reaper as well, and that necklace had belonged to her," he said quietly.
At times, he did wish that he knew a little more than just that.
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:10 pm
"I...I see." It was sad to think that he didn't know anything about his mother though her own parents were the distant memory of a tiny scareling. Did she really remember what they looked like? The sound of her father's voice? The smell of her mother's perfume? They were all memories she was beginning to question that were starting to slip away with the years. Even as she looked at photos of them now and of Ginji they didn't seem real.
Pulling her hand away from the pendant Mitsu instead took up fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. It was an old familiar habit that often showed since the hem of her clothes got tattered and worn from her messing with them. Even on her jacket the thread was long gone in the area she was fiddling with and the fabric was starting to fray.
"I think your mother must have been pretty," Mitsu said absently. She could say this now that she had seen his father. While there were features that Shun shared with the older reaper there were many that he didn't. Those were the features she imagined belonged to his mother, especially his smile, while it was faint it was still warm and caring.
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:19 pm
It was one thing that they almost had in common. Mitsu had lost her parents early on, but she still had some memory of them it seemed. Even if they were blurry. As far as he went though, he really only had his Father.
Tilting his head at the comment, he looked back towards her.
"When I was little I have imagined that. After awhile though, I just.. stopped thinking about her so much. When it was obvious I wouldn't be finding out more," he murmured before pausing for the moment, "I just have to wonder what she was thinking, getting married to a man like Kaitou. What the hell could she have seen in him?"
Shun shook his head to himself.
"What.. do you remember about your parents exactly?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:33 pm
That was an interesting question to think about. What had Shun's mother seen in his father. She tried to think about it from a different perspective. Could she have been forced into marrying him or had his father really been different at the time? It was hard to say and it was very likely they wouldn't find out.
"W..what do I remember?" The question caught her by surprise and Mitsu had to think for a moment. She continued her careful steps through the forest, silent for a moment before she finally spoke. "S-stories, the piano, the moon cakes my m-mother used to make." Mitsu thought harder but it seemed her memories really weren't what she thought they had been. "It's hard to r-remember much." She murmured, brushing some leaves out of her path with her foot as she moved. "They don't seem real at times... l-like something from a book. When I think of a real p-parent I think of Ginji." He ruled the majority of her memories. Taking her to school, taking care of her when she was sick, scolding her when she was bad. He had been forced to play a father figure when he had barely reached his twenties. Thinking about it now it must have been hard for him. She was sure it was the last thing he wanted, raising a child, but she could hardly remember a time he didn't smile for her or try to make her feel better. He didn't abandon her at least not until...
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:45 pm
"I've wondered the same about my Mother at times... but she had to have existed if I'm around," Shun stated. Turning back towards her, his features softened as she brought up Ginji. He saw the shadow of the man when they were in the fog. Whenever she brought him up too, there was always a sort of somber air about her.
"Your brother seems like he was quite the man.. taking care of you," he commented, "Apart from Kaitou, I've mostly dealt with various associates of the Family. I think some of them may have pitied me. But... no one really dared to go against Kaitou's orders."
The Reaper let out a sigh that was a little filled with frustration.
"He takes better care of his men than he ever did of me.."
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:58 pm
Mitsu nodded in agreement to Shun's statement about Ginji. Sure Mr. Adolphus had been there but in a way he never was. Mostly he was there to ensure their house didn't get taken away from them but he never took much interest in them otherwise.
"Do you think your father was ever different?" It was a question she wandered earlier when she had thought about his mother. He surely couldn't have always been the way he was now could he? Or had he been like Shun? Simply raised that way so it was the only path he knew.
"W..what did..." She wanted to ask what his father meant when he said he would contact Shun soon but instead Mitsu shook her head to indicate that Shun should disregard her words. Perhaps she didn't want to pry or maybe she just didn't want to know the answer. Not yet. Not when they were supposed to have a relaxing time away from Amity. Questions like that could wait until later. Besides her throat was getting soar from chatting. Which made her remember something.
Slipping the strap of her back pack off on one side Mitsu pulled it around to her front and unzipped it carefully. She barely opened the flap like she didn't want something to escape and drew out a book before closing the backpack and replacing it back on her shoulders. "I brought this." She held up the book for Shun to see. It was a decent sized volume and while Shun might not have been able to read well it probably was made more difficult by the fact that half the letters were made with hands that were signing. "I t-thought it might help..m-maybe you can teach me more Japanese and I can teach you signs from the book?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 5:06 pm
Shun thought about that question for a moment or so.
"I don't know... I never really thought about that. He's always been the same while I was around so I never really thought differently. Perhaps at one point he was a different man... but I don't think that matters a great deal at this point," he said quietly. If he was different, then perhaps that was how his mother got together with him. It wasn't really something he could ask Kaitou... not that he really wanted to know.
Even if the old man would answer, did he really want to know if he could have had a better father growing up than he did? The question Mitsu started to ask grabbed his attention, though he tilted his head as she decided not to ask.
"Hm?" he blinked. Though, the topic was quickly changed to something different. The Reaper furrowed his brow at the way she opened her bag, but then looked at the book she brought out. There were... a lot of hand signs on the cover.
"Sign language?" he asked while looking towards her, "Of course I can teach you more Japanese, though.. is there a particular reason for picking up on this?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 5:20 pm
"For when I c-can't talk," She said even quieter than before. "I've already gone through the b-book. Twice." Mitsu had done her best to familiarize herself with the alphabet and common phrases. She brought the book along so that she would have easy access to other words and things she might have forgotten. But with this in hand if Shun could pick up on some of it maybe it wouldn't be so troublesome if she lost her voice at some point. They could still converse this way and he wouldn't have to worry about reading. It was the only solution she found since she couldn't bring her laptop.
"Like this," She held up her hand and pressed her middle and ring finger down toward her palm with her pointer finger, pinky, and thumb extended. "It means I love you."
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Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2012 5:26 pm
Ah. That made more sense. It wasn't until recently that her voice had come back after all. Even now, she couldn't speak too loudly. Shun didn't usually pay attention to the things she read since it wasn't like he could read them all too well himself. It was a pretty good solution... if he could learn it as well. It wouldn't be much help if he never picked up on it.
Watching her with a small light of curiosity in his good eye, he went on and mimicked her hand sign... pausing.
Didn't people do this thing at rock concerts?
Huh. That put a new perspective on that.
Once he had it down, he held it up to Mitsu. While he didn't say it outloud, he was trying to say it with his hands there.
"What would you like to know in Japanese?"
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