Ranging from the East to the South, the Land of Fire borders the sea. Many different coastal villages exist along this land and every day a veritable armada of boats heads out to sea to catch bountiful quantities of fish. Further inland of the sea lies dense thickets of forest and the occasional high reaching mountain.
Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:00 pm
This was home to him, once. This coastline -- this country. The land surrounding the Eddies was the Nation of Fire; vast, beautiful, untouched yet by the enthralling vices of machines, yet kept subdued by the politics of men unqualified to live among others peaceably. This place brought back memories. Poor ones, great ones; all too many. Though, as he wandered, he kept the headband once wrapped around his head in the confines of the same pouch from which he drew his shuriken.
In seeking freedom, he had cut himself off from a whole country -- the descendants and refugees of all the people he had lost in the destruction of the land he once called home. It was a sorrowful thing to witness it all now; though there were beautiful towns and cities, there were razed ashes of the old. The place that he and Falsa had once lived in, on the outskirts of Konohagakure, now laid melted and merged with the soil.
Right now, wandering and curious, he stepped atop the old brittle bricks and above each wayward root, onto the ruins of his lost paradise. And then he crept, and kept silent the will to weep for all that he had lost. All the great mourning of his grandfather, grandmother, and more -- so many good people, now so far away.
Emotion still lived within him. Unfortunately. For now, he would simply have to survive that truth. For as long as he could.
He moved as far and as fast as he could. He could not stop moving. He had no idea if he avoided Masato. Some of the only memories he retained were of his friend and his unbending will. It was entirely possible that the man was still pursuing. And yet, he couldn't move any further. He had to take a break. Taylor's concealment technique ended and he placed his back against a hill. The sword in his hand dropped as he sunk to the ground. From the sword Horus appeared in electric sparks. The bird stood in front of his partner and rubbed his head against the kid. "I'm glad you're still with me." Taylor said as he raised his hands to brush the face of the giant golden eagle. He wondered if he had any more supplies with Horus to counter his exhaustion. If he didn't then he was going to have to think about how he could survive for much longer.
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:21 pm
The cold winds blew. It was approaching the darkness -- the sun had already begun to set on those lamp-lit city streets, sitting among the edges of the coastline. He could see them and their radiance even now, from so far away. The shinobi shut his eyes as he held his hands outward, his fingertips rising, breaking through the wind as it flew by and cooled him down. He felt... departed from all of the stress, and the great, heavy burden that he had come to bear.
And then, from the knoll that overlooked the compound, he heard a voice from afar that dulled into a whisper as it passed through the same wind. He could not make out the words, but curiosity came to him, and the Senju could only oblige that capricious spirit. The walls of the enclosed ruin split at the growth of thick roots in-between the cracks, and the Senju stepped forward through the rift he had forged to see a boy of similar age rested upon the knoll, his back against the edge of the hill.
Shinsei's eyes peered forward, witnessing him. Taking in the sight. It was... somehow relaxing to see someone pressed against these surfaces, laying their back against the hill. He often did the same, when he was much younger.
But this man was fatigued. Weakened, and withered. The Senju curled his lips in wonder, as he finally parted his lips to speak.
Horus turned and faced the man before Taylor could see him. His feathers expanded as a means of intimidation. A war cry of a shriek escaped his mouth. This was a possible threat, and his partner was drained. Horus was ready to strike. "Wait!" Taylor called out to his partner. The bird calmed his feathers as he moved to the side. Taylor took a moment to properly analyze the person who spoke to him. He looked around his age, but his features were far more mature. They made him appear more responsible. "I've had better days..." He said with a chuckle. Taylor's eyes drifted away as he thought of all of the horrors that he has endured in these past two weeks. "I'll be okay, however. I just need to rest." He said. What he really needed was food, water, and possible seven years of sleep. Taylor recognized that none of those things were in his future, however, but he was tired of burdening others.
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 7:42 pm
The boy before him appeared... kind. He called off the fury of his avian companion, and spoke to the wanderer with all the sweet sincerity of a lark. I've had better days, he said. Shinsei's eyes lit up as he placed his fingertips upon the back of his head, smoothing through his own raven locks. "You and me both," he spoke with a chuckle in tandem, light airy laughs beneath his words, and every breath. Then, stepping forward, he climbed the edge of the knoll to allow himself to sit upon the same axis as the other boy.
Then, pressing his hands together, the Senju closed his eyes. A soft breath escaped his throat, and from its departure a four-pillared, large home began to arrive from the soil, rising to tower before them as it filled the distance between the old compound and the small hill.
It was an act of compassion. Flashy, perhaps even braggadocios, but with intentions only in the positive. "I have a futon or two sealed away," he whispered. "If rest is all you need, then I can give you that. A proper one. I..." the boy bit his lip, "I left my village. So I -- I've been alone, and hungry, and looking for all the same securities. I'm so blessed to be able to do things like this -- to be able to sleep with four walls around me. And I've been making plenty of sweet real estate for all the squatters strewn about the countryside, too," Shinsei stated, almost proudly. The two of them, at least, starved and suffered together. That was a good start to any friendship, right?
Taylor felt a sense of warmth when the man laughed at him. It was nice that this person wasn't looking to kill him. That wouldn't have gone well for any of them. Taylor's eyes widened as the house started to form around them. Horus took to the sky before the roof was established. He rested on the top of the building and peered along to observe any threats. Taylor gasped in wonder at the creation the man gave, as well as his explanation of his cause. "Well if you have plans to house every lost soul, you definitely have the powers to do so." He said with a smile. He looked up and down at the man again. The creation of the house seemed to cause the man no strain. His muscular arms seemed perfectly relaxed.
"Horus!" Taylor shouted as he moved toward the window. The giant eagle descended and turned to the boy. "I think I am safe with this man. Will you hunt for us please?" He asked. The bird gave one look through the window hole to the man and there was tension in his gaze. His eyes became soft when he looked back at Taylor. With a mighty flap of his wings Horus went off to find food. Taylor moved from the window frame and faced the man. "Horus can get us some fresh meat. He's done well to take care of me in the past." He said with confidence. His arms were relaxed as he figured that he might as well get to know this man. "Is there a reason you left your village?" He asked.
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2018 8:04 pm
As he glanced back to see Taylor's lightened eyes admiring his work, the shinobi felt some degree of pride swelling up within his chest. It felt good to have grown so greatly -- to know that his growth had an impact on others. Right now, right before him, he was providing someone with accommodations likely not known to them in some time. Would he have slept among the stalks of grass, otherwise? Against that hill?
The Senju simply nodded. "Not every lost soul," he admitted. Never in his life had he ever claimed to be an altruist. And he never would claim that.
"Just some."
The eagle ascended, guided by the task given him. Taylor had -- already -- trusted Shinsei to remain in his favor. To be trusted so easily was a surprise, largely as he tended to make others cynical of him, and leery. This was an exception to the rule -- one he did not mind.
"I appreciate it," he said under his breath. The wanderer was also hungry. He had gone from the Land of Floods to Gimangakure, back to the Land of Eddies. He'd followed the wind and all of his whims, and so far, his whims had avoided any degree of cultivated food. It appeared that the two of them, both, had found a blessing here.
"Why I left?" he questioned, curving his lips. It was strange to be asked that so quickly, especially considering the stigma upon rogues and wanderers. Perhaps Taylor was one too; he didn't know. "I wanted to be fully free. To have the ability to have the wind crush against my back for miles, and the sky facing forward. To see the snow in the north, and the great jungles to the south. Everything that I've ever wanted to know -- from outside of the walls of that . . . timid little village. I wasn't born there, and I never belonged. So why not go?" he asked.
"Did you . . . did you leave something behind, too?"
Taylor stood and nodded appropriately when Shinsei spoke. He tried to imagine what it would be like to be truly free. He didn't know if that was even possible for him. Between the bond he had to Kogarashi, the commitment he had to Masato, and the memories locked within him, he didn't know if he could ever be free from all of his burdens. The idea of breaking away from it all was enticing. Maybe that was the true reason Taylor left.
Shinsei then flipped the script and asked him if he left anything behind. His heterochromatic eyes looked away as he tried to find the right words to answer. "I..." Taylor voice drifted. He then chuckled. "I guess I did." Taylor decided to let himself drift to the floor with his back against the wall. He looked up at Shinsei. "I am just letting you know, if you have plans to be selective on who you help, I'm probably the wrong horse to bet on." He said with a soft smile. "I have people who either want me dead or captured. Both from the village Uzushiogakure and from the rogue organization Kogarashi. Your kindness is appreciated, but I'm kind of bad luck at the moment." He said. One pink eye and one blue rested softly upon the man. He appeared so gentle. He didn't deserve his bad luck either.
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:17 am
As Taylor stood quietly within his thoughts, Shinsei guided the two of them through the home he had built from the soil, and into the room he'd designated with a wide surface, able to fit several futon for a group that wished to remain together. This was one of Shinsei's few designs that he had formed since leaving -- he had become something of a constructionist, building an entire enclave at the Ginmizu Falls, with buildings ranging from mess halls, to libraries, to elementary classrooms.
Pressing his palm into the smooth wooden surface, a cloud of smoke appeared before them, twisting before it dissipated, revealing two beds for the two of them to sleep on. Shinsei, too, needed a great deal of rest. He had traveled for so long.
And, as he heard more and more of the blonde-one's words, he learned that the two of them were in a predicament much the same. Taylor was fleeing from the village of Uzushiogakure, much as Shinsei was. And, the Kogarashi. Those two things bound them together tightly; the first wicked breath from Takumi's lips had, if nothing else, at least planted the thought of escape into his mind. And now . . . he had left his village in an act of betrayal, certain to be unforgiven. "You and I are really in the same boat," he said, softly. Shinsei stared back into the other boy's heterochromatic eyes, with an almost melancholic stare.
"I'm fleeing from Uzushiogakure. And I put Kogarashi into a position where, within the Land of Eddies, they are strongly unwelcome. So I'm certain that they would want me dead, too." The man's eyes narrowed, as he lowered his gaze. It was strange to think that they were so bound together by these things. In a way, however, it felt nice. He felt that, perhaps, he had found his first true misfit -- out in the world outside of those tall walls.
"I'm Shinsei Sanada," he whispered. "And it's not a bet. The only thing I would ever bet on in this world is the fact that we will continue to wage war and murder one another, ad nauseam, until our civilization goes extinct." The Senju rolled his eyes. He spoke with no true grain of hyperbole -- it had already almost happened before. "Why is my old village hunting you, anyway? You don't really look all that dangerous. More like you slept in the same bed with your mom until you were twelve." And then, the sarcasm returned. But he was glad that it did; being so serious was above his nature.
"Taylor Childe." He said as an automatic response to when Shinsei introduced himself. His mind was too busy processing the information the boy gave to him to actually comprehend the light jab he made at him. He is the reason Kogarashi is after him. Masato said that Kogarashi tried to recruit an academy student. Could it be this student. But that was only two weeks ago. How could his skills have advanced so far that he was able to live on his own? Taylor couldn't begin to figure it out. However, another realization hit him like a strike from lightning.
"Wait a minute!" Taylor snapped as he jumped to his feet. A huge smile crossed his face. "That's it. This is truly a miracle." His voice was ecstatic. His eyes illuminated like christmas lights. "If we go back to Uzushiogakure, then you can prove to them that I have nothing to do with the actions of Kogarashi, and then not only will I no longer be hunted by Uzushiogakure, and may even be able to take a reprieve there." He said as he thought of Masato. He knew that man did not want to be bound to the village for too much longer, but he had hopes that maybe he could be convinced otherwise. Taylor wanted to retreat to a village. However, that was not the only epiphany he had.
"I can also deliver the information I have on the powers and members of the two strongest Kogarashi members." He said with confidence. He knew the leader Takumi, and now he saw the power of the enchantress Kagami. The two forces which moved the Kogarashi infrastructure were now people which he could identify their strengths and weaknesses. "So let's go!" Taylor said with raised hands manically gripped into fist. He was excited. This was the chance he needed to move forward with his life. This was how he could cling to a future.
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Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 4:11 am
Things moved... too quickly for him. Taylor had to process his words, and that was where -- presumably -- he realized of their linked conditions. Shinsei, however, missed the greatest context: that Taylor was a member of the Kogarashi, and was now being hunted by Uzushiogakure as a result of Shinsei's own actions. This link was completely missed by him, and so as Taylor excitedly went about with his idea, the Senju could only stare quietly and wait for him to finish his thoughts.
He was... happy. But was the Senju happy to return to the village? Was he alright with this compromise? He'd... left for a reason. The Senju failed to see the benefit in all of this to him. Taylor is proven innocent, meanwhile... Shinsei gets to be interrogated, locked in a room, bound by seals as they re-configure his personality, and rebuild him so that he cannot escape. He knew the procedures for rogues.
As far as he was concerned, this was a risk to him that was -- entirely -- untenable. Even for Taylor's sweet, smiling face. Even though he may have found immediate companionship in him. That would all be lost if he allowed himself to -- so easily -- return to the hands of the village. Right?
"I... don't know," he whispered, frowning. "I don't even understand. What happened with you and the Kogarashi? Why is Uzushio hunting you? Where does my part really come into all of this? You... need to explain all of this to me. I won't return to that village only to be bound in chains." And that... he was adamant about. He had only just become free. He wanted to make a place of his own, for those with liberty embedded into the fiber of their beings -- those who desperately sought a place to belong, but could never find one among the sheer order of the villages, and their nations. But instead, he was asked to go back.
Taylor’s enthusiasm was lost when he saw the panic on Shinsei’s face. His hands lowered and he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.” He said as he blushed. He was embarrassed by the sheer glee he felt moments ago. “Let me explain a bit.” He said in a more reserved tone. “I was found by Kogarashi with no memories of my past. They promised to assist me in discovering my identity if I joined them. Since I had no other prospects at the time, and my attempts to flee them were rather fruitless, I joined their group.” It was hard to believe how much has occurred in his life in such a short time. He felt like he had to start abridging the narrative, however, or else he would be speaking for too long.
“When our group went to Uzushio, I separated from them and ran into someone from my past life, Masato Umechika. His actions revived a fraction of my memories. However, it was then that the Vortex operatives were called in to find and capture me.” Taylor took a second to analyze Shinsei. The boy didn’t give him much reason about why he went rogue other than for the freedom it provided. However, his position as being the one who was targeted by the rogues does give him a unique position.
“I don’t want you to get chained up either, but I can’t live my life on the run from two factions.” Taylor admitted. “So what if we made a deal?” He dropped his shoulders to make himself as unthreatening as possible. He needed Shinsei to hear him out fully in order to work. “If you didn’t leave the village on bad terms, maybe then there’s still a way to get out of this.” He added.
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● Double Supreme Strength ● Double Supreme Fortitude ● Supreme and Moderate Speed ● Supreme and Moderate Reflexes
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Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 6:17 am
He had... no memories. That was an odd thing to consider, but he supposed, not impossible. Someone could have performed an alteration on his mind, or... he could have lost his memories as a result of a grievous injury. There were so many possibilities, and Shinsei was far from versed in all of them. The conclusion was, however, that Taylor had been taken in by the Kogarashi at his most vulnerable point. It seemed they had a tendency of preying on those who were weak.
"I see." That was all he could say, at least in the moment, as he processed more and more. Masato Umechika. He did not recognize the name, but he supposed it was kind of him to help Taylor's mind redevelop its memories. The Kogarashi was certain not to do so -- Taylor's mind returning to him was, in all likelihood, a threat to the hegemony they'd acquired over his thoughts.
"It sounds like... the Vortex operatives came after you, because of--" he frowned, "because of me. Takumi... tried to recruit me to the Kogarashi. I declined, and instead, I informed the village of his actions. They then began to search and pursue all of the rogues in the village. So I... apologize, for what I did to you. It was never about you; I simply, from the very beginning, had no trust for Takumi." In some way, he wondered if guiding Taylor safely to the village was a form of penance for him. Maybe it was... the right thing to do.
He sighed. His thoughts were consumed by a sort of melancholy, and confusion. Shinsei really didn't know where to go, or how to handle this adversity that had presented itself. He was--
"I'm not sure. But, we can try. You have to promise me, though... if it backfires, if I'm forced into subjugation, or worse -- you have to try and get me out of it. I'm risking a lot for you, Taylor. And I only just met you. That's the first time I've spoken your name -- you have to acknowledge that."
Maybe there was a benefit for him, but he couldn't see it. This deal was... a deal of altruism, a quality which he did not possess. But Taylor was... somehow impossible to say no to. He wasn't sure why, and it confused and infuriated him. But that was how it was.
"We'll go back to Uzushio. But first, you should rest, Taylor. We both should - in case we need to do something extreme. I think you know what I mean by that." Fight. Kill. Protect their own lives. He had no intention, or desire, to harm a single soul from Uzushiogakure. They were, still, his people. But if they attacked him, and provided him no other opportunity... then he would fight for his life.
Taylor smiled once more when Shinsei agreed. He rushed over and grabbed the mans hands into his own. “Thank you! Thank you so much.” He said with whimsy in his voice. He felt free. “I promise that I will do everything to protect you as well. Neither of us will be shackled that village as long as we do what we need to.” Taylor chuckled warmly and his eyes closed in contentment. He finally felt like there was hope to the future. However, when he opened his eyes he realized that he actually did take Shinsei’s hands into his own.
“Gah!” He exclaimed as he broke the physical connection between the two. “I’m so sorry!” He shouted as he stepped away and bowed in apology. His face was beet red. “I don’t know what I was thinking or where I was or...” he was cut off by the familiar flapping of his avian friend. Taylor moved to the window and found Horus had returned with two giant fishes clutched in his talons. The boy turned back to Shinsei, still embarrassed by what transpired. “I’m... going to go cook those. You should stay here.” He said as he moved to the door. He then looked back nervously. “Or you can join us outside. I guess that would be better for eating.” Taylor took his eyes off Shinsei and mentally addressed himself. ‘What is wrong with you? Pull yourself together.’ He thought. Taylor then looked back at Shinsei and forced a smile. “I will call you when dinner is ready. Yeah, that is the best compromise.” He said as he left through the door. He made a fire while Horus also revealed on his back a canister of water. Taylor grew a bone sword to fillet the fish as he tried to compose himself.
● Learn (4) All Techniques a post. ● Learn ( 4 ) Bukijutsu techniques per post. ● Korabo A-ranked with Horus ● Enlightenment: S-ranked training ● Backing: C-ranked Training ● Pivot: C-ranked ● Thread Walking: C-ranked ● Technique ]
◆￤ Other Additives
● Double Supreme Strength ● Double Supreme Fortitude ● Supreme and Moderate Speed ● Supreme and Moderate Reflexes
