[Deleted]

Turns out, it wasn't as easy to get a direct and round route back to Iwagakure than he would have thought it to be. Normal circumstances would have had it that he would return via the same direct way he came. But no, the merchant he'd used to travel with was staying at the same place and wasn't returning for another few days, which Akira did not have.

So, he used that time instead to go a completely different direction. So, the next person he'd used was going through bird country, and even so - that would only get him close enough to walk to the border and be in relatively safer hands yet again. Akira appreciated the ride, given that traversing a hot desert by himself was much less preferable, especially when one didn't use transport like horses and carts usually.

He had been walking some half an hour when he'd found a river to fill up a drink by, only having departed from the town he'd been dropped off at. Standing up, now in much colder territory it was easier to walk around and not have to worry about his face as much.

His continuation would have him pass an area in the stream much more shallow, enough for him to simply do a little jump from one half to the other: and back up the bank to the forest once more, but his walking set him uneasy as the signs of Shinobi were becoming apparent. Nocks in the wood, fresh at that: or a large animal was making its home there.

And he came upon a campsight, and what a sight that was - a dismembered body. Something Akira would never really get used to, but didn't stop him, or fill him with disgust as he came closer, passing by - and his vision coming into placement of a space where items had been laid out.

A scene was coming together quickly in his head.

The weapons all laid bare were abominations. Akira felt the need to burn them: awash them of sin. But, he did not. Apparently, laid a body: someone had been killed. It was alarming enough for Akira to withdraw his single and faithful Kunai.

The more concerning factor was there being items still untouched: unless the theft was of a human life, Akira didn't feel it was compatible if things were remaining. Unless they weren't valuable. Akira would have to have a look, looking through the various items in the area, ignoring the body in the mean time. A bag, that felt familiar to him.

Alarm bells ringing in Akira's head as he searched through it. Ordinarily everything he would've seen in someone before, but there was a single thing that caught his eye. Unfolding it, was the edge of ink on parchment. Akira unrolled it: and it was the most detailed map that he'd ever seen. It was Akatsuki's: Akira had seen it in some significant detail, and even lusted after it in some fashion, given that she had knowledge of areas even that he himself had not been. Even the information of the location of hidden villages. Kusagakure's location.

Akira did somewhat curse himself in that facet. Two things were prominent: Akira had always been poor at reading maps. And, even if he could read it - the key had not been listed on the map itself, likely to do with her own mind - he could not offer correlation between the map and literal distance, and there wasn't anything in the way of topography for him to understand.

More pressing issues, though: Akira for the time being ignored her belongings, searching the area: a sacrificial space had been set up, and by the looks of it, dried blood adorned the entire area: it had been some time. A few hours, at minimum.

So where was Akatsuki?

Akira was not as keen a tracker as other folk, and he could not follow a trail of crumbs by blood when she had been healed by another and taken from there. The area was stricken with different attacks, a battlefield of some kind had absolutely raged on: and Akira had taken to a jog where he found the woman's sword. Lifting it up with a heave, it was lighter than when he'd lifted it before.

Strange to think how he felt so much weaker than before, and this was easier than before.

He didn't know whether to turn back or continue on in the forest - if things had not gone her way then a person wouldn't take them back to a town, right? Well. Akira didn't know. He turned tail, packing up Akatsuki's things and putting them in one orderly position in a central location. He kept a hold of her sword, though, and set off back toward the village.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Mika]

On the corpse there would be a pendant wrapped around the stump of a neck that remained. A necklace with a simple metal emblem displayed--a servant of Jashin. Though, with Akira's limited knowledge of the different religions and their deities, this knowledge and further understanding of what had happened--truly--would most likely escape him. But it would be apparent that there had been three parties present, if nothing else.
    The campfire that had been set up detailed an event of longsuffering--someone who stayed awake through the night and perhaps had enjoyed the heat from the flames. While the corpse's body had dropped a hammer--the nail still resting in the other palm where he had fallen--it would be apparent whose belongings belonged to who. There were weapons and tools used of farmers--kunai, nails, a hammer, a whip, and dozens of stakes. The man had not carried traditional weapons of a shinobi--that much would be apparent. But an outlier of assault would be the needles in his arm--which had locked the joint up in its position by a trained hand which knew of the muscles and different nerves of the body.
    Then, of course, there was Akatsuki's things.
    It would be obvious she had been there--though whether she was dead or alive would be significantly less apparent. There had been signs of struggle, if the deep gash across the corpse's back hadn't announced such clearly enough, the blood splattered around the area certainly spoke for itself. There were scorch marks on the ground, areas where the earth had been clawed at desperately while being dragged off, and pools of blood that had long-since dried.
    Her cloak lay nearby--having been abandoned for quite some time, now. There were holes in it and the dark fabric reeked of blood.
    When he picked up her satchel, however, there would be, perhaps, a few telling possessions. A change of clothes--light blue fabric of a qipao shirt and the navy shades of baggy and lightweight trousers. A small bundle of flowers had been nestled inside--dead and entirely dried out, the petals would flake and crumble at his touch as Akira shifted through the contents further where he would discover a bundle of letters and a map.
    If the map hadn't been enough to identify who the bag belonged to--the letters did.
    Each had been written by his own hand, and all but two were addressed to her--Akatsuki. Save for two envelopes, which had been stamped, sent, and then returned--unopened, and unread. His name and old address had been written on it, her penmanship one that he would have recognized--perfectly matching the details and information which had been applied to the map.
    Though, even if he did know how to read maps, it would have done him little good. Almost everything she'd written down was in her native tongue--though some labels had already been printed upon its creation, her own notes, markers, and writings would be illegible to the shinobi. There, notably, was a large tear through the center of the map where it had once been cut through with a kunai--never repaired, and still yet to be replaced.
    When Akira approached the katana and moved to pick it up, as soon as his hand wrapped around the grip the blade would move on its own. The ebony metal twisted and warped in his grip, as if throwing a tantrum at being held by a foreign hand. While it was still incredibly heavy for a katana, Akira would notice it, too, was unbalanced. Far too heavy on one end and not enough on the other, it would be difficult to swing and even if he did manage--the blade had become so warped in its form that it would do little effective damage against an opponent.
    The nearest village would still be some trek away, but he wouldn't have to walk further than a mile before the outline of a quaint and humble village would come into his view.
    

LAIKA OF GAGNAM STYLE

[Deleted]

"Eh?" Akira had only ever held the weapon in a glance or so and so to hold it in this fashion, quite literally wielding it and it becoming... Well. An erectile dysfunction of a weapon was strange to become an understatement, losing its balance. Akira knew balance, and hek new he hadn't got it wrong when he held the weapon but as he adjusted his grip, he wouldn't let go of it. Not now, not ever. He turned tail, packing up Akatsuki's things and putting them in one orderly position in a central location. He kept a hold of her sword, though, and set off back toward the village.

Akira had rushed as to not inspect the valuables (as it had never crossed his mind to steal them) - inspecting them went awry as well. On top of that: decapitated body. Of course, he wasn't going to try and get close to it. The unusual thing that Akira had never noted, though, was the lack of smell from the corpse. It was already overwhelmed by the smell of ash and acrid and iron from the blood, so it wasn't much more different.

They were Akatsuki's things, never mind the map and the letters written by him, the dread in his stomach only reminded him of his lack of visiting her on account of being dead, to the festival he'd promised to go with her to. A shame, he thought at the back of his mind. Even more pressing in his mind in the effort of working quickly (an to the timeframe of a man who had places to be, sadly) wondered about the different opportunities.

Firstly, though, a village coming into view and his forearms were already tingling - it was going to get much easier with time as he had been feeling his strength increase over the longer periods of time, and the backpack was also aiding in that.

So instead, Akira would happen on the first house that left the village and to knock on their doors, if there weren't any guards first available for him to question. Well, if they would even listen to him without being so much of a Shinobi, though he probably looked a lot more like a trouble maker, hoisting a sword unsheathed into a town! Though, he tried to keep his actions as peaceful as possible. As possible as one could be, of course.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Mika]

The villagers would not come out to greet him. The town was open--there were no gates or fences guarding their territory from the rest of the world, and though there were no official procedures to gain access to the small village, Akira would find the gaze of several fixed on him. Not with malice--but caution. For now, nobody stopped him from approaching further into the town--he looked to be a traveler, to their eyes. Walking in a calm and steady gait and with passive body language, he didn't seem, to them, to be an immediate threat.
    Before Akira could properly approach any of the homes, however, a voice would speak up to catch his attention. A man was there--seated on the ground with a sheathed katana propped up over his chest, its hilt pressed against the man's shoulder. He had scruff on his chin and a cautious eye, studying the shinobi. While his voice was not aggressive, he spoke gruffly when he stated, "Careful, stranger. A guard might get nervous, a man approaches with his weapon drawn." He shifted in his position, slightly, before adding, "What's your business, here? You're not a samurai, are you?"

LAIKA OF GAGNAM STYLE

[Akatsuki]

[attr="class","sinner"]

[attr="class","sinner1"]

[attr="class","sinback"]

[attr="class","sinnert"]

Shining Bright, She Is Like The Sun


Waiting There For Her Fate To Come

770 Words | @akira | Notes: N/A

Akatsuki ran. Her heart pounded in her chest and her hair flew wildly about her as she raced through the forest. She knew a great deal of time had passed since then and fear told her that everything she cherished most would have been stolen away by now. Still, she tried to have hope that her belongings would have been left alone. Surely--nobody would have taken her things, would they? She'd tried to tell herself that. For the past countless days she had told herself, time and time again, that the chances were so slim. That the likelihood was so miniscule.
    But she knew she was damned and luck was often not on her side.
    It had been the first thing on her mind upon recovering. Not Kazutoshi, not anyone else, or any other thing. While so much had happened, and there was still much she wanted--needed--to do, retrieving her belongings now that she had fully recovered was the first and most important thing. She could always return eventually, but even though she knew so much time had passed that it would make little difference if she made it there in the next hour or another day, the girl raced through the forest and darted along the riverbank as if her life depended on it.
    She had known where she was, and she'd known where to go. Even without her map she had a skill for navigating the world, and the terrain was familiar if nothing else and, thankfully enough, she'd known the land markers in the area from where he'd been attacked. So long as she continued to follow the river upstream, she knew, she would be there soon enough.
    And she'd not been mistaken.
    Heaving heavy breaths, the young woman stopped upon the scene. The Jashinist's body was still there where it had been left, his tools still splayed about the area untouched. It was a good sign, she felt--nobody had been here to tamper. Her initial thoughts faded, however, when she looked around and noticed that her katana was nowhere to be found. No. He had to be here somewhere--where was he?
    Panic started to settle in. Had someone come? That couldn't be right. Why would anybody take her katana, of all things...?
    Her satchel.
    She moved further into the forest--not spotting it immediately, either. No. Had it been so? Had someone actually come across the scene and stolen her belongings? If they had been theives why had they not, also, taken those things which had belonged to the follower of Jashin? It didn't make sense. This couldn't be true--
    But no. There, not too far away, her belongings had been piled together and fixed in place. Not where she had left them. Certainly not where they'd been tossed to the ground. Someone had been here, she was certain of it. Immediately, she ran over to her things and knelt down before it, her hands quickly snatching up her satchel to shift through the contents, and she let out a sigh of relief to see that everything was still there. Save for her rations, which the animals seemed to have gotten to. No matter...
    The thief only took my companion, she thought to herself, pulling out her spare change of clothes. While she was already dressed, if she was going to have to hunt down the bandit and retrieve what was rightfully hers, she didn't want to risk dirtying or tearing her new clothing so shortly after having gotten them. They were nice, and she'd hate to have destroyed it. Think, Akatsuki, think, she pulled off her shirt and quickly exchanged it, shuffling in and out of her clothing while she tried to formulate a plan. Nobody can use my katana. There is no practical use for any man or woman to wield him, but even so, he's composed of rare and sturdy material. To the right seller, he might fetch a good price. That is the only reason I can think of that someone would take him, and if that's the case I'll have to hunt them down.
    She stood to her feet after changing into her simple change of clothes, strapping her satchel across her chest as she glanced around. I know there's a town nearby. A normal person would get exhausted of carrying him for so long, and would probably try to get rid of him as soon as possible. I should check the nearest town, first and ask if anybody was trying to sell a black katana. It's not a good start, but it's a start. And so, she'd start moving once more.


Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Violet Text - Common Language

[attr="class","sinner2"]

[attr="class","sinnerlyric"]God of death
with a gaze of woe

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

SPOILER: Click to show

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[Deleted]

He didn't blame nobody answering him when he knocked, or his near trot from door to door, or the stares: an unsheathed weapon would typically do that. Akira had seen the man, and he had intended on leaving him alone on part of his weapon and clear sitting down - so it gave him reason to approach. And looking down at the weapon by his side, Akira didn't have much use for it in his conversation.

Akira placed down the sword - softly enough to escape his grasp, and left it behind him to enter the man's zone of striking. "Akatsuki the Bleeding Sun. Pale - yay high, covered in scars. Polite: looking for her brother. Her items are left some minutes outside the village, I think she's been kidnapped or hurt. Did you see her?" Akira stuck to the facts with a stony face as he questioned the man. He gestured when appropriate.

It did occur to him that he was stood in front of a Ronin, and put his right knee down to the floor first, not minding himself for dirt as he sat himself down, so he could be eye to eye with the man. It was important to Akira - a friend being hurt. If this Ronin was the only person or lead he could follow, then so he would.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Akatsuki]

[attr="class","sinner"]

[attr="class","sinner1"]

[attr="class","sinback"]

[attr="class","sinnert"]

Shining Bright, She Is Like The Sun


Waiting There For Her Fate To Come

694 Words | @akira | Notes: N/A

The man raised an eyebrow at Akira's words. Now, that was quite the description. He shifted slightly where he was seated, taking note of how the boy dropped the weapon and approached in a manner to release any tension and display that he wasn't a threat. While he'd mostly been joking in his words before, the gesture was noted. "Ah... A woman did come by here who looked a bit like that. About a week ago. I couldn't tell you what happened to her or where she went, though. She didn't speak much. Just a wanderer, passing through." He'd raise an eyebrow as movement in the distance caught his eye, and he'd lean slightly to the side to get a glance at what was behind Akira. "Well--nevermind. There's your girl, now." He'd nod slightly with his head to gesture for the shinobi to look.

---

The village was in her sights, and with her quick pace it wouldn't take her too long before she arrived. She huffed out a bit as she approached, walking just beneath the posts marking the entryway into the village with a wide eye and concerned expression. By the Yōkai, how she hoped she was in the right place. She knew her plan wasn't foolproof but there had been an element of logic to it so she had to hope for the best.
    Glancing around, she spotted a civilian woman who was sweeping her front porch and decided that would be the best place to start. Approaching, Akatsuki would wave her hand a little toward the woman to grab her attention before making an inquiry with heavy breaths. "Excuse me have--I just had someone steal my katana from me have... you--have you seen anyone passing by here with a sword with a black blade? It's--it's pretty heavy so they were probably struggling to lift it a bit, and... the blade is a bit warped and strange-looking. Has anyone come through here trying to sell something like that, by chance?"
    The woman stopped what she was doing for a moment to glance up at Akatsuki, brushing some strands of hair from her face as she thought on it. "There was a man who just came through here with a sword that looked a bit like that. He was knocking around on doors, yea... Seemed a bit in a hurry. Should still be here, I think. He headed down that way," she pointed and Akatsuki gave a nod of the head.
    "Thank you so much," the white-haired woman spoke with appreciation before immediately running off in that direction. What a stroke of luck. Is this coincidence or have I actually caught up with them? Well, I've got you now, you bloody bastard. I'll show you not to go stealing peoples' things-- She rounded a corner and looked down the next street over frantically before her violet eye lay upon the scene.
    Her katana lay there on the ground, unattended but not abandoned--two men sitting on the floor who appeared to be in conversation. One crouched, the other leaned against the building.
    Akatsuki's eye widened as she stood there in the middle of the street, getting a better look at the stranger who had taken her katana. From behind, all that was visible aside from his bundle of plain clothing was a head of wild orange hair, pulled back in a little ponytail. It looked so familiar to her--but not in a way of a lost memory or a figure she couldn't quite place. But, moreso like she was caught up in a dream. It wasn't the first time she'd seen things in passing glance, or had foolishly hoped for the impossible from a stranger. But it was just her imagination in a state of grief and unspeakable loss. It had never been true, before, and even now she feared the truth. It was wrong--it had to be, and in her mind she knew it wasn't true. It couldn't be.
    She was pale and looked like she'd seen a ghost--and in every sense she had. One hand carefully gripped the strap of her satchel across her chest as she stood there, frozen.
    "Akira...?"


Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Violet Text - Common Language

[attr="class","sinner2"]

[attr="class","sinnerlyric"]God of death
with a gaze of woe

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

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[Deleted]

That was bad. Akira released a restrained sigh. A week? Of course, it didn't mean that she had been and gone for a week. It did not bring him any ideas of where she could be: she herself had noted to be notorious for travel. It made it much worse for that timeframe to have gone: and her items were gone.

The man indicated her presence, and he would learn once and for all. No thoughts: just a swivel to check. It was her.

At least Akira had described her effectively. Akira turned back to the Ronin. "Thank you." Akira would stand himself up. Turned: picked up the woman's weapon. The tall oranged hair figure had become more relaxed, the stress leaving his body on seeing her. That was a simpler conclusion and exactly what he had desired.

Thank Jihi. For her, it was thank... Yoki? Akira didn't know the name of her god.

His change to her would be apparent enough. No more red markings on his face: his skin more alive and war, and pink. She was the same. "Here's your weapon." Akira would still be strong enough to flip it casually with one hand, till the blade end was in his grip and the hilt facing at her.

Who knows what the woman had heard, but Akira did have some explaining to do for having missed their appointment. "I've got some explaining to do," Akira rubbed the back of his head. Whether she wanted to embrace him or not, he would passively allow it to happen. She appeared to be in good nick, unharmed. "What happened to you?" Akira asked. Though, he supposed he shouldn't have been the one to ask that first.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Akatsuki]

[attr="class","sinner"]

[attr="class","sinner1"]

[attr="class","sinback"]

[attr="class","sinnert"]

Shining Bright, She Is Like The Sun


Waiting There For Her Fate To Come

378 Words | @akira | Notes: N/A

He stood, his movements natural and fluid, taking her weapon with him as he approached. There was nothing strange about how he moved, he didn't seem to be in pain or aching in any way, nor did his gestures look to be forced or uncomfortable in any way. But he looked different. So incredibly so. It was jarring to see his new appearance, and Akatsuki's mind was doing flips trying to understand it all. Was this just another trick? Was this man merely someone who held stark resemblance to her dearest friend? He seemed to know and recognize her, but...
    No.
    Akira never had any brothers. Only sisters. And as he stopped in front of her and her violet eye--watering as it was--took all of him in as she tried to fully grasp what was happening, it was apparent. Yes, it was him. He looked different now, yes. His skin was no longer an ashen grey, the red markings beneath his eyes had disappeared--but it was him nonetheless. His face was the same, and his eyes--which were like aqua marbles, no pupils visible to be seen--which had been so truly unique and unlike any she'd ever seen before were still as they'd always been.
    He handed her companion back, and her attention snagged on it for a moment before she quickly grabbed his hand to look. Just to be sure. Just to be sure. And while one hand took the weapon from him, the other pulled up his sleeve to see. There had been light scarring there--healed and not as noticeable as it could have been, but nonetheless a testament to the time he'd been burned by her flames, back in the forest all those many months ago.
    It really was him.
    One and the same.
    "Akira you're--" she stopped herself, her voice trembling as she shook her head a little in disbelief. She didn't know what to say, or what to do. She didn't even know what to think. An overwhelming sense of pain, guilt, relief, and happiness consumed her. Her chest felt tight and her vision was blurred.  Tears slipped down her cheek as she stood there for a moment, still trying to collect herself but failing miserably at it. "I'm so--I'm so sorry Akira I--" 


Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Violet Text - Common Language

[attr="class","sinner2"]

[attr="class","sinnerlyric"]God of death
with a gaze of woe

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

SPOILER: Click to show

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[Deleted]

She'd heard as well. Akira kept his gaze soft on the woman, even when she'd invaded in his privacy to view one of Akira's many scars littering his body. They were all a running commentary of his history and he'd elected to not remove them. He could. But did not. He languidly limpened his limbs.

To their watcher, this was probably a strange engagement. Akira's arm holding the Katana would lower: holding on to it by the metal for the time being. Letting her have her moment, like many did - he was getting much better at it, it was calmer, he was calmer. "It's okay." Akira smiled. "You're safe, right?" Akira shrugged very lightly.

Though, it did not occur to him why she'd be crying. Akira was confused: why was she saying sorry, apologizing? His head tilted to one of his shoulders. He was trying to listen beyond the words she was saying and was paying attention to her posture as well.

"What did you hear?" It was an opportunity for him to ascertain the full impact of his passing. Someone like Akatsuki would be able to give him a much better idea, because one could never know themselves...

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Akatsuki]

[attr="class","sinner"]

[attr="class","sinner1"]

[attr="class","sinback"]

[attr="class","sinnert"]

Shining Bright, She Is Like The Sun


Waiting There For Her Fate To Come

571 Words | @akira | Notes: N/A

Akatsuki shook her head, a trembling hand extending to gingerly retrieve the katana from the man. Her fingers wrapped carefully around the handle and the blade straightened in her grasp. She hugged it closely to her chest as she caved in on herself, the tears coming more readily as he tried to assure her that it was okay. No, no, no-- she shook her head. "It's not--" she took a step away from him, gripping tighter to the katana held over her heart, her expression pained by his words. "It--it's not okay at all!" How could he even say such a thing? How could he have taken the matter so lightly?
    Perhaps it had meant little to him.
    And she had to remind herself that it was the case--of course it was. It always was. Just like with her brother--Akira was no different.
    And she knew that. She'd already known. It wasn't a new revelation, but somehow it hurt more now than ever before. Perhaps it was because things were different, now. Her brother was gone and wanted nothing to do with her--he'd betrayed their bond and spat in all of her efforts. She hadn't meant a single thing to him all this time. He didn't want her in his life. He didn't care. She meant nothing to him, and he was happier in the company of the ones who had cut her down and stolen him from her all those many years ago. And Akira--he'd been all she'd had left.
    And she'd failed him, too.
    And even so, even despite that--he wasn't bothered by any of it at all. But how could he be so unfazed? How could he not be upset over what had happened?
    "When I didn't hear back from you I went to Iwagakure, and the men at the gates told me you were dead," she cried, her voice shaky and wavering with the hurt and pain of it all. "They told me you'd been executed. How is that--how is that okay?! Any hope, or comfort, or joy I'd had left in this world died with you that day when I found out--and they told me I was too late. It had already happened. You had already been buried and it was a done deal. I couldn't do anything." Akatsuki shook her head, pulling a hand from her katana to wipe away at her tears, but they continued to slip mercilessly down her cheeks. She looked up at Akira. "If I'd known--if I'd just been there--"
    But she hadn't been.
    Instead, she'd been seeking out the man who had kidnapped her brother seven years ago. Fighting human traffickers and thieves, murderers. And for what? All to spare the man who had done it all? Who had nearly murdered her on her thirteenth birthday and kidnapped her brother, forever shattering her world as she'd known it. Only to find out that it hadn't mattered at all--that her brother would even turn to their side and hold affections in his heart for the man who had, for all he'd known, murdered his sister?
    It was for nothing.
    She shouldn't have been there. "You'd been killed." Of course, he already knew this. She wasn't trying to remind him, he knew. He knew better than she did. He knew better than anyone. "And I wasn't there for you when you needed it most. You had to suffer that alone because I--"


Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Violet Text - Common Language

[attr="class","sinner2"]

[attr="class","sinnerlyric"]God of death
with a gaze of woe

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

SPOILER: Click to show

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[Deleted]

Of course it wasn't okay: it was the best option he had of staying alive. The best option of bringing peace to himself and the people around him, which in the scheme of things did still feel stupid - coming back from Sunagakure in the way that he had. But a necessary good for Jihi's sake. Akatsuki was effected a lot more than what Akira had anticipated.

And she explained herself even more - she'd gone to Iwagakure regardless of being considered a Nukenin. His execution had been publicised enough, that much was clear. But she wouldn't have known the true extent of it - only his family and Yoko had been given that information willingly. The only others were the council(s), and the ANBU. Or, ANBU that held him down.

It more to Akira explained her reaction: firstly of being alive, and secondly a release of emotion that couldn't be had with her brother. Akira didn't fully understand it nor the gravity of her emotions, but that was fine: he could support her the best he could.

"That's right." Akira looked down at the floor, answering her question before she could spiral herself any further, to alleviate her own guilt (which she needed not feel) "It's not a simple arbitrary matter. It was more complex than that and for whatever it's worth, I'm here now." A stark difference was that Akira was not defending Iwagakure no sato, but the man would refuse to allow it to occupy space in his mind and emotional soul, for his own betterment. Anything else would drag him down. He had Jihi. Yoko. His family. Akatsuki: other friends.

His arm continued to stay limp. It wasn't the lightest thing after all, and he didn't want to unnecessarily stress his muscles. Other hand grabbed her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "It's okay now. I see you got your things.." there was some good news in that. The dead body hadn't even crossed his mind to ask her about it yet.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Akatsuki]

[attr="class","sinner"]

[attr="class","sinner1"]

[attr="class","sinback"]

[attr="class","sinnert"]

Shining Bright, She Is Like The Sun


Waiting There For Her Fate To Come

664 Words | @akira | Notes: N/A

Akatsuki shook her head lightly, putting away her katana and wiping at the tears in her eye. "I don't care." She didn't. He tried to reassure her, but it did no good and she wouldn't hear any of it--he didn't understand. Not truly. She doubted he ever would. "I don't care how... simple or complicated it all was. It means nothing to me. Even if I couldn't do anything--even if I raised my sword in vain and could not stop those who'd wished to do you harm through my efforts or force alone, I still wish I'd been there. Even if I didn't have the power to change the outcome, I'd at least have burdened your fate with you so you didn't have to suffer it alone."
    Death was a terrifying concept in its own right, and while she had no fear to face such a thing and she knew Akira was a brave soul, if nothing else, and he had courage in his heart and probably handled it as well as he could have... that did not change things, to her. Even if one didn't fear death, even though it was something they all must face eventually, Akira had been so young. And it wasn't something she would have wanted him to face alone--even though so many did. She didn't know what it was like to die--not truly.
    But just a week ago she'd been crucified and nearly sacrificed to another god. She'd been flayed and beaten and broken and tortured to the point of death. It was only by pure chance that Kazutoshi had found her--and even with his medical aid, he was unsure she would have made it with how terrible her injuries had been. At that time, she had accepted her death. And she'd known--or thought to believe, at least--that those moments were to be her last. She'd felt her heartbeat slow, her mind draw blank and consciousness slip from her as she'd succumbed to it all. It was not her death. But it was the closest she'd probably come to it. And while she could not truly understand what it was like to die--she probably had the closest second experience that a person could to it.
    And even if she did not know exactly what it was like to die, she understood what it was to be dying.
    It was not something she'd wish for a friend. Not alone.
    To be abandoned and forgotten, left alone where nobody would help you and nobody wanted to. To be stripped of all comfort or peace, to know you would suffer in agony until your last breath.
    Though, perhaps her experiences in that were alone.
    At the very least, she'd hoped Akira knew he was loved. He had friends, family, loved ones and people who cared about him. Maybe at least that would have given him some form of comfort in his final hours. Something she could not relate to.
    But he was right. Even despite what had happened--horrible as it was, he was here now. He was alive, now. Akira touched her shoulder with one hand and she flinched at his grasp. Then, she nodded a little, a tiny smile displayed on her lips despite her other emotions which continued to slip from her eye. "It's worth everything." It didn't change the past. It didn't get rid of the guilt she had. But still--she never thought she'd see him again. Never thought she'd see him alive, or smiling. To be able to know that he was alive and he was okay--and to see him, even if only once more.
    It meant everything to her.
    It was going to be okay.
    "Y-yeah," Akatsuki said, trying to allow for the conversation to move elsewhere. She gave an awkward, half-hearted smile at his words. "Some thief took my companion so I had to track him down to get him back, though." An attempt at playfulness, despite how she felt. It was... a good start.


Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Violet Text - Common Language

[attr="class","sinner2"]

[attr="class","sinnerlyric"]God of death
with a gaze of woe

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

SPOILER: Click to show

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[Deleted]

Akira nodded. "Thank you." Different minds. He appreciated her for it. It didn't matter her response about it, it did not change the distaste in how it had happened. In ways, Akira had deserved it. But really, a death that had come much too early. Akira shifted his position to be more comfortable, the days on his feet had not been enduring as much as he had ought to be.

Akira did offer some warmth to her words if only to be polite, though he had his own questions for the woman. "But what of you? Were you harmed?" Akira had to ask. Obviously, she didn't appear to be any more or less encumbered than normal. It was the lack of herself that had brought alarm to him: and he didn't think of her as the type to kill in such a way as had been laid out before - methodological.

Violent.

And then there was also the question - the secondary thought of his now that the imminent danger had faded. "I should also at some point tell you about my god," Akira said, smiling. Akatsuki had not been one to introduce him to the concept of religions, given that Takara herself had followed Hikari: but it was only until Akatsuki did he believe in the ability of a God, and even more recently than that become pious in his own way. Akatsuki had the Yokai, and Akira had Jihi: and yet, that didn't feel any more conflicting in his line of belief than one's preference for foods. It didn't make him dislike her: it was simply different. And that was fine.

MADE BY ★MEULK OF GS & THQ

[Akatsuki]

[attr="class","sinner"]

[attr="class","sinner1"]

[attr="class","sinback"]

[attr="class","sinnert"]

Shining Bright, She Is Like The Sun


Waiting There For Her Fate To Come

### Words | @akira | Notes: N/A

Was she harmed? Her smile--however faint or artificial as it had been--faltered. "I--" the young woman froze, her face paled. Her body was in tact. That was true. And while in the past she had forced herself through terrible circumstances, managing to walk and laugh even despite her broken leg and cracked ribs, she knew that was not the case, here. She wasn't masking any injury and carrying on despite the pain, like she so often did. Right now, truly, she was unharmed. Physically, she was not in pain, though her chest tightened at the thought and she felt her heartbeat quicken its tempo. "Y--" her breath hitched as the word caught in her throat before she could properly give her answer.
    She wasn't even sure what had happened.
    What to say of it. It was all quickly becoming a blur. Her clothing was short-sleeved, but the rest of her form was draped in baggy clothing--easily masking the markings of what had truly happened. The gashes in her legs and holes where she'd been impaled, the numerous stab wounds to her chest, shoulders, and stomach. The deep gash that had run down from her chest to her abdomen. There had been other injuries, too, though their history would be less apparent even if her skin had shown. The broken bones and bruised throat…
    There would be some testament, though.
    There were, on her arms, scars lining upward from her wrists. Thick scarring from where her arms had been cut open countless times, deep lacerations and wounds and a heavy gash where a blade had been dragged down the span of her forearm. They easily looked self-inflicted, and without knowing her, it'd be impossible to tell. The only detail that might have implied the true nature of the injuries were the circular markings where she'd been pierced through her arms and hung by her wrists.
    She'd been harmed. She'd been tortured. She'd nearly been killed and sacrificed, and even after she barely escaped death with the help and aid of another--it had been nothing short of a miracle. She wouldn't have survived if Ruto hadn't come to help, even despite Kazutoshi's attempts. She couldn't eat or drink, and if she hadn't slowly wasted away until death took her in its cold and welcoming embrace, she might have lost the fight against her failing lungs and stuttering heart.
    "I'm fine."
    That was another concerning thought to her, too. Kazutoshi. The Jashinist. She didn't entirely agree with his plans, and she hoped all would be well with him, but... a part of her wished to return to his side. Just... make sure. Now that she was healed and armed once more. She'd lost the fight to the Jashinist before, but…
    "God?" Akatsuki seemed to snap out of her near-trance at the mention of it. Slowly, the wheels and cogs in her mind began to turn as she pieced together what she could of Akira. He'd been killed. Dead. And... now held faith...? She didn't know every deity, but she wasn't unacquainted with religions different from her own. She was able to slowly make connections.
    She smiled a little and then stepped away from him. "I-if you want, we can go get something to drink and you can tell me all about him, then? We could also get a bite to eat if you're hungry, too. Does that sound good to you?" there was… so much to catch up on between them. There was so much she didn't want to say, and so much she had no intention of sharing, but, even so… it would be nice to speak with him again. Just like old times. "I'd love to hear all about it. It's… Jihi, right…?"



Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Violet Text - Common Language

[attr="class","sinner2"]

[attr="class","sinnerlyric"]God of death
with a gaze of woe

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

SPOILER: Click to show

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