[Deleted]

theme for this post

He kept his head down. Defeated and broken. For now. This was the long game. He was overwhelmed right now, but they were exhausted too. He couldn't off himself right by them, he couldn't exactly break his own head off. He could... swallow his tongue? But for them to save him, Akira would have to get himself murdered first. If they saw him trying to... end it himself, they would help him.

That was counterintuitive to what he needed.

Ashes rose in the air, fire burnt. Much of his body was burnt: the singe was painful, even now. Bits of flesh dangling from his own body, half of his face - he was even missing an eye. His arm, at least the inside of the forearm rather than the outside were blistering, red - some areas still open and the air alone stung.

The air was thick with smog, the ground was a mix of dried cotton, heated dirt - water that was formerly snow that had since mixed with dirt.

And iron: blood. Lots of blood.

It had been a difficult fight, and for some reason his perpetrators had not finished the job. They hadn't made it ... easy. It had not been the first time that Akira had been in such pain. Full body burns at the behest of the Bijuu were unpleasant: but his damage threshold in this new body was not as such. It had not been trained.

His body screamed out. One of his eyes were glued: one of his cheeks risen while his eyebrow matched the space and it was giving him cramps. But it was not worse than the feeling of being unable to attack further.

See, Akira had become unconscious. In that time, he had expected to awake: re-energised. But, his assailants had not done that. He found himself tied at the waist, one in front and one in back: that was reasonable, to stop him from trying to perform handseals, not that they didn't know he couldn't perform them.

Cuts and bruises, open wounds were all across his body. Right now, he lacked the majority of his clothing - save for rags covering his personal pride, cloth had either been merged with skin in the time since the battle had passed or just entirely rattled off him.

At least he still had shoes on.

But otherwise, he was still cold: cold and hot. Cold against the wind - but his skin was burning. The cold caused the hot to sear brighter than any white he could imagine, because as each stimulus was being brushed it was just a new wave of pain. His body showed it as well: bruising and swelling all around his body, mostly cantered around the cuts.

How had all of this happened?

"Sozin" had been following up on Leads. He had been returning to his home from Kumogakure no Sato, was currently in Frost Country, home to Shimogakure no Sato and Shinobi from the land of Frost. Just like other countries, they were one of the smaller villages like Kusagakure: perhaps even larger than that of Kusagakure in size?

Sozin had initially intended to go from port to port, south from Kumogakure no Sato to port city, Port city to Konohagakure and back to Kusagakure but at the last minute received guidance from one of his kin to operate elsewhere, and taking that guidance went directly through and into another country.

Other countries had their own religions, but what Akira had encountered was not a Religion but hostile Shinobi. Even more than that, they were wearing headbands completely unfamiliar to him: not from any country he was familiar with, he could have taken a stab and assumed it was from Bear country?

But they hadn't really given him much notice; there were fifteen of them. Fifteen. He had only defeated eight. The remaining seven would have fallen as well, but he had been corralled: their teamwork to his own begrudgement meant that he found himself being cornered, out manoeuvred and eventually fell prey to a rogue fire technique. That was the end of it, he had hoped. But - his body was tougher than he would have liked and it was not enough to kill him.

But the remaining seven were tired. Those fools would never have been able to stop him if they'd just fucking killed him. But no, they had to take prisoners. Akui fucking dammit. He whispered prayers to himself, but otherwise beyond his shaking in the cold - the intakes of breath as he tried to regulate his pain, his enemies were recuperating. They hadn't even moved from their battle site, they had lined up the eight deceased. One had started a campfire while two others remained around it. Sozin was tied by his neck to a tree, one guard to his immediate left but out of reach. His own weapons had been confiscated, but they hadn't yet given any purpose to why he was still alive.

He had already heard their conversations but now they were all being still. Yes, how they were tired: how they hadn't ever seen someone fight like he did. They were all between Chunin and... Jonin? Genin? He couldn't tell when it all meshed together, how he had been so on the defensive for the entire fight it had been hard to make any actual judgements beyond his base level abilities. Sozin was about to speak, his voice started to make a noise - but he couldn't even make a syllable out before reeling the opposite direction of a strike made against him.

"Shut the fuck up." He was quickly rebuked and was hit harshly in the back of his head with what he could only guess was the pommel of a Katana. It was likely seen that he was deadly enough to not even allowed a word. A few had looked over, but otherwise wasn't happy either - their silence was more concerning. They had only beaten a single person through the skin of their teeth and were reeling rather large losses. That would have been great for Akira had it all worked out. But it had not, and here he was.

Waiting for something to happen so he could finish them off.

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

[theme]

Luck was a fickle thing--if the hands of fate were guided by a deity, she had often shown Akatsuki a complete lack of concern. Though, what could often be played off as the lingering curse of an angry god that lead to a life filled with misfortune and suffering, it would seem that on this evening the seven remaining lives who had raised their weapons against a seemingly innocent man would find themselves short of any good fortune. What seemed like a grim victory would quickly turn south as another series of unfortunate events unraveled.
    Whether unfortunate placement--the heat rising from their campfire--or the disturbance by a small woodland creature, a small pile of snow fell from a branch above and into the flames, extinguishing them entirely.
    From their distress, one of the men shouted out in frustration and Akatsuki ceased her walking from where she had been passing nearby.
    She'd only briefly noticed the soft glow from a distance, and she'd had no interest in drawing near.
    It wasn't until the flames of the fire died down and silence filled the world around them that her footsteps would be heard, alerting them of her presence and in their alarm several went to investigate--two staying behind to keep vigil over their captor. Mere seconds would pass before she was surrounded, darkness falling over the world once more as they seized her up, yelling and barking incoherently something fierce. Akatsuki froze in her place, raising her hands slightly to show no hostility toward the men as they viewed her with fear and alarm.
    "Drop your weapon! Who are you? An ally of that filth?" one commanded.
    Akatsuki had no idea what he was talking about--she traveled alone. She had certainly not been accompanying anyone, and she'd not appreciated their hostility or the way they spoke. Let alone commanding she disarm herself when already she had not posed any aggression toward them. "No." A simple answer--but answer nonetheless to their questions.
    She was not an "ally" to whoever they were referencing, and she would not drop her weapon. Already she had raised her hands in submission--and it was they who had encroached her. She had already done what she could to demonstrate non-aggression, but the tones of their voices and their increased hostility caused her great issue in leaving herself defenseless. Even if her weapon was not a sacred companion she rarely departed from, she would have refused in this instance.
    "Fuck--get a look at her face. It's one of those damn savages from the Land of Fire."
    Akatsuki glared.
    "Kill it."
    A moment's hesitation would be too much as Akatsuki's hand made it's way to her katana and she moved like lightening--her hand barely even seeming to draw the blade properly before the man in front of her was sliced atwine. Another quickly hurled small weaponry toward her to provide as a distraction while another drew in, but the weapons were redirected back toward him--her precision and skill a deadly force while they struggled in their exhaust. The man who grew closer extended an arm--metal wires shooting from his hand to wrap around Akatsuki's form and she reached out with a hand of her own as the metal ensnared her upper arms and chest.
    Without warning a violet flame engulfed her, and Akatsuki leaped into the air--dragging the man with her as she soared to the heavens and past the trees. In his alarm and uncertainty his hands would not release themselves from the wires until it was too late--too far from the trees and without anything to grab onto to properly break his fall, his spine would be crushed beneath his weight and his skull would shatter upon the impact of the floor as Akatsuki hovered above them.
    "You ask who I am?" she asked, her voice chilling as the few remaining shinobi raced upward through the trees to try reaching her. "I am a deity of mercy and wrath, and upon my judgement I convict you all..." she looked one of them sternly in the eyes as he leapt toward her. "To death." The wires would fall loosely from her body as their owner's fingers slipped upon his death, and Akatsuki engaged once more in battle as the shinobi attempted to strike her down. Her blade cut through the air and sliced through them before they could so much as lay another finger on her, their bodies falling back to the earth in bloodied pieces. She fell gracefully back to the ground below--the sharp edge of her blade striking at the crown of another shinobi as his hands began to weave seals in a vain attempt to defend himself from the herald of death.
    The two men who had stayed beside Sozin listened on in alarm as the sound of their allies being slaughtered without mercy filled the silence of the night. 
    "Fuck, fuck," one muttered in terror, his hands shaking as the second grabbed a cleaver.
    "Fucking die, bitch!" the second shouted, charging his weapon as he ran at Akatsuki.
    The woman stood idle for but a moment as he raced nearer, catching her breath and steadying her spirit as she prepared herself for his oncoming assault. Her body ached under her extensive use in such a brief amount of time, her flames burned her soul, but she did not halt in her massacre, and only a couple of seconds would pass before she moved once more like a shadow of misfortune. Her movements would be as fluid as water--so quick and precise in her speed that it would take several moments before the victim's fate would be realized as she appeared behind him, his body sliced into five clean pieces before falling apart. The last shinobi cried out in terror, deciding it not worth trying his luck against her and turning to flee.
    He would make it only ten feet.
    Her obsidian blade cut through the air at blinding speed, a sharp whistle echoing off the trees before landing its mark--slicing through the fleeing man and cleaving halfway into the tree behind him.
    And, once more, silence would fall over the campsite.
    Akatsuki would exhale.
    Then, near soundlessly, she would track over to her last victim, plucking her weighted blade from the bark of the tree, wiping the blood from the weapon before she'd carefully make her way back to the scene.
    There had been one soul left alive--though judging from the sorry state he was in, he was not going to pose any threat to her. Stripped and bound to a tree, he was heavily wounded.
    With a flick of her blade, Akatsuki would sever the rope that bound him before gracefully sheathing her katana once more, her gaze dangerous as she looked down on the poor soul from where she stood tall, poised and refined in her stance. "You've been met with a terrible fate," she stated, her voice still as glass. "If you continue without aid, you will die."

SPOILER: Click to show

Special Abilities Utilized:

Great Strength
Although she already was a strongly-built child due to her training from a young age, Akatsuki was gifted with exceptional strength from her deity once she devoted her life to him. Akatsuki is able to deal greater damage than what would be considered normal by any means. Although this adds more punch to her techniques and offers her the ability to lift more weight without assistance, she can also inflict far more damage with her strikes even if they aren't in the form of jutsu. Her body's muscles are more compacted than usual, offering her superior and surprising strength that would be considered surprising and unusual for her apparent physique.

Violet | HOPE
Holding the fourth seat of the yōkai, Akatsuki is able to utilize the religion's violet flames, which will engulf her body and give her the ability to jump higher, float, and even fly, but at a painful cost.
    Because of her prowess as a shinobi, she is able to endure the C, B, and A ranked gifts with the corresponding pain of minor, moderate, and major.
    Although she has a high enough tolerance to pain to utilize these flames, to any opponents, these flames will cause some serious burns--the more hope lost in the opponent's hearts, the hotter the flames.
    [T1] Increases speed by 25%
    [T2] Increases speed by another 25%

*Lightness by Rank
D | Water/Tree Walk C | Sky Jumps B | Air Walk/Hover
A | Cloud Walk/Hover S | Flight

Jutsu Used:

NAME: Iaigiri - [Iai Beheading]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: N/a
DESCRIPTION:
The user performs a quick and powerful slash with their sword, appearing almost like a blur, in order to cur the intended target before immediately resheating the blade afterwards. In the hands of the right user, this attack can even cut clean through a boulder.

NAME: Kagami Yaiba [Mirror Blade]
RANK: C
CHAKRA USAGE: Low
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: -
HANDSEALS: 0
DESCRIPTION:
Despite the name of this technique, it can be used with most weapons, although it’s difficulty mastering it means it requires a skilled user of such a weapon. Thus a swordsman would not automatically be able to perform this technique with a club. A relatively straightforward technique, it is nevertheless very effective against incoming shuriken. The user guards against an incoming shuriken with his or her weapon. However, rather than simply deflecting it, the user hits the shuriken from such an angle that it is sent back towards the enemy. Skilled users of this technique can even reflect kunai towards moving opponents by calculating their movement pattern (Chuunin+), or even reflect a shuriken while adding a curve to it (Special Jounin+). One use of this technique can send back up to three shuriken for a Genin, five for a Chuunin, eight for a Special Jounin and ten for Jounin and higher.

Nyokawaga [Wild Inlet Fang]
[RANK] A
[CHAKRA USAGE] High
[CLASSIFICATION] Bukijutsu
[DESC.]
With spastic and wild swings or stabs of one's sword, the user will attempt many iron-rending strikes on the enemy in a continual barrage. These strikes aim to push and split the air as far as a meter from the blade, although with these strange and various attacks, the user has direct control of how the created vacuums are shaped, often snaking them around or behind the enemy. The user can attack a foe from nearly all angles with such an attack, or surround them and prevent escape without being carved into pieces.

NAME: Chinkonka no iki | 鎮魂歌の息 [Requiem's Breath]
RANK: D
CHAKRA USAGE: Very Low - Very High
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: None.
DESCRIPTION:
A special breathing technique that is the foundation of all the moves, if one wishes to go beyond toying with it. By inhaling deeply, the user prepares the muscles for a quick and strong succession of moves, that will double the strength behind each blow.
This technique works for five moves in total, be them combinations of two strikes or single ones. After those strikes, the user needs half a minute (one RP round) before striking again with the help of Requiem's Breath.

NAME: Chinkonka no shizukesa | 鎮魂歌の静けさ [Requiem's stillness]
RANK: B
CHAKRA USAGE: Medium
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION:
A move of high speed, but that doesn't loose any of it's strength. It is a series of five slashes, coming from all directions, flowing like a river, while the opponent moves forwards, so to end up behind the opponent.
It is said that when this move is used along with the Requiem's breath, the opponent will have five more seconds to live, before falling to pieces.
This move is easily followed by the Sharingan wielders, as well as other bukijutsu masters, but against unprepared opponents, it is a deadly move, that cannot be stopped and only avoided by pure luck.

NAME: Chinkonka no gekido | 鎮魂歌の激怒 [Requiem's rage]
RANK: A
CHAKRA USAGE: High
CLASSIFICATION: Bukijutsu
ELEMENT: None
DESCRIPTION:
A throwing move of the weapon, with incredible strength that can cleave a human into two halves and cut three thick trees in one blow.
The user will have to move their whole upper body with a firm stance on the floor, throwing the weapon in a perfect vertical line. The strength behind the move will allow the weapon to force it's way through the intended target.
The speed of this attack is neigh avoidable, unless one has the full sharingan or is an experienced master bukijutsu or taijutsu user with superior reflexes.

@akira | 1165 Words | Notes:

Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Pink Text - Sign language
Violet Text - Common Language

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

It was quiet enough that it wasn't easy for him to do much else. It had previously led to being hit.

So, when the silence did finally break, he couldn't blame their worry.

As terror spread about the night he hadn't anticipated being helped here. Much less to who it was, violet flame or not the man was in no state to percept the who so much as the what - and the what was that he had an opportunity to quickly finish himself. He started writhing against his bindings.

"Stop it." Another hit to the head, as they seemed certain at the time even if their voice showed unease at the concept of there being a second one of him. But eventually they were pulled from their position.

This was an opportunity he thought to himself.

[x]

The static was emphasised here, he was amplifying their fear - and perhaps even their attacker's rage. It was an opportunity and he intended to use every bit of it to persist here and now.

He was beyond death, but his mind was still bound to life and he had not really mentally been there to make any other quick judgements, and to that end it was no different than being a caged animal relying on baser instincts.

Each pull made everything tighter. If only he could have used the rope escape technique. This had to have been metal wiring, but the pain didn't subside.

All he'd managed to do was make it tighter. Now, it was good that it was happening, that way he could suffocate - but it wasn't tight enough as to provide him with certainty it wouldn't take twenty minutes to pass from his mortal coil. The body was exceptionally good at trying to make sure it endured past most issues.

As quick as this fight had been started their deaths had been quick. If he were saner to make jokes, he would have said that he did the preliminary work. But he curbed off the feeling, lest he jumped from the frying pan to the fire and waited.

His death would be next, perhaps. That, or he could be freed and on his way. As the crunch of gravel and noise of boot being pulled through grass and other foiliage - they were here.

In all fairness to either party, Sozin had not known it was her until she spoke but when she cut his bindings, he was immediately thankful but didn't immediately move, on account of caution. He didn't want to spring and get cut down by a Kusagskure shinobi. Even though he'd looked up - the dark, and general weakness of his body made it so she was not easily perceptible to him, even in her close proximity.

It wasn't in the woman's size, not that he had the ability to accurately judged it from his one eyed, kneeled position that skewed his perception. It had not been her sweet, warming cinnamon feeling scent because the inside of his nose was bloody and dry and cracked and horrible. It had not been her attacks because his memory had not the faculty to remember that intricate detail about her fights both now and back then. Had it been her appearance - no, because as simple as the removal of her eyepatch had been enough of a jarring indicator to what he was used to, even if the pearly - no - snow like hair was less common.

It had been her voice this time. Even in its perhaps definitive tone did he recognise the unique qualities in her voice that usually reflected purity and other brutallt honest characteristics.

Had he underestimated his sorry state? That she did not recognise him?

Instead he choked out, in a voice unlike his own from the pressure against it. "Aksci?" His voice was dry, against baited breath. He wasn't overjoyed to see her because it meant his pain would be persisting for a while. If it had been a no namer, he would have asked for his own swift death and then they would have met their own if they themselves could not heal him. Not explicitly in that order.

But fate was not as kind as their brother chance.

He would try to come to a stand himself but a combination of numbness, injury, of muscle strain from being in the same position - was initially successful and then fell forward in what was akin to a doe birthed and standing for the first time. If she did not catch him, he would have fell forward. The release of his restraints filled his body with some temporary and brief relief, enough to give him the space he needed to black out.

And this was only the start.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Add any jutsu, relevant information here

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

The man who had played hostage choked out a word--comprehendible in his suffering. Akatsuki did not immediately recognize the man as he lurched toward her--his body failing him in his agony. Her flames ceased and just as quickly her arms caught him up in her embrace--providing him a brief comfort of warmth as consciousness faded from him. Her breath caught in her throat as she clung to his lifeless body, the weight of his life heavy in her hands. But as the quiet cries of the wind graces her ears, Akatsuki knew that time was not on her side and she would have to act quickly if she wished to preserve his life.
    In part, she was grateful that he was not fully awake--whatever pain he was in, he would likely have only suffered more if he'd been conscious to endure it. She knelt to the ground, propping him against the tree he'd been bound to in order to get a proper look at his injuries. He had suffered greatly by their hands--he had been severely burned in many places. Deep blue and violet bruises blossomed on his pale skin. Several gashes and lacerations traced his body, and as Akatsuki pulled out her medical kit, she was certain he was missing an eye.
    She could not create a fire to keep him warm, but she could provide her cloak in hopes to ward off some of the frost while she worked--needing him somewhat exposed to apply immediate first-aid. If she could get them somewhere safe, she would be able to give his injuries more appropriate care and attention. But, for the time being, she focused on tightly binding his injuries--pulling him shut where he'd been ripped open so that even while she did not have the time to delicately sew him back together, at least everything would be close and contained. What salve she did have was applied to his burns and cuts before wrapped in bandages, soft cotton and gauze would be pressed to his face where his eye was missing and it would be held in place with the black leather of an eye patch--the very one she used to wear. She would haphazardly wipe away what blood she could with a dampened sleeve, slowly becoming aware of just who had fallen victim to the shinobis' malice, before rushing over to the corpse that had fallen from a great height and stripping it of its clothing.
    He had not been bloodied in his death, and the living needed it more than the dead.
    She would dress Sozin in several of the warm layers, cutting strips from excess fabric to then bind his arms close to his form--not unlike a sling. And, keeping her cloak around his shoulders, Akatsuki would lift him from where he lay collapsed and hoisted him onto her back, steadying herself, and then made haste from the scene.
    "Come on, Sozin," she spoke softly--aware he likely would not hear it as she began her pace. "I'm not giving up on you, so just hang in there."
    And, with that, she would begin walking. It would not be the first time that she traversed far and wide while carrying another person, and it was in moments like these that she was grateful she was not smaller. She had the strength and will to carry herself and others through difficult and daunting terrain. She could guide him through this. She would make certain of it.
    The first several hours of their journey would be difficult. The snow would fall heavier as she treaded through it, the banks of frost and ice reaching up to her calves as she pushed through tirelessly with Sozin slumped over her back. But with the layers of warm fabric to protect them, even as a layer of powdery white encased their outer forms, beneath it from her exertion her body radiated warmth enough for them both. It would be several miles before the soft light of a town's lamp filtered through the falling snow.

@tag | 672 Words | Notes:

Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Pink Text - Sign language
Violet Text - Common Language

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Initially she had not known who she was and chose to help anyway: she did not know of his sins. Just that he was somebody in need. It owed to who she was - what if he had been the enemy in this situation? A murderer, a killer? What if he had been worthy? She had not thought to ask that. Sozin certainly would have. But in either sense she tended to him. She had likely dealt with this situation enough through longer terms that it would provide a sustainable barrier between him and the cold, and the infection that followed.

Among the many intense and vivid dreams he was having, being in and out of reality was not one of them: the several hours that she had spent on him were wasted for he would remember none of it, beyond fading in and out of consciousness. Why? Because while he was tough enough to survive, rogues in the wild didn't always tend to their blades with spirits and a cleanliness beyond what was visibly clean. The air, the muck and dirt was causing him to get a fever - starting to burn up, among his already hot touch due to the reaction his body was having trying to repair his skin. It was healing, albeit was evident that it would leave horrific scarring across his body in warped shades and textures, raised profiles and lowered ones where the burns had been worse.

What was going on inside his mind? Memories. It had been similar to what he had experienced in the past, and dreams were often cryptic: his were a mix of delusion and grandeur. On one particular dream, though he would not come to remember it, was him being rolled around like a giant paper ball. Another dream, was something of an argument between him and someone he knew, someone he had struck. She kept on saying a name, a name that was unfamiliar to him - but as though she were referring to him? Him the giant paper ball? No, that could not be so. There were other lighter ones as well, when he stirred from them - sensory fever dreams that could only be described in senses, smells and noises. Sometimes crying, sometimes great roars: other times the texture of a book between his finger tips, a dim light while he sat in an abyss.

All while Akatsuki took them somewhere: and eventually she did come upon a place.

The village that she had come to was a rural one: this was a lesser developed nation, and it would appear as such. It didn't appear to have many running water places - a stream running through it, houses built with the stream in mind allowing each person access to free running water, and with koi in the stream- one of the larger buildings had a functioning water mill. If there were Shinobi here, there would only be a handful.

So, it being night, it being a rural village: there was nobody but a few stray lights. Not even a village mess - a lively pub for people to drink in. Culture would have inferred then, that the nearest medical building was either inside that water-mill, or there wouldn't be anybody on hand for several more miles on top of the several hours she had spent travelling with him on her back. There was also a separate destination where the road started to fork off and incline: a light in the distance. A shrine laid at that fork in the road: meaning it was a temple of some kind. To which God? That was uncertain.

Little did either of them know as fate and chance would have it that in no more than a few days time, that their battle site would be discovered by the domestic shinobi, and they would be investigating. Sozin was stirring a little: "Thank you." It was a mumble, it was nearly incoherent but him being lopped over her shoulders meant the woman was in such close proximity to be heard.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Add any jutsu, relevant information here

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

The village was very small, Akatsuki noted. It was not unusual--she had traversed much of the world, and little towns like these rarely had much to offer in forms of provisions. She did not come expecting much--but if she could find shelter, even in the form of an abandoned animal pen or a back storage room, then it would be a considerable improvement from the wilderness.
    They had not run into much trouble as she'd fled the scene with Sozin in tow--but she knew it had merely been a stroke of luck. Bandits, wild animals, natural disasters--she was grateful that it was only the biting cold and constant pour of snow from the heavens that had faced against them so far.
    She knew where they were and she knew where she would turn next--but with an injured companion, she could not push through to the next destination. Even if he was not exerting himself through walking, it took a great deal of energy to stave off death and mend a body's wounds. He would need to be checked on frequently--something Akatsuki was well aware of. New bandages--more disinfectant and salve. Ideally food and drink to give him nutrients and strength to carry through. Warmth and shelter so as to not freeze. She considered seeking out the building that had the water mill--it was possible they might have some room where the two could stay for a few hours while she tried to give her attention to his injuries. There did not seem to be an inn fashioned for any oncoming guests--but many towns did not have such things.
    Gently, Akatsuki raised a hand to lightly touch the top of Sozin's head as he muttered appreciation to her--and she made a hushing noise as her mix-matched eyes searched for the best option given their circumstances.
    She would take the other path, heading up to the temple.
    Akatsuki did not know what religion the people there practiced--perhaps Buddhism, perhaps something else. Many religions were peaceful, so she could only hope that they would be able to find help there. Without any intention of burdening others greatly, even if they could not provide her with much--truly, she would not ask for much.
    Approaching the temple entrance, Akatsuki would knock as loudly as she could upon the wooden door, shifting herself slightly so as to not drop the man on her back but desperately trying to get the attention of those who were within. "Hello?" she called out. "Is anybody there?" She could only pray that someone would hear her cries.

@tag | 427 Words | Notes:

Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Pink Text - Sign language
Violet Text - Common Language

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Akatsuki had got him to shush, but it had been pointless: he had already faded again just as he had several times over the several hours they had been travelling.

On the first rap of her hand the door would jar itself open an inch. Further knocks would send it further afield: if she looked behind her on entry, they were not fashioned to have locks on them. All that they had was a wooden block, presumably to stop the wind coming through.

Initially there was no response as they waited - until some noise was made as a door was opened from the inside, but she would likely have stepped in before someone came out to greet them.

They had a thick regional accent that was from the local dialect - still understandable, but more difficult. "Good evening?" He had come scuttling from around the corner. Deep wrinkles: old, from the backs of their hands to their face. Covered in worn, but warm garbs of muted earthy colors. It almost looked as if their own eyes were closed from the droopiness, but they seemed to be able to percept well enough. "Can I hel-" something was caught in their throat as they stood to attention with a cane in front of their body and both hands leaning on it.

They had quite plainly looked at Akatsuki, and then the older man she held.

"Oh, oh that's not good .. " the older priest/monk mumbled. "Come in... yes, yes..." they had already begun to turn. It was a small temple: the main shrine was where she had entered, looking to her left from the building the entrance was side on to - a shrine with a deity that could now be identified as Shintoism; seven other statues littered about the room in equal measures. Directly opposite her, behind the older man was entrance to a small courtyard separated by Shoji doors. They were closed, but rattling, on account of some wind in the evening - a few small holes gave indication its purpose. But where the man had come from, a secondary door that separated the temple from the rest of the other rooms revealed what was a hallway. On the left: an open room for study with texts and library papers. On the right: a kitchen, a fire was going. Some spaces on the wall to cook, buckets for water: some place to put food into to keep it from predators and a hole in the ceiling to let the smoke out.

As soon as she'd have stepped through the secondary door, the world would have become much warmer: it had been closed prior to her interruption of the night. Where they were being directed to was the place directly opposite the door and moving to the farthest end of the hallway: a living space. It was simple, as temples tended to be simple. More light, candles affixed to the wall burning the midnight oil providing a warm, dim and well adjusted place. Windows dotted about the room to let in the outside world on the remaining three walls. There was another fire in here: but warmer, intended not for food but to simply provide cover from the cold. Rather than there being metal grating over the one in the kitchen: this one was bricked, circular and provided room for people to sit around it. Beside each bed had a chest. Again, it seemed as though these people had little to care for, as to perhaps not make themselves a target?

There was a second person: and three beds. "Set him... down there. Not much room: don't have visitors often..." The other was sat on the side of their bed, curious and squinting at them as to determine what the situation was, until he saw Sozin's injuries. "Oh my..." he went to set himself off, but closely came by Akatsuki to inspect the man. "Was this recent?" Their voice contained a bit more strength and clarity, and was certainly more rotund as monks/priests went. He touched the man's open wounds, or the remnants left by blood on account of Akatsuki's bandaging. "Hot... fever. Tōtōyō, I'll see if we... have salves... we can get Dashi to get help..." The man who had answered, Tōtōyō, grunted 'yes, yes' in reply. The unnamed one politely smiled at the two conscious people before hobbling off behind them and turning left. "Dashi is our messenger bird... nearest help is several hours away, this kind of help..." he could not help Akatsuki unload the man, but stayed by them. That being said - Akatsuki would definitely have a feeling of being watched, as though this man were wearier of their presence. Or her? It was not discernible right now.

He did go to grab something, though. Cleaner bandages - but did not tend to the man yet. He offered one to her. "Hidebuki -- WATER. Thank you. Ack." The older man called out before he cleared his throat of an ungodly amount of phlegm, taking much more time than one would have thought when dealing in a serious situation. "For you." His pointed look and point using his hand that he was offering her the bandage was toward her side. Leaking from Akira's face was ungodly things, and it had leaked out over and onto her shoulder clothing- blood, pus and all nice things. He then began to get closer to Sozin if he wasn't stopped by her. "Tell me what .. happened." As he began to inspect Sozin. cleaning off what dirt he could, but was otherwise the surface level.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Add any jutsu, relevant information here

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

Akatsuki would hesitate initially upon the entryway of the temple. It was not like her to intrude upon someone's home--she was not a golden-haired girl from children's stories. And even as a general place of devotion to a deity--even if it was not technically a house, it was still a residency and she did not wish to invite herself in without welcome or, at the very least, warning. The slight opening of the door upon her knocking was alarming to her in its own way--she was uncertain if the temple was abandoned, and did not know if it was safe to proceed.
    Thankfully, though, a soul would make itself present as an old man greeted her.
    The monk quickly enough had his attention drawn to the man that Akatsuki carried, and with raised alarm she was welcomed in. The young woman dipped her head in appreciation as she followed the elder's lead. "Thank you," she spoke in a hushed voice as she tracked his footsteps further in. Her eyes flickered to the soft glow of the light that bled from the other room and she froze, her breath hitching in her throat.
    She shuddered as she moved down the hallway, her eyes wide.
    Breathe.
    Entering the room that seemed to serve as the temple's living quarters, it seemed that there was another already occupying the space within. She barely processed what the elder said--directions. Set Sozin down. Right. She could do that. Akatsuki needed to lie him down and that way she'd be able to get a proper look at his wounds--when he wasn't slumped against a tree in the biting open air. The mention of sending for help caught her attention and she shook her head quickly--looking to the unnamed monk before he could leave the room. "Don't."
    It wouldn't do any good.
    "I--I can't afford a doctor--" as much as she wished she could just hand him off to somebody better equipped to deal with these grave of injuries. "And we can't stay here." She knew this little village would not be able to supply them with everything that they needed, and she did not wish to burden them more than she needed to. They had very few resources to give, and she did not want to bleed them dry. She knew of another town--just across the border. There, it would be safer. The environment was more ideal.
    Just as this was--only more ideal than the wilds.
    She couldn't stop walking. Not because she was tired. Not until she'd gotten them somewhere safe. At the first sign of civilization she needed to stop--she knew Sozin's wounds were severe. Having suffered significant hardships, herself, but having no other choice than to press onward, she had an idea of how to survive despite all odds. She wasn't a doctor, but she had an idea of what to do. His injuries would need to be cleaned often--the bandages changed out and replaced. He was burning up--so something cold to help keep the temperature down would assist while he fought off illness. And food--he'd need energy so that his body could keep doing its part to repair itself.
    This would only be one such moment to try giving him those things while they were provided a brief opportunity. Get a moment to attend to his wounds once more with a roof over their heads--but then getting back on the road.
    She couldn't stop.
    If she kept walking, they could probably cross the border before the rise of the morning sun--
    Akatsuki laid Sozin down gently on the cot, undressing him where needed to access his injuries. Her hands were shaky and her breathing was unstable--she hardly noticed the roll of bandages being offered to her, and the gaze of unease that was directed at her went completely unnoticed.
    But the warm light that flickered on the walls from the fireplace, the crackling of burning wood--
    Alarm was shooting through her body as fear seized her. She wanted to flee. She wanted to run--put herself as far from the room as she possibly could. Chances be damned she'd rather sleep out in a blizzard--but Sozin needed to be checked on. And she did not trust leaving him alone--not when she had already decided that she would do whatever was in her power to fight the odds against him.
    --For her?
    She looked at the roll of bandages being offered once more, the stranger's words settling in and cautiously she'd take it from him--her actions quick and flightly. "I--I'm not--" she shook her head, a little, then returned her attention to the unconscious man once more. She breathed. "I'm not injured. I-I don't know what happened. I just... found him like this and I... I couldn't just leave him. I knew he'd die if I didn't... didn't try to do... something..." She was covered in blood, surely. She didn't doubt for a minute what state she appeared to be in, but she wasn't certain what she could do about it.
    On one hand, she knew she should probably change her clothes. But the spares she did have weren't suited for winter--she would freeze to death if she went back outside. And, contrarily, if she tried washing her clothes, then frostbite would only come to her sooner. So, she'd just have to deal with it--she had greater concerns than bloody clothes, anyway.

@tag | 897 Words | Notes:

Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Pink Text - Sign language
Violet Text - Common Language

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Her entry was quiet, but his response had not been so. It had not fallen to those outside of her interaction that her own aversion would be a present obstacle to her care of Sozin. She got in quickly in spite of that fear, and still managed to place him down. While Sozin wasn't quite convulsing, the body itself was shivering away, even though to the touch their body was hot. Bandages around their face were coming free, and so the physical body-horror of what had happened was also becoming evident as well.

It appeared that whatever had removed the eye from one of his sockets was done so in a way of precision: usually, there would be indications like scratching, scarring or cuts from an attack: this was not such. This was clean: this was done after the fact, after the battle had concluded. Yes, the man's face was starting to swell: but they had made sure that whatever punishment was being executed was being done with keeping the man in mind alive for a purpose. But, that purpose no longer mattered when they were all dead.

"Faith cares not about the cost," Tōtōyō spoke in quite an oblivious way, incredulous that someone would suggest that he was asking for funds. They would be helped. Even if she couldn't - he would be able to. That wasn't known, but it was a thought that could have been had. "He will die if his fever persists..." His voice was shaky, uncertain: but that was the outcome of age apparent to the way that he looked over the man. There was sadness to view it: but also a pragmatic nature that suggested this was not the first time it had happened.

Hidebuki had brought the water back in a pail. It was rudimentary - but in rural villages like this, rudimentary was standard. They hadn't even known of his own... unique powers - one that would have made all of this so easy to resolve had it been known.

Tōtōyō looked over to her, and saw the tenseness in her shoulders, the way that - "Is something bothering you?" Forgiving their nature - it was an older monk and the reservations that one typically held for them were usually true, but not in this circumstances where he was in a rural enough village that their behaviour could be more of themselves, rather than the expectation of their Faith.

"Alright." The man said, not acknowledging the woman physically as he inspected, doing what he could. "I'm not ... any renowned medic... but we can stave off death for long enough for help to get here." They began to strip Sozin of their clothing. Revealing all of the damage, producing off coloured skin and tissues, dark blued forming cuts and bruises over their skin and general leakage due to the immuno-response that Sozin was having.

Hidebuki had also brought back a bar, wrapped inside some cloth: that they pulled from their wispy and loose robes, opening it up. It was a bar of some kind. It was a some salve and it was an ointment of sorts. A thick, foul smelling substance that left behind waxy residue on the hands, but it didn't stop Hidebuki from slathering it all over their hands and holding their elbows to their waist, waiting for Tōtōyō to give them the signal or nod to proceed.

That then did take place, where the man began to rub it into the various cuts and bruises on Sozin.

The ointment, whatever it was, seemed to work for all of about a minute before Sozin started to thrash. "Can you hold him down?" Before it could get any worse. "Dashi will need to be woken up. In the kitchen, there's a chest with some rats in it, can you go get one? We can deal with this. They are dead, not to worry." The other older one was happy to take care of the man for now. Their raspy old voice was adding to the fuel. But he didn't stop there. "You don't need to stay here. You can go. If you don't know this man, you can relinquish him into our care. " Sozin's arm grabbed out: the first truly conscious act, and it was for Akatsuki's hand, or arm, or side, whatever was there for him to grab: beckoning for her to stay.

If she did go for the rat as she was requested, then she would also have to face going toe to toe with a larger fire: and a small room to manoeuvre around wherein the fire situated itself. Sozin on the other hand would have lasted the minutes it would have taken, so no loss would have been provided - perhaps aside from her own sanity.

But, there was a rattle from inside his chest: Sozin's. The two monks would not have known it, but to Akatsuki it would have been more clear: it was a death rattle. It didn't necessarily mean death, but that he was nearing it if he was not tended to properly. So many choices: so little time. To brave the cold for a quicker response, or to see the night through?

His writhing did not help either, the response to the ointment was calming down, but it did produces groans of discomfort. "The painkiller should start taking affect soon." Hidebuki affirmed, whatever natural ointment they had used, also had painkilling properties. It was a good starting point, beyond removing the clothing from his body. He was lithe: more skin than muscle, and right now certainly more wound than body at this stage. "Akatsuki-" he tried to say, but he started to cough, producing god-fearing noises of coughs, that should not have been made from the accumulation. Totoyo turned thier head away from him: trying to listen. "Does it sound like?-" Hidebuki would reassert the findings. "Yes. Something's inside his body. We should help sit him up." And they looked to Akatsuki, expectant.

But, if she had already left: it would have fell to the stronger of the two to set him upright so that the healing process could begin - removing the contaminants from his body, they brought the pail closer, although they didn't expect that he would be using it, instead dribbling and coughing over himself: the opposite of any level of attractive behaviour one could exhibit.

But hey, to prevent one from dying was the least embarrassing effort of all.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Add any jutsu, relevant information here

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

Akatsuki gave a small nod--whether in submission and obedience or gratitude and understanding, it'd be difficult to say. But she understood what the man said--and she knew it to be true. Sozin was in terrible shape--she could risk the wilds once more and hope that he'd make it to dawn, but if they were willing to offer what help they could--then it was quite likely that his chances were better if they stayed, here. And, really, that was all that she wanted in this moment. So, she would not fight them any further on the topic. "May you be blessed in the eyes of the gods," she spoke quietly, relenting.
    They'd stay here for the evening. Perhaps longer--depending on how the situation played out.
    She knew she was flighty. She knew that she would likely have been much more hesitant to stay and accept help if it'd been herself--but it wasn't. This wasn't about her at all. It was not her life on the line, this time. And as much as panic and fear seized her body--her heart feeling like it was locking up, her breaths shallow and all the blood in her veins feeling like ice--she knew in her spirit that if she fled there was a good chance that Sozin would not make it to the light of day. But she did not know what use she would be to him, either. In her state, she was useless--and there was no point in being there at all if she could not actually help him. Uncertainty trickled into her consciousness as she warred with herself.
    The monk's words barely registered to her, and she'd turn her head slightly to look at him, pressing her lips together as she tried to understand his words.
    Bothering? What--does that mean? In her panicked state, the words came to her with more difficulty--she strained herself to focus. Bothered. She--didn't know. "I'm--okay," she breathed a lie, the words she so often defaulted to spilling from her lips as she was uncertain what else to say. She wasn't okay. Sensations of helplessness, terror, heartbreak, and dread seized her body and captured her soul--rendering her paralyzed and unfocused. She knew the memories well--and she was helpless to keep them from flooding back into her mind whenever she found herself in these situations.
    But what could she do?
    She was cursed--but they could do nothing to release her from it.
    Even with her understanding, she would not remove herself from the situation.
    If I don't do something, it'll just happen all over again--
    When the monks began undressing Sozin, the young woman helped where she could--shaking hands taking one of the cool and damp cloths and draping it over Sozin's forehead to try combatting his fever. She got to work once more trying to change out his bandages--already having gotten a clear look at his wounds from before, but knowing they would need to be cleaned once more. While the other monk applied some kind of medicine, Akatsuki worked at wiping off Sozin's wounds once more with a cloth. Her vision blurred as she worked--her movements sloppy but gentle nonetheless. Focus--focus, dammit-- Her grip was surprisingly strong when Sozin began to thrash--whether in pain or terror, she could not tell. Likely the first, but...
    Her attention would pause when one of the men suggested she go into the kitchen to get a rat for Dashi--he was the messenger bird, wasn't he? The bird who could send for help, like the doves back at her temple--
    --Only she had not paid much attention to the layout of the building when she'd first arrived, only trying to follow the footsteps of the one who had let them in. She'd not paid much attention to that--and she didn't know where she would even send the bird to go get help from--or how. Would she leave a note? Did the bird know certain signals to relay to others? She didn't know and she felt ill-equipped. Shaking her head slightly, she'd start-- "N-no, I--" and before she could finish her thought, Sozin's hand reached out to grab her arm and she'd look down at him, her gaze softening.
    It was true; she didn't really know Sozin. And likely, he would probably be fine under their care if she were to step away.
    But she could remember--clearly--what it was like when she'd been in a situation similar to his own. Waking up in an unfamiliar place--scared. Suffering. Dying. She could not take his pain away--she could not make him better. But, at the very least, he would not be alone. Even if he succumbed to his injuries--he would not have to face death alone.
    It was the only thing she could truly give him.
    She'd move slightly, her hand holding his and giving a light squeeze. I'm right here.
    "If... one of you could, please," she spoke quietly in regards to sending out the messenger bird. "I'll stay here and... try to help."
    And, she would do her very best.
    Sozin's own breathing was a tell. Things certainly weren't looking good--and when he tried speaking her name, it caught in his throat with a violent coughing fit following soon after. He needs to sit upright or he's going to kill himself, she thought to herself--hardly needing the prompt before she'd assist the kusagakure shinobi upright in the cot. She'd sit down next to him, one hand steady on his back as her heartbeat raced. Her hands would be cold against his burning skin. "I'm here," Akatsuki spoke quietly, a tremor in her words as she pulled the bucket into Sozin's lap to use if needed. He didn't need to waste his efforts or energy trying to speak to her-- "Just breathe. Breathe." She'd coo lightly, her fingers gently running through his hair as she tried to provide him some comfort. "I've got you. I've got you."

@tag | 983 Words | Notes:

Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Pink Text - Sign language
Violet Text - Common Language

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Which God, one might have wondered? The man didn't respond, only deferring to their own - whatever that may be. With the ongoing situation as it developed even if they'd been asked to get a Rat, that request had been deferred to the other when the stranger grabbed out at the woman.

"Mm." Tōtōyō wouldn't press her if she didn't give him reason to. It was in their old age that they wouldn't seek to understand the subtext or feelings in the room, however physical or not they were. It wasn't only her who was shaking: the other two were tentative, one was muttering underneath their breath. It was concerning, and few outside of combat got to see such bodily horror.

"Yes," The other sighed. They were old but not without their own vexations, and Hidebuki disappeared - leaving Sozin, Akatsuki and Tōtōyō. They helped Akatsuki get him sat up on Hidebuki's notice and instruction, they'd all heard the noises in their throat.

Sozin on the other hand was groaning, coughing, spluttering and all manners of excretions pouring from his mouth and into the bucket. At this point it wasn't even a grossness as much as a man in dire pain. The laboured breathing and noises of pain, perhaps even close to making cooing noises of sadness. It was hard to say if there was anything going on in the man's psyche.

There was: but it was a physical sensation as opposed to onerous thought, which was pain. Pain everywhere: the beating warmth that came from his own heart where he could feel like individual pulses beating out of his skin. Shaking cold, because he was having both at the same time. His muscles ached as a by-product of the all-out attacking, and the feverish symptoms. His mouth was dry, and the phlegm and lack of water was starting to make him dehydrated but he wasn't quite able to make out the words that he needed it. There was some comfort coming to him from somewhere, he could feel it.

It was almost ironic that putting him out of his misery was the best course of action for him.

Right now there was nothing they could do, and the painkiller had been applied, new bandages had been found and added: so while nothing further could be done - Tōtōyō gave Akatsuki a drenched towel for her to use, presumably in the knowledge that everybody had dealt with a fever in their lives, to drench the man's forehead with.

Hidebuki on the other hand had not returned, leaving the two of them. With nothing further to do, the first monk who had welcomed her went to sit on the other side of the room, on the bed they'd been using for themself. But, they were above the covers: facing toward Akatsuki, hands interlocked in silence. "Right now we've done what we can... there's a Shinobi outpost for our land ... they can send someone out.... we can pretend .. hum.." he stopped, thinking to himself. "No.. he's too injured to pretend it was an accident.." And he put a palm to his chin as he stared over at Sozin, currently hocking up some loud noises. "If he's still alive by the time they get here they won't charge as we're a temple but... I don't know what they'll ask about how he got hurt..."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Add any jutsu, relevant information here

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

After what had seemed like far too long, silence fell over the group as they finished tending to Sozin's wounds as best as they could with what resources were available. Over the soft groans of suffering coming from the wounded, Akatsuki could almost hear the howling of the winter wind outside of the temple and she grew idle after holding the cool town to the man's forehead.
    She looked miserable in her own way--still covered in blood. Tired. Haunted in her own right--but still as a deer assessing the danger around them.
    It was only when the elder monk spoke up once more that Akatsuki's gaze rose from the shadows on the floor cast by the fireplace to look at him properly.
    He brought up a good point. Something Akatsuki worried about, too, though in the heat of things she'd not been able to give it appropriate time and thought. She didn't trust shinobi much at all--her own conscious biases that she often disregarded despite her feelings. But there was a great possibility that while they sought help, the ones who responded to their plea would instead raise their weapons against them in the end. It was possible that they would not take the excuse of "bandits" for Sozin's wounds--not when they were as severe and, in some cases, methodical as they were. Even she, truly, didn't quite understand what had happened--or why.
    She could try to take a guess--her own experiences were able to fill the imagination. Something plausible, but... horrible nonetheless.
    Gently, Akatsuki would rest her head against Sozin's shoulder as her nimble fingers continued to fiddle with a strand of his hair. Perhaps they will be tame while we are in the temple--maybe they will respect sanctuary. But as soon as we leave, they might turn hostile and hunt us down. Maybe they will refuse help if they aren't feeling merciful. I would have to fight them all while shielding Sozin from whatever further harm they wish to bring upon him. She closed her eyes and a moment would pass as she thought on it.
    "You could say it was me."
    She'd open her eyes once more, her gaze cast to the wall. She did not look at either of them as she spoke, her voice solemn like the grave.
    "A cursed Kyōbō woman was in the area, wreaking havoc and slaughtering people left and right..." There didn't need to be any rhyme or reason to it--the Kyōbō reputation was fitting enough. They were savage. Ruthless. Unpredictable and dangerous people--if they were even regarded as such. And it would not entirely be a lie, either. While she had been acting primarily in self-defense, it was true that she had already murdered several shinobi this night. "Someone bloodthirsty and wicked, who found joy and pleasure in torturing her victims. This man here managed to escape her and found refuge here, collapsing after his injuries finally got the best of him." There had only been one set of footprints, after all--not that it mattered. In this storm, they had already been covered up. "I want to stay. I don't want to leave you three, especially if things turn south. I would be happy to raise my blade to defend all of you, but..."
    In her state, now, she wasn't certain if she'd be able to fight at all. Not for as long as her fatal flaw seized her with its iron grip as it so effortlessly did.
    "Perhaps the best thing that I could do, to guarantee safety for the rest of you, would be to act as a scapegoat." She'd glance back at the monk. "What do you think...?"

@tag | 613 Words | Notes:

Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Pink Text - Sign language
Violet Text - Common Language

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Sozin fell silent in wake of the painkillers. A few clearings of the throat, but quieter than before and setting off into a still sleep, at least, till the next time and round of coughing fits. The steady rise and fall of his chest would be the indicator that he was still alive, and the painkillers were working since he wasn't making as much noise - insofar as the noises that naturally came from his breathing. The fact he was able to do it while being uncomfortable, upright, was truly testament to the injuries he had sustained.

Akatsuki had fairly offered an opinion into a resolution on the matter.

"Hmm?" The man listened. "Hmm." Those were the noises he continued to make as she took her stance, the possibilities: they made sense. He had certainly heard of the stories, but stories and truth were one from another. He continued making those noises but relatively devoid of judgement: if there was judgement, Akatsuki wouldn't hear it. "Was it you?" For the pious man, the distinction was important, and it was an opportunity for her to claim the truth if she had not yet done so. She could have certainly perceived it as being prejudiced against her ilk and kind.

In the space of her answering and his response, Hidebuki returned.

"Dashi is gone. If the weather is forgiving, we'll see a medic be here a few hours after first light. It'll be a long ride. Can I get you anything? Water? Food? We... only have mostly rice, I'm afraid." They had a lot to give despite not having much. Such was the way of their lifestyle. But, things could have gotten better in the morning. "Let us not be hasty in condemning you." What he was saying was 'let's keep it on the table, if we can't figure it out.' Not completely ruling it out. "If he passes during the night, you can leave and we'll take care of the rest..." If she truly was blameless in this matter, then it resolved nothing by blaming her later on.

If however, Sozin didn't... then that would change the conversation some. The man started another round of coughing fits, and the night was long. Several hours had elapsed and another several hours had yet to go before first light, let alone the response after the fact: and the expectation that she would stay away during all of it to care for a man she'd realistically met 'once' was pure. A woman bound by her duty. Some years prior, it had been the other way around.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Add any jutsu, relevant information here

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

Had she done it? That was the real question. If the monk believed--in earnest--that she was guilty of exactly what she suggested, then perhaps it would be all that much easier for him to relay the information to anybody who bothered asking. He would be sincere in his words--speaking honestly from his heart and to his understanding, after all. But she had no skill or talent for lying, and it went against her nature.
    She did not often find joy in killing--though there were times where she'd felt satisfaction in doing so. She was not bloodthirsty--but there had been times where her heart sang of murder and vengeance. She did not find joy in torturing or causing undue harm--but there was a man who lived yet, who she had sliced out his very own eye--and for his suffering she held no remorse. Her words had not been an accurate reflection of all that she was--Akatsuki was not obligated or instructed to behave in any way that did not feel natural to her, and it was her nature that caused her to so often guide, comfort, and protect. Even these strangers--she wished only that if she were to be painted in a bloody light, that they may be spared ill fortune.
    But, even so, there was an element to truth to the picture that she painted, too.
    Had she done exactly what she'd suggested? No, of course not. If she had maimed and tortured Sozin as she suggested--she would not have carried him for miles through a blizzard on the hope that he might be able to live if she found somewhere safe for him. She would not have wasted her efforts in keeping him alive, or trying to provide him comfort in her presence.
    But, still.
    "You may know, with certainty, that my hands have blood on them. On this night, I most certainly have killed--and have done so without remorse." It did not matter that they had sought to end her life, first. Akatsuki would sigh, the hand that had gently been combing through Sozin's hair stopped and fell idly as she turned her gaze away to the wall once more. "I am a creature not of the light--but born, instead, from hatred. Cursed blood runs through my veins; I walk a path laid in shadow and my soul finds refuge only in the depths of the abyss. To Despair, I am married, and I am every horrible thing you might have heard--to those who would forsake my humanity, I am inclined to agree with them." She'd carefully turn her attention back to the monk. "That is the truth." 
    Perhaps the old man would cast a gaze of judgement upon her, perhaps he would bite his tongue or perhaps he would change his mind. It mattered little.
    She'd already made a decision; what she believed needed to be done.
    And if she was to be a monster, so that the world's eyes focused on her alone, then she would claim it.
    Sighing when the other monk returned to the room, announcing that the messenger bird had been sent for help, Akatsuki would slowly rise--careful of her movements that Sozin would not fall over in the space she left behind. "Whatever resources you have, I ask that you spend them on this man, here. He needs his strength more than I do. And if he dies, then I would take his body from you. He is under my vigil--that is what I have decided. In life, or until death."

@tag | 589 Words | Notes:

Blue Text - Tsuchi Branch Kyōbō Only
Pink Text - Sign language
Violet Text - Common Language

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

The woman seemed to try and instruct him on a guilty verdict, but did not err directly that she was responsible for the man Totoyo stared at. Hidebuki seemed to have pulled himself into a situation he was unaware of, but also went to the third and final bed for him to sit in. Unlike Totoyo, he did get under the covers, patting the pillow and getting himself comfortable as he listened to Akatsuki talking.

Even if she hadn't directly given him a response and she had carried him for several hours they had no way of perceiving or providing truth to the matter; they were not trained, not Shinobi, not aware of the sacrifices she may or may not have performed to get him there on this auspicious night. "Hmm." Totoyo continued his noises from the throat while he pondered. "Then you are not welcome here." Totoyo said plainly. Hidebuki looked over at him, his neck snapping. "Don't be absurd, remember your vows you old coot." They were as old as one another, so such an insult seemed meaningless.

Totoyo's offer went under a silent response, he stayed his mouth. "Hmm." "Yeah, hmm yourself." Hidebuki turned to Akatsuki. "You'll have our help and his body, should it be so. If nothing else is to be done, I'll wake up again when the ointment needs reapplying. You'll have about... two notches." The man pointed to the candles in the room: all of them had rings, signifying an hour. "They'll make noise when they get to each notch. Not too loud." While Hidebuki was content to get himself some shut-eye, the other, Totoyo, remained silent as he stared over at them with the same intrusion that elderly did when they saw anything even remotely out of the norm to them. The man (Hidebuki) chuffed his mouth together, they made noise as he did so - but otherwise closed his eyes and let silence take the room.

Sozin himself on the other hand was barely awake, with his head on Akatsuki's shoulder and trying to get all the rest he could. He was generally out of any actual words, so he could've been counted as fully asleep. He was currently recollecting some memories: planting flowers in a garden with people he thought were his family. All redheads, save for one. Him in a greenhouse as a child. Him in a room in the dark sat on his bed and staring at nothing. All of these felt so familiar.

In recent time, he'd had some of these dreams: some of these memories. With Azarea during a mission returning a piece of himself to Sozin, Akira had regained some level of consciousness, even though he hadn't quite yet made connections - just building the pathways. He'd had some returned level of humanity and a conundrum to follow, which led to more memories and poor nights sleeps. But they were more common now, more vivid. More details were being had: the old book smell of his room. But who was it? Was it him? Someone else? A bygone era or a past life?

Who knew.

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