[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

She was not welcomed here. His words were quickly reprimanded by the other monk as he returned from where he'd sent out the messenger bird, but Akatsuki knew it would not change the perception or belief that had been etched into his heart. And, perhaps, it was for the best. She did not enjoy being regarded in such light--but it was how it needed to be. And, in a way, the image set in the room was testament of just that--a room lit by candlelight and the soft glow of a fireplace; it was a hostile environment for her. Three beds--there was certainly no place for her here.
    Closing her eyes, she would sigh.
    "Thank you," she spoke softly to the elder monk who instilled faith in her yet--that she would have their help until whatever fate was to befall Sozin would do so. But, still, she knew she should not stay here. Not for risk of compromising their security, if nothing else. Slowly, Akatsuki would rise from the cot, her hands gently guiding Sozin to lay down as she looked him over. They had done all that they could, and while Akatsuki wished to stay if only to continue providing him comfort and companionship--it would do little good in the face of everything else. The best thing she could do for him, now, was to leave. He had survived this far, and after what had seemed like an eternity of effort, he had been stabilized at the very least. She had to believe that he would survive until proper help came to him. "When you awake, I will be gone. Let whoever comes believe whatever they wish--so long as no harm befalls the three of you. I do not care how I am seen--whatever is necessary. I only hope that this man here can be saved," Akatsuki looked down at Sozin as she brought one of the blankets up over his exhausted and collapsed form. "Whatever his fate... I will return for him."
    She had to leave. But she would not abandon him--not truly. She only wished that there was something that she could do or say so that if he awoke in worry, he would be put at ease that she'd not given up on him. But she did not want to leave a note, in fear that any reassurance to him might compromise their delicate situation.
    And, so, instead, Akatsuki would reach into her satchel where she kept much of her belongings--she carried less with her, now, as she had begun to make her home once more in Nohara no Kuni. But still, she would pull out a single piece of paper, and folding it neatly until a flower was crafted from it, which she would plant in Sozin's hand before walking away toward the entryway to leave the room.
    "Farewell," and she would give another small nod of appreciation toward them before making her leave out to the bitter wilds once more.

@tag | 496 Words | Notes:

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

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

The prejudice of unaware humans was unparalleled: though he had never come across any Kyobo, he had heard of the stories. What had likely come then as a story had been verified by her own willingness to barbarism. It didn't matter to Totoyo whether true or not. But, as Hidebuki settled into his bed and did begin to sleep and Akatsuki began to give her goodbyes, Totoyo would continue to stare away.

Sozin did hear her words between versions of jumbled and clear: it would be good for her to escape the clutches of the flickering red phantoms in the room, he thought. Small moans escaped his being, but otherwise no other lucid assertion was made.

and too after she had departed the man made no move, other than watching: Sozin had a few fits of coughing, expelling into one bucket and eventually situated or managed to move his body into a semi-comfortable position with his back against the wall, but slumped and with a curved back. The flower had found its way from Sozin's hand, to the bed, and eventually the floor over the next two hours.

It was not free of problems throughout that time. One such incident was of him finally being lucid enough to know that he needed water, and water was given from the Pail where he'd tried to lean over and grab it but was too weak to get the pail into his lap. Totoyo had grabbed a ladel, brought it to Sozin's mouth and helped him. Though sputtering: managed to whet his throat.

The second was that when the second crack had awoken Hidebuki, and they'd went to apply a second coat of ointment, they hadn't enough to completely lather his body and the areas, so it had been an economic use of the worst injuries he'd sustained and leaving some of the smaller cuts behind. The writhing happened again this time, but two elderly men could scarcely hold down such a strong human, and the human eventually found its way to the cold floor. After the pain subsided, Sozin was helped back into the bed.


Several versions and iterations of this happened over the hours it took for a medic to eventually come, leaving the two elderly men without much sleep. Noise perpetuated through the morning light when Sozin stirred, the worst of the fever had passed but he just want to sleep so much... ^{"...do we know where he came from?"} A squadron of four made their way into the resting room: looking for their task. "Hanzo - there." They pointed to the obvious. "Thanks. Yakushi, let's run some diagnostics to see how bad the situation is. I'll run point." The man known as Hanzo was a Shinobi - that much was without a doubt. But they ran with much lighter colors of white: more culturally significant and associated with medics. They were equipped with bags.

"Okay, let's run some antibiotics - let his body do some of the work. I'll start healing. When he's healthy enough, we'll need to work together to cauterise the eye area.." The two other Shinobi who hadn't moved - they appeared to be the muscle was questioning the two of them. They were quiet. "Had he come alone?" It caused the two of them to look between one another. "Yes." Hidebuki lied. And they continued their questioning there. On the other hand, the medics' techniques were humming with noise as the smaller to moderately sized cuts were being closed up. Somehow, he had made it through the night.

Sozin was becoming more aware but did not speak.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Add any jutsu, relevant information here

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

Upon leaving the temple, Akatsuki felt a relief flee from her body as the tension melted away. The iron nails that had dug themselves into her lungs released, and she nearly stumbled out to the snow as a fresh wave of fatigue crashed over her. Every limb ached as she regained feeling over them, and like many times before, her mind and body wanted to collapse upon the apparent safety after having overcome some trial of struggle or distress. But she could not do that--Akatsuki knew, still, that it was not safe enough to lower her guard.
    She was not safe.
    With hope, she ignited her violet aura and began to flee from the scene--not leaving so much as a footprint in the snow beneath her. She did not often care to hide any trace of her existence, but it was in moments like these where she was grateful that her gift allowed her to do such. Though, if I had the flames of loyalty, we wouldn't be in this mess to begin with. I could have healed Sozin on my own, without having to take these risks and push us to these limits, she thought bitterly. It was not the first time that she'd wished she'd received a different blessing, and it would not be the last. Yōkai knew her heart wanted to protect those she cared about, and the god knew better than any living creature just how fiercely she embodied the other spirits.
    Loyalty, Will, Lonliness, or Sacrifice--she could have been a pillar of any of those aspects, and she'd have suited them well.
    But in recent times, Akatsuki had learned and understood, now, why her god had chosen which path for her he had. She had been deeply touched at the revelation, and it gave her a new appreciation that she had not yet considered. But, still, the Yōkai loved her more selfishly than she had, and it was something that she would always struggle with for as long as she lived. There was no hatred for her god, but merely a frustration with herself--and that would likely always be a truth to her.
    Akatsuki landed upon the ground, her boots making contact with the soft snow as the flames vanished from her form. She had traveled some distance up toward the mountain, finding refuge among the trees. She would not be noticed here, as likely, and from the vantage point she could still keep an eye on the temple that stood proudly at the base of the hill. Still... the woman thought, standing tall for a moment as she regarded the humble building. Even despite any challenges that might come my way... I will prevail despite them.
    That, she believed without a shadow of a doubt.

@tag | ### Words | Notes:

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

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

For the longest time Akatsuki wouldn't see any movement outside the temple, they had been busy working - so in the chilling, but yellow cool that the sun set upon the land - the sway of movement and snow upon the trees would be the only indication of peace.

On the inside of the temple, the two medical shinobi were working tirelessly. It had taken about an hour of work to get Sozin awake - he'd taken antibiotics, fluids, the mystical palm technique had helped: but some things they could not fix. There were... many many scars. There was nothing to be done about his eye, other than cauterising it. That had not been fun, but they'd had two more shinobi to help keep him down.

His God however, did not share the same care that Akatsuki's did. Probably patiently watching, seeing if it was his fault for not being strong enough to carry out its own will. But nobody could really know. All by the use of chakra, the true defiler. Then came out the traditional medical tools: a stethoscope, listening away to him. The two monks were out of the way, doing their own tasks for the morning whatever they may had been. Generally speaking, by the time they had done and Sozin was sitting up - groggy, but alive, an eyepatch covering one side of his head.

Then the questions came rolling in. Why was he there? It was travelling through the country. What had been his purpose? He had come from Kumogakure. Where were his items? They had been taken. Who injured him? A band of Shinobi. Where had they come from? He didn't know. They kept rolling - Sozin remained in his bed, but they knew who he was and where he was from and a bill would be making their way to Kusagakure no Sato for the trouble they'd caused, and for the 'thanks' they thought they deserved.

He had been provided clothing. "Thank you..." They were old. Robes: he looked like one of the monks that brought him in. He had been given water, bread: and was now sat on the side of the bed. Hanzo was sitting down on Hidebuki's bed: opposite side to Sozin, relaxing - the other three shinobi dotted around the room. "Look. You're going to need to take us to wherever you came from..." Sozin shook his head. "Sorry. I don't know where I came from. I left in the morning and arrived in the dead of night. I was delirious." The lie coming from his mouth flew off the handle far too easy. He stared at the ground, and his head tilted from the sedentary position. He picked up a flower, leaning down - it had come slightly underneath the bed, made of paper. He would place it on the inside of his robe.

"I respect your authority and jurisdiction, but I can't help you here." Sozin was merely grateful that he was alive, that he had not brought back documents - wait. Wait... internally, he wondered whether or not he had brought things with him - this had been such a time that it made it difficult to remember the past twenty-four hours. "Question. You had an eyepatch, but didn't have any injuries at the time. How?" The question caught him by surprise, and he looked down at his hands - sat on his knees. They would make a gesture to palm upwards, as well as a light shrug. "I'd never had an eye there, so."

The two medics looked at eachother, and then Hanzo - looked over at one of the other enforcers. Sozin knew he had fucked up somehow. "You see, we know that's a lie. Thing about anatomy is, if that had been an injury that had been seen, closed - we would have known it on inspection. Minoru - go check the grounds. Sozin-san, you're under arrest until further notice." The tension was rising in the room, but it was broken by one monk. Before the first enforcer had left, Totoyo spoke up. "A Kyobo dropped him off at the temple. They seemed to find... Sozin, important. Said she'd killed some shinobi." One of them would audibly make a noise - having heard the wild stories about them. "We're dealing with one of those things. I've never dealt with one of them before." The first enforcer remained with the medics while the other took off. Hidebuki on the other hand inside the temple shook his head.

So, for Akatsuki the first notice of anything happening was the enforcer leaving the temple, but very directly starting to look around - pointedly, not as though he were smelling the flowers and snow. Back inside the temple, Hanzo had come to a stand. "Sozin-san, we might not be a large nation like Kusagakure is, but until we can establish these events, you're going to have to be restrained and your chakra sealed. We cannot allow such discord in our land, I'm sure you can appreciate if you were cooperative about this..." Sozin stood up - causing them to stand up, and the enforcer to take a step forward. "It will be the worst mistake if you do. Thank you for your aid, but I will take you to wherever it was I came from, and I cannot - will not, do that while restrained. You can seal my chakra." Sozin would offer them the olive branch, offering them the false sense of security. The enforcer needed to confirm - looking back, and Hanzo and Sozin had a stare off.

Hanzo nodded at the enforcer, and the man got to work: Sozin bore his shoulder, and a Fuinjutsu was drawn.

This was not a problem to him.

And so - the four of them, excluding the one who had already left, left the temple together. Sozin was at the front, the others behind him. "If you run we'll take offensive measures. Don't stray too far, and don't do anything stupid." Yakushi warned him. "Be careful of the Kyobo, they're ought to be around here somewhere."

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Add any jutsu, relevant information here

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

Akatsuki could have fallen asleep like this--huddled up on the ground near the base of a tree. She was tempted to, as well. Even despite the cold and discomfort and knowing that she could very well freeze to death in her sleep--it was always tempting in situations like this. Her clothing was warm enough that it would probably be alright--but it was always a risk and during this time, she knew better than to entertain it.
    She needed to keep watch.
    Hours would pass before help finally arrived, and as it did, Akatsuki merely curled up more from where she was hidden away, wrapping her cloak tighter around herself--the scent of Sozin's blood still heavy in the fabric. Unpleasant, but so too had the situation been. Just don't die, she thought to herself as she watched the temple with narrowed eyes. A part of her feared that everything would remain calm and still before suddenly the temple would go up in flames and she'd rush down too little too late, only to find everyones' burnt corpses.
    But, it had just been a fear.
    In truth, her attempts to get Sozin help had been successful in some ways. Without her presence, they had been less hesitant to work on the wounded man--even if they were undeniably suspicious of what had happened to him in the first place, they'd tended to his injuries nonetheless. And, even with everything else turning south--at the very least, Akatsuki's plan had succeeded in the only way she'd hoped it would: he'd been healed. But as the group of shinobi would leave with Sozin, Akatsuki's attention would be drawn to their behavior as her energy spiked.
    What are they doing with him? she wondered, perking up as she watched the men lead Sozin away from the temple.
    He didn't appear to be bound--so she didn't want to immediately assume he was being kidnapped. But, still, being escorted by ninja was concerning enough to her. She doubted that they were Kusagakure shinobi, after all, and if he was wounded or healed--why would he need to be taken anywhere else? Dammit, did he get into trouble? she wondered, a second wind igniting within her as she rose to her feet and began running.
    Should I go rescue him? Would it be better if I didn't get involved? Should I pretend I don't know him? I don't want this to turn into a hostage situation--I don't want to alarm them and cause him to get hurt, it's not like I care about him or anything! She wasn't certain what to do, and she wasn't certain what the best thing to do in this situation was.
    Akatsuki was not used to working with other people, so she wasn't sure how to navigate a delicate situation that didn't solely involve herself. And, so, she supposed she would simply just have to do what she always did--follow her heart and be guided by her own internal compass.
    With gravity and a new-found energy on her side, Akatsuki would quickly make her way to the group of shinobi who were leaving the temple and she'd slid across their path and into view--blocking them from continuing any further on their way. "Hey--" she spoke quickly, frowning as she held out her hands as a signal that she wasn't going to allow them to pass. "That's my ward--where are you taking him?"

@tag | 566 Words | Notes:

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

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Out into the cold, and fresh air. Sozin would use his hands to blow his nose: it was cold, but he was mostly bandaged and robed now properly - so he could forgive it. But, his nose was dry, full of cracks and although disgusting, he needed to pick at it without something to blow it on, and giving him access to fresh air once again as they walked. They had not yet begun talking but Sozin would have at some point found out more about them and had a conversation, but he had not anticipated that Akatsuki would show up so soon again.

Sozin noticed first, the fluttering of a woman back down to earth - almost having descended from a heaven. Not his heaven, mind. A heretic's ability, but he noted his mind's noting the literature of it, it was something descriptive from a novel if he knew it. But they did not until she was well into view and flat on the ground.

"Fuck, it's the Kyobo." They took formation, with the two burlier ones at the front and the medics at the back. Sozin remained dutifully in front - in front of Sozin. Sozin looked on her with...

It was hard to tell there and then.

But, he turned - quarter anti-clockwise. His right eye - the empty socket meant only one course of direction which meant he had both of them on either side of him.

What she didn't know is if she stuck to her guns, they were going to fold. It might had been four of them, but two of them had depleted large amounts of their reserves in getting Sozin alive. Akatsuki had her reason for intervening - they were still realing from the fact she'd dropped in out of nowhere. "He's ours until we can come to the bottom of this." They started, asserting out of the gate very strongly what the situation was. "We're going to the battle site ... wherever it is." Yakushi answered for Hanzo who had perhaps spoken too soon, responding to the situation rather than what Akatsuki had actually asked.

Of course, Sozin looked to Akatsuki on that front - she had been the one to bring him here, she would have the best idea of what had happened. So he needed to be free of these mental shackles that had been placed on him.

"I'm sorry to say," Sozin would turn around - facing them. "I don't rely on chakra to fight, and you used your energy to heal me. I was fighting fifteen Shinobi at once, and even without my weapons, you're no match for me." Sozin would use this positioning: his position, to leverage himself out of this situation. He would look at Akatsuki and back at them. He had not used Taijutsu in a while, but it would not stop him: sure, he was better with a knife in his hand, but the difference was marginal between from weapon to weapon, the latter being fists. "I need to retrieve my weapons, regardless of the situation. I assert that this is your land, but I will not be held captive. I had no reason to lie to you now, or then. I was attacked, not the other way around. Their concern was that Kusagakure - by extension of Sozin had performed covert operations and in direct hostilities with Frost country. The shinobi weren't even from Frost, as far as he had known or could tell - so it wasn't in his interest, and their own headbands also did not match.

It didn't stop them from being upset though.

"You disrespectful fuck," Yakushi spoke out with venom on his tongue. There was so much distaste in their glares, so much hatred to be seen with Sozin taking what they had given them and not giving them deference. "You're working with... that?" Hanzo asked, incredulous of the Kyobo. "If you suggest she is a thing again, you, and the other eighteen pieces of you will find their way to their relatives." His voice was cold.

[x]

Out of the floodgates was an immense feeling of power and pressure from Sozin - one that should not have been possible since his chakra was sealed, and yet it was happening anyway. It was a feeling that sucked the joy from the world, "You'd put Kusagakure at risk over some... decrepit whore?" What was it with men and reference to their sex whenever it related to denigrating the opposite gender?

"My saviour." Akira stated plainly, and sternly. Akira knew the effects of the powers he held, and would allow them that one misspeak. One who had not spoken for the entire time - pumped his chest, getting the attention of the rest of them. They were mute, or at least appeared to be when they started to perform gestures with their hands: the immediacy of the movements made Sozin take a stance, knowing the effect the dark whispers could have had, but noted it was just talking - and stopped.

But it had been too long since he had actively used it, and so he was only catching a word here and there.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Add any jutsu, relevant information here

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

Akatsuki stopped in her tracks upon arriving to the scene, her breath escaping her lips in soft white puffs as her mix-matched eyes scanned the faces of the men she faced. One of the men spoke something in frustration--spitting her surname with disgust, and the air caught in her throat for a moment as she regarded him. It was not the first time that she had been viewed with such eyes--something that she could not escape, and something she learned she would have to accept. But, still, she hated her last name. It was a constant--painful reminder of just what she was, the curse displayed in her eyes as a permanent scar publicizing her cursed existence for all the world to view.
    She couldn't be seen as who she was--merely what she was.
    The young woman would close her eyes for a moment as she took in a breath and steadied herself. Still, even so, he'd thought I was beautiful. She would look at them again as one of them--more or less--answered her question. Of course, they did not fill her in on the details, but announced that they intended to return to the battleground that she had stolen Sozin away from. The other announcing that they had claimed jurisdiction over him--
    --to which she immediately protested.
    "He doesn't belong to anyone," she corrected firmly. "But for the time being, I have decided that he is under my care. If you contest that--you will take it up with me."
    It reminded her of the time she'd found a lead to her brother's whereabouts--the location that the group of thugs had set up camp for a while. The thugs lead by him. The one-eyed man who had taken her brother away from her all those years ago--and when she'd arrived, they'd had that same, disgusting attitude. That people could belong to someone else--not in terms of love or devotion, but possession and enslavement. Speaking to her, even, as if she had been some plaything belonging to someone else--
    --she'd resented it then, and she resented it, now.
    Sozin spoke to them, as well--carrying up on a conversation she had not been a part of previously. So, while she could not have known what had been said or done prior, she was left to fill in the blanks as Sozin gave his own threats and warnings--perhaps his own way of trying to deescalate the situation. By issuing threats, perhaps they would reconsider growing more hostile and would stand down? She could only hope.
    Still, she would not speak up immediately as the men spoke--trying to listen, herself, and get a clearer image of what was all going on.
    What she could gather--they wanted to investigate the battleground. Sozin, too, wanted to go back--apparently having left some weapons at the scene, which... made sense. She'd plucked him from captivity without any regard for what weapons might have been his--it was too difficult to try figuring out, he was too out of it to ask, and it was not worth the hassle of trying to juggle them all, anyway. She would not fight with his weapons, and he'd not been in any state to use them, either. Still, it seemed that the shinobi were agitated--wanting to have control over the situation, which certainly explained their possessive attitude over the brunet.
    Still, when they referred to her as a thing her eyes narrowed--
    Before locking onto Sozin, widening slightly as he spoke on her behalf, his words and tone darker than she'd ever heard him speak, before, as he defended her with his voice. Her hand fell limply by her side as she stared for a moment.
    And, then, back to the shinobi who called him out on his behavior--scorning him for defending her, his hateful words striking her as she stood defenseless, uncertain how to even respond. She wanted to yell out and say that she wasn't decrepit or a whore--but a sinking feeling twisted in her gut as her mind reawakened memories of hands groping and exploring her body--
    She bowed her head slightly and looked away, frozen.
    There was very little that she could say to try defending herself from their claims. Every experience she'd had was forced upon her, and if she'd been a proper whore at least she would have gotten payment instead of being left only with the memory of being defiled. If she had simply been a woman who slept around and found enjoyment in others' embraces, that would have been different, too--but she had nothing to say for herself. She was, probably, worse than whatever they thought.
    Savior?
    Akatsuki looked up, her gaze settling on Sozin once more and her expression softened. "Look at you, talking about me like I'm something great," she spoke with a slight laugh, drawing nearer as she masked over the hurt she felt. Like I'm something worth defending, speaking with such high praise. She supposed she was a savior, in some sense. He likely would not have lived if she'd not dragged him from the forest and traversed the wilds for miles despite the snowfall like she had--but, still. The word and ferverence in his voice--it felt more sacred and worthy than she felt she deserved. Her smile faded. "Let's not fight, please. He's not working with me. I just--happened to find him injured and dying, and I did what I could to try getting him to safety... It's nothing more than that. You healed Sozin of his injuries, and for that I'm grateful. I do not wish to do harm to those who have done something good--so please do not force my hand. There is no reason for any more violence tonight."

@tag | 951 Words | Notes:

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

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Sozin would look between her and his 'captors' as she advocated for his own freedom. She was having her own assertion as well it seemed. But before they could come to a more suitable agreement one of them said something which irked him deeply thus leading them to where they were sat in a stalemate.

The man stopped doing sign language when Akatsuki spoke, and the rest of them listened as well even if it was apparent that they did not respect or like her: but they seemed to respect the potential issue Sozin could bring them, and pragmatism that they were only operating at half capacity. He would continue after she stopped - and they turned back to watch him. Sometimes looks were shared, before finally, Hanzo would speak.

Retaining control of the situation seemed to be in their best and main interest. "...Fine." Sozin curbed off the emotional manipulation slowly. It could easily have just been explained as heightened tension of the situation at hand, underlying hurt of the feelings involved - all completely natural within the human psyche and not without involvement of a God's powers.

Akira on the other hand was... slightly offended - at her dismissal of his compliment. Granted, he could understand why - she didn't want to be a saviour, filled with the pragmatism of a survivor. "Fine." Sozin responded coolly. "Thirty paces back, we'll be there.... before evening. I think."

Was his body ready for another eight hour journey? Well. It had to be. It was one thing to be in top form - where he was simply keeping the tank full. His body was using energy to repair itself and granted it would had been done earlier if he were granted a quick death but it was not such and he would need

"... May I have a knife?" He asked one of them. It may had been cheeky, but he supposed it would do no harm since they were finally working together. His tone was terse - nearing cynical, and his deeper voice lacked some of the more naturally soft qualities as he strained to be polite in the circumstance. Yakushi would throw a knife at Sozin a little bit too hard, and Sozin would catch it without issue - but the undertone was still noted when he had to actively move just in case his eyesight failed him a bit there.

But - Sozin would share a look with Akatsuki or at least look at her, before turning his back to them and beginning to walk - and unless Akatsuki said something they would set off in an initial silence. The right thing to do, Akira knew, was apologise or thank her - but currently was unable to come out with it. An issue of his own making. Maybe when the thirty paces had been established and they were more in a way to speak quietly with one another.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Add any jutsu, relevant information here

[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

At the very least, it seemed like the shinobi relented. Even if there was still a hostility in their hearts, they were willing to set it aside for their other goal--and that was something that Akatsuki could work with. Though, it seemed that the group wanted to leave immediately for the expedition, and Akatsuki's expression dropped--weary. You can't be serious, she thought, exasperated. Sozin is tired. I'm tired. I'm sure these guys are tired. Why do we have to leave right now? Are his weapons that important to him? She thought about it. If it'd been her katana... Well--that's different. My companion is more than just a weapon--even if it was some incredibly powerful tool with magic powers or something like that, Nakama is endlessly better than any other simple fighting equipment. Whatever Sozin has, I doubt it's as good--which is why we should rest instead of running off immediately.
    Glancing over at the four shinobi, Akatsuki sighed.
    Though, they seem eager to investigate the battle grounds, too. I don't know if I could convince everyone. And if I express how tired I am, they might try to take advantage of that. She frowned. I'm stronger than they are, even if we're both tired. And I suppose I don't trust them enough to fall asleep around any of them--and, not to mention, I don't know where we would go. There's no inn at this town, and I'm not welcome at the temple. "Fine," she groaned, giving up. "I think you underestimate how long you were passed out, though. There's no way we'll get there before nightfall. And who knows what kind of nocturnal creatures are native to this region--do you? Because I do. And it's not that I can't fight them, but..." Akatsuki sighed, shaking her head. Alright, alright, enough of your complaining...
    Turning, Akatsuki would begrudgingly begin walking away, leading the group as she--accurately--doubted that any of the men present knew where to go.
    "And just so you know," Akatsuki added, speaking directly to the medical ninjas, "I've only ever been kissed once. So. I'm not a whore." Her gaze narrowing in on the mute among them, she'd gesture with her hands as she spoke, bitterly, to him directly. "And I don't appreciate your rude commentary. I. Also. Know. Signs."

@tag | 381 Words | Notes:

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

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Sozin did see her - she still had his blood on her, but had no idea whether or if she was rested. Had it now been over 24 hours? She had left the temple and had then tried to find somewhere to rest. The thought would not linger on his conscience too long if she did not advocate for her own interests or use her words to tell them she needed to rest. But, if they were being followed by potential enemies, he couldn't blame her for not letting his guard down.

Before they set off, Akatsuki would correct the record - leaving Sozin standing there in his own thoughts. Some level of impressiveness at her assertion, some level of annoyance that they hadn't set off, but then feeling indebted to someone felt contradictory to him and his nature.

When Akatsuki signed, they all perked up. The man looked a mixture of mortified and almost slighted that she could understand what he had said, as though she was audacious to understand that he was being the rude one. Sozin couldn't also tell what she was saying as he looked between their movements, but could tell she was saying some punchy words when for the last part of the wording, she was emphasising the space between each move like a pause.

I don't like being on the back foot. The man He would sign back at her, which wasn't really an apology but was also commentary of the situation at hand as it was playing out. Sozin would start to walk if nothing else and leaving them to their own devices. Of course there was a concern of whether or what kind of threat Sozin placed, as well as Akatsuki leading them despite perhaps not being in the same level of health as he.

Sozin would walk by Akatsuki's side, his robes flowing as he walked, and the knife had come to rest underneath it, wrapped in the sash used to keep it all together. What kind of conversation did he make with her? His mind did tell him that starting with a thank you would have been great but he couldn't quite yet fathom it to her, and for that he didn't know why. "What were you doing travelling through Frost country?" Sozin enquired to her, his voice being volume appropriate as they started the journey with the rough 30 steps between them and their 'companions.'

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[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

Akatsuki paid little mind to the expressions and faces that the others made as she communicated in sign language, her attention focused on the mute shinobi. She narrowed her gaze, frustrated, and a part of her wanted to bite back something mean--just as he'd been to her.
    But, really, a part of her sympathized.
    Japanese had not been her first language--and so she understood what it was like to be talked over, ignored, or to not be able to properly communicate one's own thoughts and feelings--let alone to be dealing with all of that while in an uncertain, potentially dangerous situation. It was easy to grow agitated or aggressive--she'd certainly been the same many years ago. Whatever was going on in his head--it wasn't all his fault, and his frustration was something she could understand. 
    Sighing, she'd give a determined nod. "It's not a disadvantage if we're not your enemies. You can feel what you want. But if you make us your enemies, that's your own responsibility."
    And, with that concluded, they would head off, Akatsuki more or less leading the pack, Sozin by her side.
    She was mostly quiet--a lot on her mind. She was frustrated, hurt, tired, and on edge. She was often those things, though, so her stubbornness and determination would not seem displaced nor out of the ordinary. She had always been a stubborn person, especially when faced with equally combative individuals. Her focus would remain on their surroundings--the environment around them, any tells of life other than their own, land markers that she recognized from her first travel through the region. Even subtle things--like a tree with three rings in its bark, or a log that had fallen over and served as a bridge over a small ditch.
    Her attention would snare momentarily as Sozin spoke, his voice lowered--audible--but to be heard only in private conversation shared between them.
    "I could ask you the same," she said. As far as he likely knew or understood, she was just some traveler--so there might have been a motivation to why she was in this country in particular, but it also could have been nothing. Though, she supposed, that if she were just sightseeing, it was more dangerous to be traveling alone... during the winter... which, she supposed didn't make a whole lot of sense--unless she was actively seeking something out.
    But, just the same--she found it odd that Sozin, a councilman of Kusagakure was traveling alone... during the winter... through a country that was not his own. Was it not also dangerous for him to be here? If he was on official business--wouldn't he have bodyguards? It was twice, now, that she noticed the man traveling dangerous places unattended. And, if she were to make any guess based on how she'd found him--it seemed like he'd been kidnapped. Certainly he'd been held prisoner--which only further instilled her belief that he ought to be travelling with somebody else. "Were you travelling alone, again? Or were you a sole survivor?"

@tag | 501 Words | Notes:

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

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

Now on a path, inside his cloak: his fingers lightly moved around the inside of the cloak. Some movement, anything to make him warmer. Sozin did note that she hadn't directly answered the question, but was unlikely to give her a fair answer in return, so he was ambivalent insofar as emotion went. Insofar as he could read hers, however, was harder.

"I was travelling alone." Though like pieces in a chess game, by telling the truth and being truthful, he knew it opened him up to criticism about travelling alone, after all: look where it had gotten him. But he couldn't be open about why he was not concerned about that effort. His tone didn't indicate a closed off position: just the truth of what had been.

They behind them didn't have to know. Of the general kind - this was not something he wanted another nation to have a hold of. So - he kept his noise down. Quiet. "I had documents. I could care less about the weapons... but there are things that put people at risk. Not the villages themselves, but people's livelihoods. Farming permits, updated border agreements, some trade things. Stuff that people need." he didn't tell the people who could benefit from them. But that wasn't all he was telling Akatsuki. There contained notes that he had made, loose evidence in his handwriting of a religious kind, and not entirely good. Orders, information. That couldn't get out. It had been hidden much more intricately than the other paperwork, though... it didn't grant him unease to know it was still out there. It helped that the people were dead - if it had been as remote as he vaguely remembered it.

And, he was also lightly steering the subject to something else. Sozin slipped: on account of one side of his eyesight missing. His peripheral vision was still quite large, with a human eye's 100 odd degrees, there was still a much larger gap than he was used to. But, he caught his footing: his arms went out wider as he caught his balance. The only indication of his annoyance without using swearwords was the flare of his nostrils and a large sigh from his nose.

"From before..."

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[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

Travelling alone... So, she had been right--catching notice of a trend of his. He was supposedly some important person inside of a village, but he always operated alone it seemed. "Surely you realize how incredibly dangerous that is," she spoke, her voice grave. If he hadn't, before--then whatever naïve optimism or hubris had caused him to disregard the threats before surely had become clear, now, after nearly facing death? And if he was a member of a village--would he not have the resources to allow for added protection? Even low-ranked shinobi who held no significance in a village were often seen in groups, so she thought it was bizarre. "Are you suicidal, or just stupid?"
    She couldn't think of any other reason behind his actions.
    Still, in a hushed voice he elaborated a bit more of the situation--a reason to his desperation to return to the battleground. Documents. "They're probably all cut up, bloody, or ruined from the snow," she mumbled back. The unfortunate reality, from what she observed of the site when she'd found him. "But." Just in case if they weren't--if they could be salvaged, or recovered... "That does sound important." She certainly didn't like the idea of peoples' lives and their living or financial situations being jeopardized. While she would hope that they weren't affairs other villages would want to tamper with all that much--low on the list of priorities--and the fact that they had been so far away from any road or town in the neck of the wilds, the chances of anyone else chancing upon the scene, finding the documents, the papers still being legible, and taking enough interest in them to steal them was... unlikely.
    Her own belongings had been scattered upon a death scene in the wild for nearly a week before anybody came upon it.
    "I'm sure it'll be okay."
    The man slipped slightly--Akatsuki's hand reached out instinctively to catch him, but stopped only at touching his arm as he caught himself without need of her aid. It was a lot to get used to, she knew. So there would be no judgement or laughing from the woman, her expression not changing once from her resolute and gentle gaze upon him.
    "Before?" she inquired, tilting her head slightly to the side as she walked. God, she hoped he wasn't about to bring up the whore thing again... She really didn't want to keep being reminded--

@tag | 404 Words | Notes:

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

Shin of GS + Adox

[Deleted]

"For many, perhaps." He was cryptic: and likely sounded every bit as stupid as she had just called him. "I truly do not fear death." Perhaps - in time, she would come to understand what he meant when he said that. Sozin shot her a look when he was called stupid. He had to act as though it was human. Like he could die. And even if he could - on account of the heretic brother's Religion, he didn't. Death had only inconvenienced him up until the point he actually died. Pain was, to him, relative to the peace he had found.

Contrary to how she had painted it (the battlefield), he still wanted to see it - he could and would deal with it if it meant his secrets remained safe. They could be re-requested. Sent by other Shinobi, but for some things, once the cat was out of the bag there was little to put it back in again. Granted, his Lord had been around for far longer than he had, and had no idea if things like that had happened in the past, and he daren't ask.

Sozin nodded. "Mmh." Once he saw it. If there had been a reaction from the other Shinobi on his near-fall, they didn't make it so. Akatsuki didn't laugh either, and Sozin would keep quiet as well on the subject, lest it be sore. This was likely what she'd had to deal with: that and with people always attacking from that side, to call it a 'flank'.

But as he'd trailed off and she'd pressed him on to what memory he wanted to talk about, "You don't need to feel responsible for me, if I had died." Was that the subject he wanted to talk about? That was where Akira had landed? "But that's not what I wanted to mention. I might have found a hobby - musical instruments. There's something more pleasing about them now, but I can't put my finger on it." Oh, right. To their previous meeting in Kuwana - immediately prior, obviously, no other meetings since Junichi Sozin and Akatsuki the Bleeding Sun had only met once prior to that.

It was getting hard for him to be himself and also talk to her at the same time. His teeth ran along the inside of his lips, feeling fissures and cuts that had not been healed, on account of the punches to his face: and it stung a little. Talking with her was.. he would make a mistake at some point. It was why he'd tried to not continue talking to her the first time but he felt magnetic, or that she was magnetic - toward him. He would make a mistake at one point if he didn't buck up his ideas. 'Kami.' He thought to himself. 'Give me the leniency to be the pitiful human, ^{the error, your servant and abberation}....' he began to think to himself, a sort of prayer inside his mind to give him mental fortitude for the journey to come.

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[Akatsuki]

 

- THIS IS THE END OF ALL HOPE -

"Deathwish without a prayer"

I mean, clearly you are part of that 'many', she thought to herself, visibly unimpressed by his dismissal of danger. "I don't fear death, either, but I still--" valued her life? The words caught in her throat. Was that really true? Was it actually how she felt? She recalled how, not two months ago she'd considered going back to her home village with the full knowledge that she'd likely be killed for it. It wouldn't have been anything other than an indirect suicide attempt. She understood that the only true way she could escape from her suffering was if she were to die. Life was--full of pain, and hardships, and she had suffered almost every horrible thing that it had to offer--she knew better than most just how dark and cruel it truly could be. A year ago she'd craved death--to finally be free from the curse of her existence. And when she'd been met with it--she'd embraced it without fear or regret. "But I still believe life is worth living."
    That was also true.
    Perhaps... Sozin just hadn't realized that, for himself. "Whatever you've... been through--what your past was like. The good, the bad... even if it was so horrible that your mind forgot all of it just to protect yourself and you feel lost and empty or whatever else... it still..." She didn't know much about Sozin--from what she understood, he didn't know much about himself, either. And while he didn't immediately seem hopeless or dejected, she understood how easily those things could be hidden. And, even if they weren't--his words were alarming, in their own right. "I promise there's still a future for you that is worth living for. Your life is a... very precious thing. You shouldn't so carelessly throw it away."
    Even if she didn't fully understand his situation--her beliefs on the matter would not have wavered.
    Akatsuki would listen as Sozin spoke his peace--or at least, what she believed he'd initially been trying to get at. "If you had died, then..." Well, of course she'd feel guilt. That she hadn't done enough--if she'd arrived sooner, or been stronger, or was more equipped to bring aid to those in dire need--how wouldn't she have been responsible? Perhaps responsible wasn't the right word--she wouldn't have caused his death, but she'd still have felt guilt for not being enough to stop it. "Then I would have failed at keeping you safe." She shook her head slightly. "There's no other way about it."
    But it seemed that hadn't been entirely what he was getting at--as he pivoted the conversation once more about back then--and that made sense. Their old conversation--it had felt like their first, but only technically been a "prior" one. He'd found a hobby? She smiled lightly. "Ah, that's wonderful. What musical instrument? Have you gotten any good at playing any of them?"

@tag | 477 Words | Notes:

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

Shin of GS + Adox