[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Hatake Toshizō



NOTES -

It was not a foreign concept to her that Toshizou was a strong man, but the thought of how much influence and power he actually over his own village came to mind when he reassured her yet again that he would have his men always there to protect her and see that she was safe, men who only answered to him. There was something that was charming about power, as it should, because everyone looked up to those who were powerful and strong. But her admiration for the man increased ever so slightly, knowing that even if he wasn't there with her physically once they reached his home, at least he would have measures in place. Shiina nodded her head, noticing an expression which had matched her own as Toshizou looked around the ryokan room. It had been a very fun and relaxing few days, and it was apparent that both of them longed for the days to not end. She had the urge to reach out to him, to pull him into an embrace and once more feel his lips against hers, to pour out the passion that was burning inside of her to the man.

But this was not the time, she thought to herself.

Her hand still being held in his, the woman looked at him with longing eyes, like a puppy who was being left alone while its master went out. It spoke volumes to how she felt inside, how much she would miss having him around. But she was no imbecile, understanding that with such power he had over his country, he must have the responsibility equal to it. No words would be uttered from the woman, as no words seemed fitting in this current time and place. In her mind though, she couldn't help but wonder where this new change of events would take them and whether what they had for the past few days would bear fruit. She smiled sadly, releasing her hand from his slowly. Again she had allowed her emotions to dictate her actions, a foreign concept to the young woman.

"Should we...get going?" The silence that hung in the air broke as Shiina looked around, trying to prepare for their departure. Her movement lacked the efficiency and speed that she usually had, as though each stride weighed down on her physically. She still couldn't believe that her whole life was about to change, that what she had known or had come to accept as reality could be turned upside down. In the back of her mind, she wondered if this was the right thing to do, as she was allowing her actions follow what her heart felt, a dangerous thing to pursue if things didn't work out.

MADE BY MIZO

[Hatake Toshizō]

"more than infatuation, not quite love". "A man who can't uphold his beliefs is pathetic, dead or alive." CRUEL NINJA WORLD He was looking around, maybe so that he could have a very clear memory of this place, for they were quite fond to him. Still, they had to go, and when she released his hand, he would glance over to look at Shiina, who asked if they should get going, to which he would confirm with a firm nod. "We should. The Land of Fire is not too far from here. We should get there in a couple days if we keep up a decent pace." he said with a serious tone. To get there in three days meant they would need to push themselves a bit, but for missing-nins, travelling fast was a must; they never knew where hunter-nin or ANBU operatives from her village were, and he didn't want them to be found before they were already negotiating her potential return. "I know it's scary. But living your whole life as missing-nin would be worse. Always looking over your shoulder, always unable to trust people. The ninja world is too dangerous for those without a village to back them up." he sighed, shaking his head, for it was true. Even with a village, so many shinobi would still get captured, tortured, or even killed. It was a world living with the constant shadow of war lurking in every corner. And no matter how powerful one person would become, if they were alone, there was only so much they could do. "You can train a dog with food. You can buy a person with money. But there isn't a man alive that can put down the Will of Fire. Some things will never change. The Will of Fire will never be extinguished" Aozora Ryokan Conversation [Ryuujin Shiina] [249 words]