The events that followed after this were rather swift considering the situation had escalated to such a near harrowing result. With the capture of the remaining group, along with their substitute leader, it was only a matter of time before they were escorted out of the mining area. The remaining workers were allowed time to collect themselves, and many were already preparing to make their way back to the village. It wasn't as if they'd be in the right mindset to work, so there was no point in wasting efforts.
Still, there remained the matter of Dakuri. Who was currently being overseen by two members of the militia watching the workers leave. As Arashi approached, she'd signal for them to leave, allowing her to hold a calm expression on her face as she raised her brow. There was a silence between them, though it was clear that the man had something to get off his chest.
"I know you...Lady Oonakayama..."
Rising slowly to his feet, he'd then close his eyes before bowing with a bitter expression.
"Thank you...for saving my life..."
"You don't have to do that....especially with..."
"No...I do..."
Holding himself up, Dakuri would release a breath before shaking his head.
"My family...we...we lost everything...and after my father died I...I did everything that I could to support my mother and me. I just...I just wanted my family to regain some sense of respect that we once had...and now...I guess we'll never get that..."
Narrowing her gaze, Arashi would look toward the sack that rested at his feet.
"I also know...what my father di.."
Holding her hand up, Arashi would then reach down and pick up the sack, extending it out to him.
"Whatever he did...he paid for it...in this life and the next...and whoever killed the council...I'm pretty sure they're long gone..."
In seeing this gesture, Dakuri would remain silent before then nodding as he took hold of the sack, though Arashi tightened the grip as she spoke.
"Don't make the same mistakes he did...."
Her tone was stern as she spoke, yet it was clear he understood, seeing her release the pouch as he began to walk away. Watching him go, Arashi would see him get into one of the wagons, seeing him be driven off into the distance.
A small part of her wanted to be angry. But then, she realized that...the group that had tormented her for so long, every one of them, was dead now. This hatred she had, the feeling that she had let them take a piece of her soul, it wouldn't go away unless she allowed herself to finally let go of it. She didn't get vengeance, and that left a pit in her stomach, but she couldn't let a family suffer for the sins of the father.
Thinking this, her eyes would shift toward a trail of smoke hovering beside her, seeing Kuroki-sensei beside her.
"For what it's worth...I think you did the right thing...Lady Oonakayama..."
"What? No kid?"
"Hmph...Well...kids grow up..."
In hearing this, Arashi would place one hand on her hip, allowing the sun to kiss her skin as she looked upward toward it.
"There is something that doesn't add up though..."
Raising his brow, the older male would look in her direction.
"If Dakuri's father was under protection from the village...hidden away...that would mean that he would have been under constant surveillance...even if he was to take on another name...he'd still have every guarantee of protection provided to him due to that alone..."
Growing silent, Arashi would hold a serious expression.
"Protection...provided by the Jounin Hanchou....my mother...and she'd never let anything happen to him...right?"
Moment MusicKuroki would release another puff of smoke, holding a stern expression as he placed one hand inside of his pocket.
"Ya know why your mother was called the Lioness? They say it's because she protected the village and its people like a lioness protecting their young..."
In saying that, he'd begin to walk forward.
"Imagine what a person like that would do if it was their own kid?"
Hearing this, Arashi would hold her position, watching the man walk away. It didn't take long for her to allow a moment of realization to cross her face, looking toward the mines as she then began to make her way after the old shinobi.
"Yea....I think I can..."
Though perhaps that was a topic that was best left alone. Arashi had dug into enough mystery for awhile.
"Still..letting him walk off with Auramite?"
"Pfft! As if...all he got is Gold...and there's more of it in the mines..."
Placing her hands behind her head, Arashi would look forward with a raised brow and a toothy grin.
"I ain't that stupid old timer..."
"Heh...Guess not kid..."
With that, the two continued to make their way after the wagons, allowing the sun to begin to rise over the top of Ryumyaku...
-End Thread-