[Hyūga Shigure]

"heart laid bare". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." WAITING FOR YOU Once their mission was over, Shigure would ask Daisuke for a favour: to entertain Miroru for a while, so he could grab lunch with Azarea by himself. He admitted to his friend, in confidence, that he had to talk to her about something important, despite not getting into any of the details. He was pretty certain Daisuke managed to read in between the lines, but he was kind enough to indulge in his request, and distract the little firecracker so that the Hyuuga and the Aburame could have their little private talk over some nice lunch. The place he invited Azarea over was a small noodle shop, which was pretty empty. Shigure had made sure of that prior to them arriving there with his Byakugan. The conversation was not something he was looking forward to having, but something he needed to do nonetheless; he owed her that much, and the last thing he wanted to do was to hurt her. But if he truly cared about her, he also owed her to be as honest as he could be, and if that meant that whatever they had would remain just a fond memory, so be it, he was ready for it. Or he liked to think he was, but in his heart, he was afraid of that prospect. He would sit on a chair near the window and wait for the Aburame to show up. His heart was beating like a drum, his leg was a bit restless, feet moving up and down, as he looked at the menu but saw nothing. His mind was going over so many things at the same time that his thoughts were scattered at best, and due to that, he wouldn't even notice her approach, something rather unusual for him, to say the least. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Ramen Shop Land of Fire [Aburame Azarea] [304 words]

[Aburame Azarea]

The Devil That You Forgot

Ramen

The mission had thankfully gone well and despite how nervous being in fire country and wearing her real face made her Azarea had enjoyed being able to run along the outskirts of her old land without having to hide who she was. Well at least not entirely. Getting to see Shigure again was an even larger bonus. Her heart thudding loudly and a blush creeping up her cheeks each time they had caught each others eyes even as her chest tightened with the pain of knowing whatever they were could never come to light. They Hyuuga would undoubtedly be rid of her if they thought her a threat to him and Azarea had a vested interest in continuing living. Still little stolen moments like this warmed her soul and made her hope that maybe... maybe there was hope.

As the woman settled into the chair across from him flashing Shigure a lopsided fanged smile that shifted to a mischievous smirk as she realized she had succeeded in startling him. "A ryo for your thoughts?" She offers resting her chin on her entwined fingers as she canted her head slightly to one side.

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Justu Goes Here

流人

                           Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: | Hyūga Shigure

[Hyūga Shigure]

"heart laid bare". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." WORDS FAIL ME Shigure was indeed startled by her sudden appearance before him, and his eyes searched for her scarlet orbs, chuckling in mild embarrassment when she offered a ryo for his thoughts. "About that, hahaha... Well... My head is a bit of a mess right now, if I'm being honest..." he admitted, shaking his head and lowering his gaze, staring at the table. Then, he took a very deep breathe. They were supposed to meet for lunch, but he wasn't even hungry and that was saying a lot for Shigure, who loved food more than most things in his life. Still, the only thing he could think of right now was of the Aburame, and all the implications and consequences that came from that. He exhaled sharply, mustering the courage to look up and back into her eyes. "I..." he tried to start, but words faltered and his eyes showed a hint of sadness. He shook his head, clenching one of his fists so hard, his hand became a hint paler than normal. "Azarea... What happened that day..." he gulped, feeling a weird knot inside his stomach as he recalled the passionate night and morning they spent together before their mission. "Sorry. I'm having a hard time... Handling my feelings, I guess... It's ridiculous, I know." he scoffed, feeling angry with himself and how much of a mess he was right now. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Ramen Shop Land of Fire [Aburame Azarea] [234 words]

[Aburame Azarea]

The Devil That You Forgot

Regrets

Azarea's heart drops like a stone into her gut at his words. Her expression once open and warm growing cold and closed off as she readier herself for pain. "You want us both to forget it ever happened don't you?" She questions voice barely above a whisper as she straightens. The woman settling her hands beneath the table to hide how her fingers curled into fists nails biting into her palm. Unlike Shigure she did not look away. Instead staring back at the man unblinking and refusing to allow shame to bend her spine any further then her back had already been broken by a world that wanted her dead.

"I'm aware that the Hyuuga would not... approve." Azarea murmurs tongue darting out to wet her lips as she offers Shigure a smile as sharp and brittle as broke glass. "They'd probably want to set you up with another member of your clan don't they? Someone respectable or forge an alliance with another Konoha clan." She'd be a fool after all not to realize that they could never be anything more then friends. Though that didn't stop this moment from filling her with agony and dread like ice poured through her veins.

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Justu Goes Here

流人

                           Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: | Hyūga Shigure

[Hyūga Shigure]

"heart laid bare". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." CAGED BIRD When he heard the first words coming out of her mouth, his heart sank in his chest, feeling a sting of pain in it. He shook his head almost immediately, he didn't want to forget that, not at all. "No! T-that's not what I want! Goddammit, please don't put those words in my mouth!" he said, gritting his teeth and gazing away from her, his fist clenched so hard it was going numb. He was feeling frustrated and angry at the situation, and when she said that the Hyuuga would not approve, he scoffed. He knew she was right, but he didn't care about what the clan would think; he would be leading them soon enough, he just needed to take care of his criminal of a father, put him in his place, and start changing the clan. Her words following up to that statement hit him like a haymaker to the face, prompting him to lower his gaze and take a deep breath. Calming himself as much as he could, he opened his mouth, flesh deeply marked by his nails. "They already did that, a long time ago... Hyuugas don't get to choose any path in their life. It is laid out to us the moment we are born, and we are expected to follow it, like a trained dog." his tone was extremely bitter, something quite alien for the ever cherful young man he was. "I am engaged, Azarea. Not to someone of my choosing... That's the reality of my life ever since I was fourteen years old. She is both my fiancee, and my father's eyes on me when I'm out of his reach. As a member of the branch, it's not like she has a choice anyways..." he admitted, shaking his head in frustration. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Ramen Shop Land of Fire [Aburame Azarea] [301 words]

[Aburame Azarea]

The Devil That You Forgot

Hope

Some small hope guttered and burned within Azarea's chest as Shigure snapped back at her angry and unapologetic in regards to what they were to each other even if it had yet to be defined. His unwillingness to toss aside the time they had spent together warming her heart.

Only for the realization he was engaged to gut her in an instant. Something breaking within the Kunoichi's soul she'd thought long shattered, as that hope crumbled to dust and the memories of their kiss burned like coals within her mouth. The realization she had become no better then her desperate clinging Mother who loved a man that was never hers and her manwhore of a Father who cared not for boundaries or relations stinging like a slap across Azarea's face staggering her back in her seat. Betrayal shining bright in those scarlet eyes.

"Have you slept with her?" She questions softly desperately clinging to his words as she recalls a few of the older clan laws. If she was nothing more then a spy and a servant.... Someone forced upon him then perhaps if they hadn't yet consummated the relationship... then maybe there was hope. Maybe Azarea wasn't yet the monster her Father had become.

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Justu Goes Here

流人

                           Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: | Hyūga Shigure

[Hyūga Shigure]

"heart laid bare". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." I DID IT Her question felt like a punch to the gut. For a moment if felt like them, whatever they were to one another, relied on the answer to that question. Shigure sighed deeply, lowering his gaze. He was not going to lie to her, even though telling her the truth would probably hurt her, hurt them. "We have been engaged for seven years... I never felt comfortable thinking about that, but we did sleep together, last year, after I was almost killed by the Mizukage." he admitted, looking up to her, his eyes almost like they were saying sorry. "Before, I never allowed myself to, it felt wrong. But after nearly dying again?... Well... I just went with the flow and it happened. It felt good during it, and terrible after. Guilt washed over me, but yes, it happened." he explained, not trying to give himself excuses, but he felt like there was some context she needed to know about it. "We don't have feelings for one another. If that matters to you." he added, not knowing what else to say. He was anxious for her response, to see how she would react to that. He was afraid, he didn't want to lose her, but was she ever his to begin with? It was quite presumptions of him to even consider the thought, but he couldn't help it. He was in love with her. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Ramen Shop Land of Fire [Aburame Azarea] [237 words]

[Aburame Azarea]

The Devil That You Forgot

Sword of Damocles

"Oh," A single simple word more a pained exhale then speech fell from Azarea's lips. Her world crumbling beneath her feet as suddenly the foundation she'd bet her heart on cracked and she realized they'd built this, whatever this was, on shaky ground. She'd let herself believe him when Shigure had whispered to her that she was nothing like her Father. That she could escape the sins of her own creation. Outrun the follies of the past. She'd loved him and that thought left her in agony because whether he'd meant to or not he'd lied to her.

The sound of her hive roared in her ears as she struggled to reign in her emotions. The turmoil roiling through her heart setting her Kikaichu into a frenzy that would kill them both if she didn't force herself to calm as Azarea snapped the tie between herself and her emotions like an errant thread. It was so easy to go cold. To let herself fade into the white noise of the world. "With your engagement sealed then the Hyuuga have every right to kill me for interfering in their clan affairs." She states voice flat. It was easier to cope with the situation at hand in the detached terms of politics than the reality of the emotions that burned through her mind.

"Do you intend to tell them about us?" She questions knowing well such would be her death warrant.

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Justu Goes Here

流人

                           Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: | Hyūga Shigure

[Hyūga Shigure]

"heart laid bare". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." HYUUGA Her silence after his long explanation was enough of a hint that things were really going down south and it pained his heart. He wanted to reach out to her, to hug her dealy and forget about the world for a second, but they couldn't do that, at least not anymore. Azarea steeled herself, shutting down her emotions and when she spoke, her tone was flat, so much so that it watered his eyes, him being far more emotional than she was. Still, her sentence made him angry, he shook his head energetically. "No! Absolutely not! I won't allow anyone from touching a single hair on your head!" his tone carried a deep rooted anger he had, he hated many things about his clan, things he was fighting to change, but that would only happen after overcoming the major obstacle: his father. When she asked him the question, he sighed, he would try to reach out for her hand, but he was prepared to have her move it away from his reach, and if that was the case, he would respect it, even if it pained him. "I won't tell them right away. There's something I must do first... I need to hold my father accountable for his crimes, and once that is taken care of, I will start to right the wrongs with my clan. I will change the Hyuuga. And then... I will fix my own situation, so that I can safely tell them about you." and once he said that, he realized it might have sounded like he was giving excuses, he was putting it into a random place in the future. Sighing deeply, his white-eyes reached for hers. "I will be confronting my father once I get back to the village." he revealed to her, a secret not many people knew about it yet. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Ramen Shop Land of Fire [Aburame Azarea] [310 words]

[Aburame Azarea]

The Devil That You Forgot

The Out

She does not shy away from his hand, but her movements are stiff and mechanical. The laughing teasing woman he'd once known having withdrawn so deeply within herself that all the remained with a suit of armor in her place and cold metal could never feel warm. Slowly she mustered up the energy in her dispair to grasp his fingers lifting his hand to her lips as she presses a soft kiss to his knuckles. The last token of affection she will likely ever be able to offer him.

"I don't want you to die Shigure. Do what you must to live." The whispered request falls from her lips as she holds his gaze with empty eyes. "I don't want your blood on my hands because I was too weak yet to fight for this." She begs the reality of her limitations chafing at her, but she did not yet have the power to break them.

And this... this was the only out she could offer him that saved them both. Even if it meant he lived out his life with another at least Azarea would go on knowing he lived all the same. Beautiful things weren't meant for the likes of creatures like her as offering him a brittle unfeeling smile she let go of his hand slowly rising from her seat.

"I," love you, "should go." The words that would damn them both choking her heart and throat like glass.

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Justu Goes Here

流人

                           Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: | Hyūga Shigure

[Hyūga Shigure]

"heart laid bare". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." TEARS She didn't shy away from his hand, but her touch was more hesitant, more distant, and even though she eventually held it and pressed her lips against his hand, her words gave him enough insight as to what was happening then and there. He shook his head when she said she didn't want his blood on her hands. "I'm not doing this just for you... It's for the sake of the clan, it's the right thing to do. I can no longer remain silent after all the attrocites he committed. The price of freedom is steep, and if it cost me my life, I will still pay it. But I don't intend on going down, this much I can promise you." he said, narrowing his eyes and frowning his brows. He was determined, that much was clear in his eyes. "It's something I already promised myself I would do..." he added, as their hands separated, and she said that she should go. Shigure quickly got up from the chair, walking towards her. "Azarea, wait!" he urged her. "Not like this..." he said as he reached out to her, trying to hold her close. A couple tears escaped his eyes, forcing him to shut them tight. "I will destroy the chains... Please, believe in me. Even when nobody else does..." every one urged him to be careful, to give up, to not risk himself. He was done being complacent to the crimes the branch house suffered for generations, the crimes Mitsuda, Kyo, Natsuo, Shodaime, and so many others suffered at the tyranny of the main house. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Ramen Shop Land of Fire [Aburame Azarea] [267 words]

[Aburame Azarea]

The Devil That You Forgot

Happily Never After

Azarea steps back out of his reach this time because she knows if he touches her... If she lets him take her into his arms she'll never want to leave and neither of them will survive the parting then. The least she could do was make sure that she took the brunt of the blow. That she sent him home as whole and intact as was within her power when her hands were made for only breaking. So scours every happy memory and dredges up every single fiber of joy and forces herself to smile, real and true, and likely for the last time.

"I've always believed in you Shigure. When you win and everything is settled come back for me ok?" She chirps eyes closing as she smiles to hide the tears that gather on her lashes as she fulfils this last request. Even if Azarea knows he's asking her to send him confidently to potential awaiting death. It was a cruel request, but one she'd bloody her mouth with the words of if it means lightening his heart.

"Till then please take care." Azarea asks of him as she funnels chakra into her legs holding the seal for the Shunshin her smile never fading, never cracking, till with a swirl of insects she's gone. She doesn't ask him to remember her. The Hero's of stories never remember or return for the farmgirl after all. It was better for her to make her own story and hope one day maybe Shigure would recall her part in his.

[Exit Azarea]

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Shunshin no Jutsu utilized

流人

                           Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: | Hyūga Shigure

[Hyūga Shigure]

"heart laid bare". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." PAINFUL GOODBYE It was like there was a huge knot inside of his heart the moment she stepped back and out of his reach. He gulped, feeling a bit nauseous at the perspective of losing what they had. Still, she found inside of her the will to smile, a real one this time, and it made him stop, tears still rolling down his face. She said she believed in him, and that he should go back for her when he won. Surprised and speechless at those words, he hesitantly nodded. Then, she urged him to take care, and before he could respond that he would, she vanished, using the body flicker technique. "Azarea..." he whispered. He wanted to activate his Byakugan, to look for her, but something inside of him stopped him from doing so. He would respect her, her desire for privacy and her need to be way from him. But he broke down now that he was alone. As he walked outside of the Ramen Shop, he leaned against the wall, whimpering as he looked up into the sky. His hand reaching his own chest, as if it could soothe the pain he was feeling inside. "I'm sorry..." she couldn't hear her, but he wished his words would somehow make their way towards her. Now, the only thing he could do was to go back home, and finally face his father. He needed to pick up Miroru, so he did his best to wipe his tears and keep a more neutral expression on his face, but knowing him like she did, she would definitely see through his poor attempt at this masquerade. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." Ramen Shop Exit post [Aburame Azarea] [274 words]