Collection TimeSept 5, 2024 17:39:43 GMT -5
Sourei Hisao
"Just surviving in life isn’t the same as living”
groupMist Shinobi
age 15 years old
birthday 09-21-1009
rank Genin
occupation Medical Corp. member
Trouble. It was all Hisao could think of when Kobashi had called in a family dinner one night. It was infrequent for him to do so, but Hisao had some idea of what it might entail. Earlier that day Hisao had been requested for a mission - outside of Kirigakure. They had needed a medic genin who knew of plants to go on a mission to assist in collecting some wild plant specimens that were native to the Tea Nation. He and anyone else sent were to determine the benefits of said plants and bring back some samples for further cultivation and research. Kobashi had likely tried to stop Hisao from being sent altogether, but outside of him making a big spectacle out of it, or all of them feeling town, there was not much to be done. This had led to an extended family meeting over dinner, where Kobashi had stressed the importance of Hisao staying safe. Even if he had to abandon the mission, abandon his teammates or even sacrifice them for his own survival. Hisao always felt like a rock had lodged itself in his throat, whenever he was reminded of the importance of his life and of how many had died to keep him alive.. Even if he had not asked for it, too much blood had been shed for him to be careless with his life and all he had been able to do was nod and promise he would stay safe.
The lecture had hung heavily on Hisao’s shoulders for the days leading up to their departure. By then Hisao had gathered more info on where he was going, who he was to meet and where and who was to accompany him. He had made sure both his siblings knew all that he knew before leaving. He had been somewhat surprised to see it was not another medic-nin who had been assigned on this mission with him but Guré An. It was both a pleasant surprise and not, seeing as he always felt off-kilter around the radiant and overly friendly girl, however, they had spent enough time together now that he knew she would take the job seriously and that she at least seemed to trust him, even if the feeling was not quite mutual yet. He was privately glad that at least he was not sent with someone he did not know or worse, someone he was sure he would not trust. This would do, he had thought and promptly decided to not think about it any further.
Hisao was dressed like he would have been most days, with many dark layers and crisscrossing leather straps covered by a matching off-white coat and pants set. He wore practical, tight-fit leather shoes and fingerless gloves. His long white hair was tied back and braided into the two usual braids. His Kirigakure headband was tied around his belt, intentionally or not hidden away from any casual observations. He had cut a striking visage between the fishermen and dockworkers, with his prim and proper, clean attire. The only somewhat obvious imperfections behind his roughly cut bangs which hid most of his forehead and eyes and the long, dark brownish and frayed scarf he wore around his neck. While it was as clean as the rest looked, it was also well-loved, with stains that were hard to see but would never come out. Covering the lower half of his face was a dark, near-black mask of a simple design. He had not removed it, not even once, from the time between leaving his house that morning, going to the meeting spot or boarding the ship. Not even as they could sense the shoreline of the Tea Nation in the distance had he removed it, wind and weather be damned.
He had brought extra gloves, for them both, for picking the plants, as well as several containers, private notes and books on the specific plants they were sent to gather. They would have to ask around once they arrived as well and he already had a few names of people they could search out for more info once they’d arrived. He knew the hospital was sending their own containers to be filled as well, but he figured that if he was going through the trouble of going out there anyway, he might as well gather some for his own projects as well. He saw no harm in that, as long as he still completed the mission, something he fully intended to do.
Standing on the ship, Hisao had felt somewhat uneasy. He had wandered around a lot before they set off and once they had, he had stayed near the top. While his initial greeting with the other genin had been cut short by their boarding and kept simple, he had tried to keep her within sight at any given chance. For a moment he had felt a sense of peace, watching her look out into the blue sky and found himself wishing there had been some artist there. Someone who could have captured the moment, how the sun had caught and framed her beautifully and how she had made a serene silhouette with the sky and land beyond.. However, the thought was quickly dismissed as the hustle and bustle of the crewmen grew louder and Hisao was promptly reminded of the many strangers surrounding them. He left his position in the shadows and walked out to join her in the sun, nearer the edge.
They had left the safety of the town behind. They were on their own now and Kobashi’s words had come back to haunt Hisao relentlessly. He had half expected the older Sourei to have followed him, but if he had, Hisao had yet to spot him. Then again, if Kobashi did not want to be seen it was unlikely Hisao would even be able to spot him, even if he tried. Hisao had not felt stalked or hunted, but he knew many could sneak up on either of them, Hisao or An, without either knowing before it would be too late. His thoughts of misery and death were interrupted by An speaking up and he chastised himself before turning his attention towards her and then out into the distance she had been referring to.
"Yes. It looks like we will arrive on time, as scheduled. Once we have landed we ought to seek out this local gatherer, an elderly woman by the name of Itou Kimora. As far as I was informed, she will not be accompanying us, however, she will be able to point us in the right direction and give us some updated local information, which might help us in our search. Hmm.. She may also know which plants the local herbalists and healers prefer, we may wish to seek them out as well.”
While Hisao had spoken his eyes had been on the coastal building in the horizon but once he had stopped speaking he had then glanced around them. Noticing that they were a little separated from the others on the ship, he would have then turned his attention more fully towards her, taking a step closer and even leaning down towards her a little. He had noticed her excitement and wished somewhere deep inside that he could partake in it. Still, the dark cloud of worry had overtaken any excitement, and he mostly longed for the mission to be over before it had even had a chance to begin. Most of his face was hidden, between the bangs and mask, but his eyes sought hers out as he leant in.
"We will have to speak with many people once there. I strongly advise that we try to keep to trusted sources and stay out of any trouble. While we should not find any enemies among the Tea Nations citizens, there may be those two who are traversing through or like us looking for resources for our own nations. We must stay vigilant, even when it may seem unnecessary.. I am counting on you, An-Dono.”
Be Careful, went unsaid. While he had spoken quietly, just meant for the two of them, there was no mistaking the urgency and serious tone behind his words. As beautiful and peaceful as this nation was, as simple and safe as this mission might have sounded, who knew what could happen? Hisao knew Kobashi would want him to abandon the mission should anything happen but Hisao would rather try to prevent it altogether and leave, peacefully, preferably with An still alive.
Collection Time "Just surviving in life isn’t the same as living”
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Leviathan
has written 87 posts
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