Kill Everybody[Travel/P]

Posts : 757

Two pills and a supply of extras just in case. In fact, Shinjin kept a set of patches in his socks just in case he lost his pills for some reason. Today would mark treason, and a slew of other crimes that would wash away the right to be called 'Kiri ninja'. Shinjin was ready, but would Seika and Moku be? Keeping tabs on his emotions and his level of calmness was his biggest worry, not crimes that could have him jailed. To be a leader he had to remain calm and poised, a beacon of responsibility for those to follow. Yet Shinjin kept thinking about his attack last night. A simple trip to the convenience store for canned tea turned up into a 800 dollar bill for damaged goods and windows. If he hadn't been fortunate enough to have that money on him, the situation would have been a lot worse and a lot cheaper.

Dawn had four or more ours before she rose, Shinjin knew her brightness when nightmares woke him in cold sweats. Instead of telling him that a new day meant another chance, she was going to be watching him with her ever-present eye. Spying and peering into his sin, telling the moon to keep watch over him so she would not lose what he had done at night, all-knowing in the morning. With his back to the moon he enjoyed the still dark sky, still lonely and most of all... still.

Shinjin didn't spend the night at home. The risk of accidentally exhaling his rage on his family suffocated him. He had to be able to breathe freely, knowing they were safe and that he was not there. Shinjin paid for a motel dirty with sex and the smell of wallpaper yellowed by cigarettes. He didn't intend to sleep on the bed and took to a small loveseat. Without the thick fabric from his monks robes covering his body, a needle in the corner of the seat would've easily pierced him with HIV or any number of STI's. But yet his time there made him feel safe and responsible.

Seika was supposed to come to the shore, notes left for her in intricate code, notes she'd destroy once she found them. Seika was a good girl, responsible though hot-headed. She meant well and Shinjin admired that about her, and so through code he had told her about himself. Seika was the first person he told openly about his affliction, and her being a medical ninja made all the more sense. She'd have access to his medicine and could calm him if he went off, but it could she handle it? Could she do so in such a way without killing him? Would she tell Moku? Tatsuo? Maybe if it was better if he was just dead.

Wading in this self hate, the fear of going off again pestered him. Many times he tried focusing on other things, but it was all so difficult. Making himself mad because he was thinking about trying to not get mad... that endless loop of insanity was a trigger bound to snap if pulled tight enough. Shinjin clenched to the idea of being freed from this burden thinking of ninjutsu and taijutsu... something random to keep him off of it. Desperate for distractions.

Today would mark a massive plot for the world, a trap bringing all the nations together in a web of stories. If he found a Kumogakure ninja, would he tell them that Shikari had been killed? Shinjin had been looking for a challenge for quite a while, but was violence potentially worth it? Was sullying the name of Kirigakure in one act of misconstrued provocation the real goal? No. That's why he needed the Order and its people. He may have been the one to bring them together, but he did not necessarily see himself as a supreme leader. They'd need to help each other and trust each other. His distrust for Hiroshi still laid in the shadows of his mind, simply being over looked by his own potential rage. Just maybe, maybe if he a knew a little bit more on Inoshi, he could place that rage accurately and do some good.

Age : 31 Posts : 1900

Demons haunted the darkest corners of Seika's subconscious as they rip and tore at her dreams. A quiet and clam night quickly turned sour the moment one of the foul creatures decided to unlock her mental filing cabinet, its sickening smile flashing through the darkness as she threw a drawer open and allowed a flurry of memories to scatter. Countless night Seika would wake up in puddles of sweat from prior flashbacks. The guilt from murdering Jirou was something she could not easily forget. Night after night she found herself undergoing some sort of mental trial designed by her inner demons and expressed through her physical body. Her neighbors were probably ready to call the landlord and have her deported from the facility due to the number of times she had woken up in a pure scream. The thought of her beauty rest being disturbed was both exasperating and frankly quite exhausting. Had a soul actually been aware of her turmoil then perhaps she could relieve herself of the pent up thoughts. She could not tell any single person on this earth about what she harbored due to her fear of what would happen. The trauma from Jirou threatening to kill her was enough for her to handle. Had someone else attempted to murder her she may very go insane. Thoughts of Jirou's melted face and shimmering skull bounced around in her nogin as she sipped on a cup of white coffee.

A sigh left her slightly aching throat as dark circled eyes scanned the weekly paper. One leg crossed over the other in an attempt to seek comfort as a black and red shawl, hand crafted by her grandmother, protected her from the chilliness of her kitchen. Seika took her last sip of coffee, tossing her head back as she had, before finally setting the paper aside and uncrossing her legs. Feet fashioned with thin socks rested for a second on the cool tile before carrying her mass to the kitchen sink. Quickly she rinsed the cup and set it to the side; her next stop being the shower. Finally the sleep in her eyes would be washed away, the gold lining around her pupils becoming brighter as she awakened from her groggy dormant state.

A shower sometimes does wonders to one's soul, anyone may never understand its effects on Seika's well being until they saw her before and after the warm liquid licked her skin clean of sweat, dirt, and maybe even blood fragments from prior training sessions. Setting the thought of personal torment aside, Seika embraced the reality that was presented before her. She was actually going to Kumogakure for the first time! Not once had she seen the Lightning Country! Demons of her past did their best to force her to submit to their will; the thought of her parents nearly dying to Kumogakure ninja fluttering about in her mind. Such foul things wanted her to hate Kumogakure but, just as she embraced Mokuzai, she tried her best to keep an open mind about the mystery village as well. Certainly not all ninja were bad, right?

Finishing off her usual Jounin attire with a black cloak and a few food rations, Seika head out to the coast of Kirigakure. She ad received Shinjin's note, through Mari, a few days back. Of course she burned and ate the note, not a coworker in sight thankfully, and prepared to bring Mokuzai into the picture as well. Once hospital duties were finished for that particular day, Seika waited until night fall to head out and search for the new species of bat again. Truly rumors did mention the bat existing around Kirigakure, and therefore people wanted her to find it anyway, so she was able to exit and enter the village at night with ease. Her migration patterns also helped ease any suspicions about why Shinjin, Tatsuo, and herself had disappeared for a few hours a few nights back, or so, as well. Everything was going so smooth that it was near frightening.

Once in the dark and mysterious woods, on her way to the shore to meet Shinjin, Seika recalled the night she did slip out to search for her bat species... and find Mokuzai. She had actually utilized a clone to sweep the woods with its chakra sensory. An island is only so large, had he remained on the main land, and she did say she would always find him no matter where he went. It may have taken a few hours but her clone could venture without her even being around. The main duty of the clone was to pass on information about their meeting today but she also wanted to touch on factors about Inoshi as well.

'Tell Shinjin what you told me,' she told him, 'he didn't seem too pleased last time and I know he would prefer hearing words about Inoshi from your own lips than my own.' She would then pause before departing, 'Oh...and recently something traumatic has happened to Shinjin....please do your best to not hurt him or tick him off by any means. His instability is frighteningly high and I would hate to have our little adventure ruined by either of us messing things up. Just a fair warning.'

Hopefully he would consider listening to her suggestions. The Order, and each of their lives, very well may depend on it. Seika knew their business was serious but she also wanted to exploit Kumogakure for all its flora and fauna if she ever got the chance to. It would be tricky to not get distracted by all that the new village may have to offer but Seika would retain whatever self restraint she could until they departed back to Kirigakure.

'I wonder how long we will even be staying in Kumogakure,' Seika thought to herself while approaching the shore. 'Surely I will have at least a little bit of wiggle room to explore. Right?'

A figure cloaked completely in black approached Shinjin from the main path out of the woods. It walked silently for a few meters before a familiar voice exited out from beyond the hood.

"Good Morning Shinjin," Seika nearly whispered, "I hope you have been well as of late. Anything you wish to update me on that I should know?"

Two small olive-tinted hands reached up and removed the hood of the black cloak. Instantly her facial features were revealed beneath the light of the moon; shadows cast by its light and hiding the darkness beneath her eyes. The most notable feature yet was, of course, her red locks. Her head practically set fire beneath the pale moon light, creating a faint beacon in the darkened night while the gold in her hazel hues resembled embers. If fire could take shape into a human it would likely look like the red haired kunoichi standing before him. Hence why night time, or early morning in this case, was her favorite time of the day.

"Mokuzai should be joining us as well. I informed him of our whereabouts as requested," she continued on while neglecting to inform him of her mentioning Inoshi or his recent affliction. She never told Mokuzai what Shinjin's affliction was, only warned him not to piss him or harm him, because she felt it was best for Shinjin to open the can of worms on his own. Just like she was in the hospital, all medical affairs were kept silent unless specifically asked to tell.

Age : 30 Posts : 1012

“You are not listening to us anymore?”

“How dare you break that deal we had.”

“We’ll show ourselves soon enough.”

The night sky practically moved with Mokuzai as he turned on his side near the bank of a nearby pond. He had only stopped momentarily to get a small breather, but various thoughts and actions had kept his body from getting the full rest that it desired. “Shut the fuck up. You’re not goin’ to be doin’ anything.” His back pressed roughly against the softened earth from which he laid. The only indentions in the ground were from his own elbows pushing his body up onto his underside. The moisture seeped through the fabric of his clothing, causing them to become even more dampened than they already were from the constant downpour of precipitation that gave the country its name from creation.

His honey gaze shifted to his nearby bag with a click of his tongue coming forth shortly thereafter. “I guess I can try it now..” It seemed fitting enough for Mokuzai to actually try the outfit that he has been holding back for now.

He twisted his body by his waist and rolled on his stomach so that his limbs can extend and get hold of the sack nearby him. It was a simple black duffle bag that he had swiped from one of the lesser villages when he received a few contracts to get done. They were going to try to hunt him down seeing that they were not going to have those said objectives completed by him, but it wouldn’t really matter to him. All he would be focusing on was getting out of the country and moving on from this rabid land. He had no plans to return until he absolutely needed to, or if he got more details about Hiroshi from the others.

The zipper opened the contents protruding from the metal tracks of the bag.

The first item to be placed to the side was a porcelain blank mask with two holes forming the eyes with the same silicone material that masks were made of, placed just on the outline behind the mask. It would allow his skin around the optics to be hidden while he donned the mask. The black, slim cloak with purple trimmings and metal shoulder pads as next. It made up most of the outfit itself, allowing it be made of very thin material so that his Mokuton wouldn’t really rip it to shreds when it came from his arms and body. The purple fabric ran up the middle of the cloak and the brim of the hood, hand cuffs, and shoulder blades of Mokuzai. He also brought a sash of the same purple material with his cloak. It had a slit in the middle, allowing him to actually slip his headbands in and out at will.

Seeing that he was about to travel out of the country, Mokuzai took the Kirigakure no Sato headband and clipped it in the slit of the sash, allowing him to appear as a Kirigakure shinobi. “Alright. Now to just get buck naked.” He clapped his hands in excitement, slipping off his blue haori and undershirt. Folding them up in the same manners as before, trying to make it so that they would be able to fit in the bag once he got changed. The only thing remaining on his body were the boots and darkened pants that he adorned before. He unzipped the cloak, slipping it on his body and making sure that it stretched out to the fullest it could. His index finger and thumb zipped up the cloak, pressing it tightly against his torso while the material took form of his toned body; allowing the details of his structure to peek throught he fabric.

“Hm, ok. Now the sash.” His waist bent with the fabric slipping through his fingers and around his shoulders. The Kirigakure symbol shimmered in the moon light while he tied it at various spots above his shoulders and his back. The remaining excess of cloth was tied off at his waist in multiple ribbons. No reason for him to waist the color, right? With his hood down, Mokuzai quickly placed his other outfit in the bag in a sloppy manner. There just wasn’t enough time for him too casually fold each and every object going in his bag. He zipped the top of the bag, grabbing the mask and slipping it over his features while pulling the hood up. He had to adjust to the mask adding a bit of construction to his view, but it wouldn’t take too much time to get comfortable with. The bags’ strap went over his right shoulders with his right hand forming a grip around the material.

He was ready to go, about to make his own way to the ocean in front of him when he felt Seika’s signature in his sensing perimeter. “The fuck does she want?” His head turned so that mask beamed in the moonlight when she came up towards him. From her general direction, Mokuzai waited until he could start to head her direction. His strides were long and gained ground quickly for the height that he was.

Her figure outline became a bit more visual as he started to near her. His steps started to slow down, allowing him to gain breath when she stopped in front of him, explaining that he needed to go on about Inoshi and becareful to not threaten or injure Shinjin. “Aha.” He spoke behind the mask with no emotion. “I see. I’ll watch my words.” He would deem it fit to follow her for as far as he can while placing distance between them. As long as she was in his range of sensing, Mokuzai would be able to keep up with her by making way through the branches of the forest. It was his playground while trying to keep his stamina up and his position hidden from any passersby.

Another signature of Seika came up at the edge of his range, with her signal being barely visible. “Hm.” He sat on the edge of the branch, allowing his focus to extend out fully. Moving only kept his perimeter limited in range and power. The more he stayed idle, the better chance he had picking up the pieces of their placements. “Found you.” Seika’s signature was just as bright as ever, making this a bit easier for him to find the duo. There was no other chakra source near her, so maybe she was just alone and waiting on the others to gain ground? Mokuzai wanted to find out. Badly.

The tip of his boot pressed against the branches, allowing him to move quickly and gain ground with his actions. He didn’t want to keep her waiting longer than she was already doing. For all he knew, she could have been there for hours!

After a few minutes of running on the trees, Mokuzai saw Seika standing near Shinjin, making him crouch down with his knees bent and his hands beside his feet. “Oi.” He muttered just loudly enough for the two to hear that he was present for their departure. “How’s it goin’, guys? No Tatsuo?” He looked around for the towering teen, but didn’t spot him, or his chakra signature whatsoever. The way that Izayah carried himself through the whole operation brought back Mokuzai to what he thought about in the cave prior a few days ago. “Ah.. I figured it out.” His thought was being a bit more aggressive at this point, but it had to be vocalized.

“I swear. It’s like flashbacks to my first meetin’ with Inoshi. Except I wasn’t makin’ noise to get his attention. The whole cloak thing, and the waitin’. It’s like putting two images together and tryin’ to spot the differences.” The mask kind of muffled his voice just a tiny bit, but he was sure that the others would catch his words pretty easily. The grip on the bag tightened when he opened his sensing a bit more. “You weren’t followed? Pretty nicely done by you two. I’m impressed.”

Posts : 757

“I'm fine.”

I'm hurting inside and the uncertainty of it all scares me. I could hurt someone I really love and lose myself in the process. When my eyes roll in my head and I feel the cold sheets of loneliness in the morning and breathe... When my bare feet touch the icy tile because the sun refuses to warm me, this is the moment that hurts the most. Trapped in a frozen prison holding close to a key of The Creator's fire. It will not waver or falter when wind shakes the ice needles that are scared to fall; but my 'face' is fearless and resolved and at the same time gripped by loss. Waiting for my freedom I feel treacherous eyes on my back. I am scared of me.

Invisibility and shrouded veils tainted Seika's sight. Kirigakure marched the path to becoming the village to change history. Kiri will author time itself just as The Creator made life from dust. We will clasp uncertainty about the waist of the world, brace it wrists with a banner of superiority and push them down while they gnash their teeth and cry out. This is our calling. In this world we do not give. In the shadows we live and sleep, taking lives in the seconds of time before our demise rises behind us. Cover the face of your enemy and pour water into her nostrils. And when she thrashes for air, let her taste its sweetness, and then continue again. The end is far from over, she and her people must suffer. Drown her body with a gallon to save her from the depths of the ocean. Death is an illusion of choice, but today we have pastels and paper.

The Order would fail because Shinjin had failed it. In his failure he would not sully his hands. When Moku arrived Shinjin thought about his life, his goals and dreams. Shinjin could not impede the life of another, or put him in danger. Even if he agreed to follow him, now was not the time. Shinjin could not truly say he loved himself. Shinjin would not jeopardize anyone anymore, for any cause. The Order. Hmph. Going around the world, trying to change it for the better. Shinjin had not stepped outside of his own world, nor had he taken the time to view himself in the mirror. He had not learned about his insecurities and faults and scars. Yet now he claimed to be a leader of men, but in all honestly was scared beyond belief.

“The difference is that I have finally come to the truth and I was not ready for it. You must know by now what happened to me in the Outskirts District, or rather what it has made me become. For the sake of you two, I tried to put away that incident and focus on our goals as the Order. I tried to ignore myself temporarily, but I can't. I have to be honest with you and this may seem sudden and abrupt, but I will not go with you to Kumo. Seika, tell my wives and the village that I love them. I cannot return to the village as a leader of anything or as apart of the shinobi world. I can't trust myself. If Hiroshi and Kyu seek me, I will walk this beach until they find me or my feet bleed. Whatever comes first. Tell them I forced you to go to the Cloud Village and forced this all upon you using my ranking as weight. Make me into a criminal or traitor, I don't care. It was nice knowing you all, but I am done. Goodbye.”

The walls in his mind rattled, his anger gripping the bars of ice cracking and melting them. Why? Why now? Of all times why did he have to give up and quit? So weak you are, Shinjin. When I am freed I will blot you to black. It is only a matter of time before you slip up. One day forget to take your pills, or bump into some fool in your journeys. You cannot hide away from me, I am you. I am your anger boiling atop a fire viscous with blood lust.

Soon... I will be free.

[exit]

Age : 31 Posts : 1900

Marks of sorrow seemed to be sighted on Shinjin's face after Seika had inquired about his health and well being. A pit formed in the pit of her stomach as she tried to read him with all her might. A simple fine was all he said to her. Not a single "Miss Seika" was peeped and it made her rather uncertain. By no means was she necessarily scared of him but more so curious and slightly worried. He has not been himself lately, this was for sure, and so it constantly made Seika wonder what he was thinking every time she was near him. It would be silly to say she wasn't on her guard, mainly for fear of triggering his anger, but this didn't mean she was constantly trying to avoid him or seem overly cautious. If anything, her demeanor was calm and she came off as the typical fun-loving, but serious, woman she had always been. All secrets were locked away during the day. It was the night which they sprang forth and cast her into a chaos. Due to this, she kept her cool in most situations that did not stir up her own triggers.

Mokuzai then arrived.

After a short session of commentary from the usually sassy Nukenin led to Seika's clone vanishing and the woman herself giving him a brief smile. Her main focus was on Shinjin at this present moment in time. His general silence and the emotions becoming plastered on his face hinted to her that she needed to pay attention. Something was not right.

“The difference is that I have finally come to the truth and I was not ready for it. You must know by now what happened to me in the Outskirts District, or rather what it has made me become. For the sake of you two, I tried to put away that incident and focus on our goals as the Order. I tried to ignore myself temporarily, but I can't. I have to be honest with you and this may seem sudden and abrupt, but I will not go with you to Kumo.

Seika's eyes brows lifted into an expression of shock. Not once did she anticipate such a reaction from the Order's leader. The chaos that bred within his mind seemed to shine brightly through his darkened face, her eyes seeking his own as she tried to pierce into his soul and gather more information while remaining silent. Not once did Seika question him and she would remain silent until he finished talking. She wasn't sure what to think at this point and therefore did not know what to expect. Her shocked face died down to a calm and serious face, representing how much she was listening.

"Seika, tell my wives and the village that I love them. I cannot return to the village as a leader of anything or as apart of the shinobi world. I can't trust myself. If Hiroshi and Kyu seek me, I will walk this beach until they find me or my feet bleed. Whatever comes first. Tell them I forced you to go to the Cloud Village and forced this all upon you using my ranking as weight. Make me into a criminal or traitor, I don't care. It was nice knowing you all, but I am done. Goodbye.”

"Shin...." she said in a rather weak manner.

Why would she throw him under the bus? What was the sense in doing so? Where was he going? Was he truly becoming a Nukenin?

A series of questions were rolling around in her mind while her thoughts tried to tussle with them as a means of answering. This was all so confusing. One minute Shinjin was dead set on making the Order become tangible and now he was about to leave Kirigakure all together?

'I've heard rumors of what happened to him, she thought to herself, 'but rumors are mere rumors.'

Seika was uncertain of what truly occurred in the district but she wasn't about to ask either. As Shinjin prepared to make his leave, likely involving mindless wandering on the coast line, Seika stepped forward and said what may have been her final words.

"Shin," she said aloud to grab his attention so that he would hopefully listen, "I will go to Kumogakure but that does not mean I will throw you under the blade for my actions. I will take responsibility for the things I have done when the time comes... and without taking you down with me. Just... please... take time to figure yourself out....if you need to talk to me then send a bird or other animal........ and please remember what I told you the day we met."

She would let him walk away without a fight. A decision that she wasn't sure if she would regret or not but certainly one that seemed slightly right. There was no sense in chasing him down. He is his own person and therefore must figure out his own problems by himself. He may not remember exactly what she said to him the day he called her to the Dojo but that did not matter. What mattered was whether or not he remembered who he was in comparison to who he is now. Perhaps a bit of soul searching would help him regain his dominant personality status. Everyone has their weak times and Shinjin was merely facing his now. Seika believed he would wake up someday but it was just a matter of when?

'Remember who you are...' she thought to herself as soon as Shinjin disappeared from her vision. An uncertain sigh left her lips as she stared at the ground briefly in silence. Mokuzai was likely still behind her but she was doing her best to maintain composure before turning towards him. She was praying that her decision to not chase him down was the best. Hoping that perhaps the once great 'little Genin' would come back with the same smile and respect he once had before the darkness encroached in his being. Whatever happened to him, she would find out. Once she had found out...well.... the rest was a secret she intended to keep.

"He'll be fine," Seika said towards Mokuzai, "You can choose to stay or go...I am going to Kumogakure."

Without even turning to look at the male, Seika began to walk forward. There was too much she needed to learn about the world before ever considering going back to Kirigakure. Too much the Order needed to do. If Shinjin so desired to step down as leader then perhaps she would do her best to take his place until his return. She wasn't sure if she could keep the group together... given her present relationship with Tatsuo and the fact Mokuzai could take off on a whim... but she would do what she could. The tiger heart she possessed fulled a confidence within her that she was unaware of possessing. With each step she would move on to Kumogakure, with or without Mokuzai trailing behind her.

Not once did she look back towards Kirigakure.

[Exit]

Age : 30 Posts : 1012

The next few events that came forth really threw Mokuzai off. “What are you—“Hearing the exact words coming from Shinjin’s mouth, Moku clenched his jaw lightly. He’s had that same tone at one point of his life. He’s carried that same exact ideal of being ‘done’ for 3 years. It was a decent concept to get a grip on, but in reality it wouldn’t get anyone anywhere. Even though they would try their best to get their idea to be fulfilled, it wouldn’t be enough. Could Shinjin be different? “I wish you luck.” It was all the words that he could muster out to the shinobi. He didn’t really have any more words of encouragement in his vocabulary from having to deal with that sort of situation alone, but that simple phrase spoke mountains for Mokuzai. He didn’t sense any sort of hostility from Shinjin with his words and motives. This allowed him to actually drop his guard down just a slight bit. Although it wasn’t fully dropped, Mokuzai kind of felt bad for the shinobi.

Having to run was one thing, but having to run from their own being? Was that even possible? Mokuzai had only met Shinjin once before, so there really wasn’t any sort of attachment to the male, but it was human nature to have some amount of pity for another. “He’ll make it.” He spoke towards Sieka once Shinjin made his depature away from the group. “I’m goin’ with you. What are you sayin’? I have plans.” His voice muffled from the mask just inches away from his lips allowed the volume to only be enough so that she could hear him.

He soon followed trek beside her, matching her leg movements and speed fairly easily. “I’ve been in his place once.” He decided to break the small silence that the two shared while moving among the vegetation. Mokuzai was fully expecting to travel with him to the goal of the gates, but he didn’t know how to take in the information of the sudden back off. He’s been a part of a partnership that ended from the other just random disappearing from existence and not giving reasons; it was sort of similar to this in fact.

“He’ll be fine.” He muttered again. He wanted to try to soothe the woman, however never experiencing such an emotion, he didn’t really know how to do such an act. Maybe being silent was all worth it. It was probably the best help that the either of them could receive.

Silence is sometimes the best treatment.

[exit]