The long road home [Mission]

Posts : 1216

Kanji stepped into the village, pausing only for a moment. Lao had been attacked and Kanji had to report it to the surrounding villages just in case someone else might have influence like him. Of course panic would spread but one man simply ran to the young shinobi. He wore a pair of black pants and a white shirt, he obviously wasn't working today or anything of the likes. His blue hair was cut clean and short so it barely had any room to hang in his face. It was combed back and seemed to fit him perfectly. His red eyes met Kanji's and for a small moment in time Kanji felt himself realize how powerless he was. "How can I help you?" Kanji said in his usual tone towards the man. The man smiled and waved towards Kanji, the two obviously shared the same height but their posture was different. The man seemed much more relaxed and Kanji seemed so much more serious, but this did not stop the man. "Yo~ I heard about what you said and I'd like to hire you to guard me on my way to Kumogakure." Kanji eyed him quickly before sighing, he couldn't turn down an easy job like this. "Alright fine... Just go hurry up and pack, We'll be traveling quickly as I need to return fast." Kanji ran a hand through his hair as the man before him smiled and nodded. "Yeah yeah, Just follow me. I also hired another person just in case you might get overwhelmed. My name in Cu Cuchulain. Most call me Inu though since I am the hound of my company." Cu Cuchulian or rather, Inu said. He obviously was prepared to leave but was securing more muscle. If his cards played right, Kanji could just relax and rush back home. Following Inu closely, Kanji looked around for the other man he supposedly had hired. The drawing of a blade made Kanji duck down low instinctively as Inu merely kept walking. Where Kanji once stood a blade now occupied the air where his neck should be. An echo of laughter rang out as Inu merely laughed with it,

"Looks like you are good enough to his standards. Let me get my things inside, you stay here and talk with him." Kanji finally realized where they were. A house was before them and he managed to get in touch with reality, standing up and spinning around there stood a man dressed in purple. One Kanji knew all too well, "Wow Kanji-kun! You dodged my first strike from just my blade being drawn, good job! I knew you'd be a formidable opponent and an even better ally." "Sasaki-san. What was the point of that? You know that I'm already able to hold my own considering I made it this far." Kanji said casually. Sasaki only laughed as he sheathed his sword sometime from when Kanji was standing up and they began speaking.

"Oh I know. I just wanted proof so I know that I made the right choice~" Sasaki said playfully as Kanji dewelled on his final words. "What do you mean you made the right choice?" "Alright guys. Time to go. I want to be there ASAP." Inu interrupted. Dropping the subject, Kanji followed behind Inu. Sasaki followed suit as they began to travel down the road. Inu moved fast and so did Sasaki, in no time they left Ta No Kuni before night fell. Just on the border before they made it to the hot spring countries. "We should make camp here and try to travel past the hot springs by tomorrow." Kanji's eyes widened at the thought of traveling two days straight at their full speed. It could be done but it would be very risky if they ever ran into anyone.

"Mmmm Cu-San~" "Call me Inu." "Mmm Inu-Sama~" "Leave it at san." "Mmm Inu-chan" "Forget it..." "I think it is best if we travel the hot spring country within two days so that we can rest up in case we run into bandits." Sighing at the scene before him, Kanji set up his small sleeping bag. "While I do agree I also think that was a bit unnecessary..." Sasaki smiled while Inu looked like he wanted to strangle Sasaki for making him look so stupid. Indeed Kanji had accepted a mission with a rather weird group of people. "So it is decided. We'll rest now and spend two days crossing across the hot springs country so we have plenty of energy to fight off any bandits~" Inu and Kanji nodded at the same time. It was decided and the plan was rather decent. "I'll keep first watch." "Kanji-kun, you need your rest. I'll watch for us~" "No... No... I'm going to watch first Sasaki-san..." "Oh Kanji-chan you're going to make me blush~ Call me kun instead. We are allies after all~' "Gah... Don't call me that... Just keep watch... Wake me up so we can switch..." "Mmm, Okay. Goodnight Kanji-chan~" Sasaki said with a smile as he sat on a rock. Kanji now realized why Inu really wanted to strangle this swordsman.

Posts : 1216

Spoiler:

The full moon slowly rose from behind the clouds as its natural spotlight shined down upon Sasaki Kojiro. He smiled as he sat upon his rock watching Kanji and Inu sleep peacefully. He crossed his arms while putting the hand in the opposite sleeve to keep himself warm. Watching his partners, Sasaki felt a smile creep across his face as he could only shake his head. It had been so long since he had ever had any traveling partners. It had been so long since anyone ever acknowledged his existence. It had been so long since he had ever existed. His eyes opened slowly as he remembered the sad realization of his situation. He now found himself standing over Kanji with his eyes focusing on the young Senju's face. If it wasn't for Kanji he would be dead; so many emotions wanted to come out of Sasaki. Shaking them off he walked away from the Senju and Inu as he heard foot steps begin to approach them. Two bandits walked along the road, darkness was their friends as they kept themselves hidden. Sasaki however was able to easily pick them out despite how hidden they assumed themselves to be. "Hello there..." His voice was no long playful, it was cold. It suited the full moon as it had every ounce of killing intent within it.

Before one of them had time to reply, Sasaki had already planted his blade within his chest. Falling down, Sasaki pulled the blade out and smiled at the other. "Oh god..." The man muttered from behind his ninja mask. He took a step back as Sasaki took his single step forward. "Did you know? There was once a famous swordsman. He trained his whole life swinging the sword." The other man lost his nerve as he charged forward, "Die!" Sasaki took the blow. The kunai found its way into the swordsman left arm but he didn't falter. There were many bandits in this country and they were very dangerous, it was always best to make the first move against them. Another kunai planted itself within Sasaki's stomach. This man was no exception, the swordsman simply kept smiling. Another and another, each one found themselves lodged with in the dying man before them. Blood trickled out of Sasaki's mouth, he still kept smiling despite the obvious pain.

"Just die! How can you kill Mishi without any problem but you just keep letting me stab you!" The bandit became frustrated with Sasaki's carefree smile despite his life threatening injuries. "Because... That swordsman never stopped swinging his sword... All for some stupid idea... All he would do is swing constantly.... He killed many in his path but all for that idea...." Sasaki looked as if he was remembering an old friend before finally looking the man in the eyes. "I believe that swordsman may swing his sword twice tonight..." A slicing noise resounded through out the air as the man fell in half, Sasaki looked down at him. The man still hadn't realized what had happened and when he did the last thing he saw was Sasaki. He knelt down beside him and stroked his cheek gently, the bandit felt strangely calm with Sasaki doing this. He smiled as he felt the life leave his body, "You indeed fell by my hand... I am sorry..." Sasaki whispered to the lifeless body. Standing up, Sasaki pulled the kunai out and dropped them on the ground before sheathing his sword. His wounds were fresh and blood still flowed from them, if it was a normal person they would have died by now.

Stepping over to Kanji, Sasaki touched the young Senju's shoulder and shook him awake gently. Kanji's eyes slowly opened as he let them adjust to the darkness. Before him stood a bloody and wounded Sasaki. Closing his eyes and re-opening them, Kanji shot up and looked at Sasaki. His body was in perfect condition, "Hm... Is it my turn Sasaki-san?" Kanji had watched Sasaki closely still not sure if it was a dream or not. "No no no. I ran into a few enemies and I'd like your help burying them." Kanji nodded as he got up and followed the purple swordsman towards the bodies. "Hey Sasaki-san. Why are these bloody kunai right here when he is cut in half...?" Kanji asked as he was picking them up, "Oh? I guess he must have killed someone else recently and they fell out of his pockets when I killed him~" Sasaki easily covered his tracks. Sasaki felt himself mentally sigh, it was indeed tough trying to always keep himself a secret. Dragging the body of the first deceased bandit, Kanji followed him with the other one. They pulled them into the nearby bamboo forest. Digging graves for the two, Sasaki smiled to himself as he watched Kanji use a rock as a makeshift shovel. Sasaki had used a rock as well but watching the young Senju just made him smile a bit more.

Posts : 1216

Spoiler:

The graves were dug and the bodies were buried, Sasaki was pleased with this and Kanji simply listened to what the swordsman told him to do. He was far too tired to protest anything the swordsman had in store, Kanji stretched as he looked in the sky. It was still night time for a good while and he could probably go catch some more sleep if he wanted to. The sound of a bottle clinking to a glass snapped Kanji out of his trance as he looked towards Sasaki. He held a sake bottle with a small sake dish in his hands, tossing the bottle towards Kanji in hopes he'd catch it. Kanji easily caught it but it merely confused Kanji as to why Sasaki would have such a thing on him now of all times. The purple swordsman looked into the night sky as he sipped the sake gently, his arms resting on his knees while he sat on a rock. "Sasaki-san... Thanks but I'm not going to drink this..." Sasaki seemed to be in his own world as he nodded, the man kept his eyes on the moon as if it held him in a trance. "Kanji-kun... You ever think the moon is lonely...?" Kanji peered up at the moon and thought about his response, "No... He has all his friends around him, they are all right there." Kanji said motioning towards the stars in the night sky. Sasaki let out a small chuckle, "But those stars long forgot about him... They are so far away he doesn't exist to them... The only thing keeping him alive is the sun. He knows he will see the sun occasionally but it is never too long... Everywhere he goes it becomes dark and people hide from him within their houses... How lonely it must be to have to live in the dark... He is only alive because the sun wishes for him to be..."

Sasaki spoke as if he was talking about two people now. It began to scare Kanji as he watched the swordsman carefully, he took a sip of his sake and smiled. "It is okay Kanji-kun... I am not crazy quite yet... I just enjoy the moon because of this reason... He has no one else but me..." Kanji relaxed but felt sadden by Sasaki's words. They held a heavy meaning behind them and Kanji was still oblivious to it, but their emotions still got him. "It is fine Sasaki-san. The moon has me too. We can keep it company for a while." Kanji tried to lighten the mood but Sasaki merely laughed at his comment. "Kanji-kun... You are far more suited for the sun, I promise you the moon will not miss you. For you and the sun have already gotten to know each other. The moon would feel simply like the third wheel... The moon and I will always have each other though... Maybe one day you can enjoy the moon with me... But for now enjoy your time in the sunlight... You are young. Too young to live in the shadows with the moon." Sasaki said as he patted Kanji on the head. His smile was friendly but it also was one that seemed to fade away all too quickly. "Go get some sleep. I'll wake you up shortly." Kanji grumbled as he walked away from the strange swordsman.

"Hmm... Sasaki seems strange..." Kanji whispered as he laid down, he felt his eyelids get heavy almost immediately but he resisted the urge to fall asleep. He kept his ears open as he finally let his eyes close and win. Kanji laid on his right side with his right arm acting as a make shift pillow, it wasn't the best but it worked. Kanji felt something warm press close to his chest, it pulled itself close together and tried to warm up from Kanji. Groggily, Kanji wrapped his left arm around it and pulled it closer as he too enjoyed the warmth from it. His left hand felt the smooth hair under his fingers and the warm smooth skin. Kanji let his eyes open up as the daylight assaulted him. Looking down at the warm object in his chest he saw a small little girl looking up at him. His eyes widened as he took in a deep breath and looked around. "Sa-sa-sa-Sasaki!" Kanji finally forced out as he sat up using his right arm to support him, the swordsman sat on a rock nearby laughing at him. Getting ready to stand up and kill the swordsman, Kanji felt a small hand grab onto his right arm. Looking down he saw the blond haired girl staring at him with her golden eyes. "Don't yell please." She whispered to the senju as their eyes remained locked. "Sorry..." Kanji said before patting her on the head, "I will try to stop yelling." Kanji then turned to face Sasaki.

"Why did I wake up to some little girl laying in my bed? You realize how bad that can make me look? As a matter of fact why is she here?" Kanji bombarded the purple swordsman with questions. He simply smiled as the small girl forced herself into Kanji's lap. "Gah. Fine just don't move too much." Kanji said submitting to her will. Now Kanji sat crossed legged staring at the swordsman with a small girl in his lap. He didn't look too menacing with her about to fall asleep against his chest. "I found her." "So you decided to shove her in my bed." "Well yes and no. First off she was tired and I don't think she was going to survive if I let her just keep traveling. So I told her to stay with us for a while. She wanted to sleep and I figured that it wouldn't do any harm to let her sleep with you. I mean Inu needs to be comfy since he is the client. You seemed fine with her anyways before you realized she was a little girl." "Shut up. You did a good thing but don't just shove her into my bed and expect me to wake up all happy..." "Well I picked your bed..." "See? She picked it. I just let her stay there cause you seemed like the protective type." Kanji sighed as he rubbed his eyes with his right hand. The small girl in his lap kept her head rested on his chest the whole time as if watching a play. "Whatever..."

Posts : 1216

Spoiler:

The silence was broken by the yawning of the young mystery girl; Kanji had just finished rolling up his sheet and putting it away. Now he was able to analyze her properly A young girl with yellow eyes and golden-blond hair whose ends curl outward at the end. She wears a loose white dress and a pair of sandals and her ears are pointed, as it stands it looks as if she ran away from home. "Mmm What is your name?" Kanji asked as his red eyes met her's. A funny thing about this girl, she never flinched from them. Her gaze never wavered if anything she looked as if she could defeat him. "Shinobu Oshino. I... I don't know where I came from... All I know is that my family is probably dead..." Kanji's eyes widened at the words Shinobu spoke. "Wha...? What do you mean? You have no where else to go? Shi-Mmmm Man... Alright... I'll take you back to Kumogakure. If we don't find anything out about your family I'll take you in till you can live on your own or you still can stay with me. But I'm sure your family is alive. If not I'll make sure to find out whatever I can about them for you Shinobu-chan." Kanji said as he crouched down to look her in the eyes. A small smile came over her face as she nodded slowly. "Thank you... What is your name?" Kanji realized that he never told her his name and Sasaki probably decided it was best to let him do that. "I'm Kanji Senju. I live alone in Kumogakure because my parents pasted away. So we might have something in common. Hopefully not though." Sasaki whistled as Inu and him had already started down the road while Kanji and Shinobu were talking. "We should get going or else Sasaki-san will leave you..." Shinobu pointed out, despite looking young she already figured Sasaki out. Kanji nodded as he picked her up, "Wha! What are you doing?!" She cried out in his arms. Kanji held her bridal style as he began to run after Sasaki and Inu.

"I'll keep up with them faster if I just carry you, either it is like this or on my shoulders." Kanji said as he looked down at her. She looked away from him before murmuring something, "What?" What? "What~?" "I'm not talking to you two!" Kanji snapped as Sasaki only smiled and Inu laughed. "I wanna be on your shoulders..." Shinobu whispered as Kanji stopped for a moment. He set her down slowly and crouched down to her height, Kanji was too tall for her to get on his shoulders easily. Putting his arms behind himself, he cupped them together to make a makeshift step for her. She quickly climbed onto his shoulders and Kanji swore he heard her laugh as he stood up. She held onto the top of his head as he held onto her legs, the two now followed behind Inu and Sasaki on their way towards the village.

The day seemed to fly past Kanji as they had passed through a village and ate to their heart's content. They then ended up running out of the village after not paying with Shinobu clinging to Kanji for dear life. They then had ended up stopping on the side of the road and napping. Sasaki slept in the tree while Kanji and Inu slept on the trunk, Shinobu slept in Kanji's lap again. She had really taken a liking to the Senju ever since he started carrying her. They ended up near the border of the hot springs country and encounter no bandits except the ones Sasaki disposed of the night before. The sound of foot steps seemed to have died down ever since the border came within sight. Kanji had a smile on his face and Shinobu was asleep in his arms. Sasaki seemed to have gotten solemn and Inu as well. The mood had turn to one where combat was expected to happen at any moment. "So what happen to the mood? Are you guys planning on attacking me and this little girl is meant to be a distraction?" Kanji asked them, his words seemed to tease but his tone was serious. They indeed were acting weird but more so to where Inu kept more of a distance from Sasaki,

"No no no~ I just got a little more serious since I am almost home. I need to be serious to see my family." "I am going to attack you Kanji-kun. I'm going to assault Inu just before we get near the bridge and you will save him. We will then fight until one of us dies since I was hired by Risei Kotomine to kill you." Kanji's eyes widened as he began to reach for a kunai, "Please... Let me enjoy these final moments Kanji-kun... I feel as if they may be my last ones..." Sasaki sounded terribly sad now. "You're joking. Yeah. I get it now. You sure are funny Sasaki. But that humor is a little too dark." Kanji said nervously, Sasaki merely laughed and his playful tone once more returned. "Yes Kanji-kun. I am joking. I'll make sure to make my jokes less dark from now on." Kanji didn't enjoy were this was going, Sasaki was indeed a mysterious person. The more the man pretended to joke with Kanji the more he felt like he was being told the truth. Instinctively, Kanji pulled Shinobu closer to himself as he watched Sasaki. It is true the Senju enjoyed his company, but he would kill him if he tried to harm any of them.

Posts : 1216

They continued to walk in silence as the three soon stood on the border of the hot spring country. Shinobu was still fast asleep in Kanji's arms as he watched Sasaki closely. Sasaki took in a deep breath as he unsheathed his sword in front of Inu and Kanji. "And here... Here is where I must complete my job." Sasaki sounded sad and looked towards Kanji. "Forgive me Kanji-kun. But I have to do this job, but I have enough honor as a samurai to let you put Shinobu down." Kanji sighed as he looked towards Inu, the man with blue hair frowned as it wasn't going to be pretty to watch the two fight. Shifting his arms to craddle Shinobu in his left, Kanji pulled out a kunai in his right. In a split second Kanji stood before Inu holding the sword back with the kunai. Both their hands trembled as the two tried to push against each other with pure power, "Take Shinobu, Cu-san. I'll finish this quickly." Sasaki smiled at Kanji. "I truly hope I made the right choice." With his left arm free now, Kanji pulled out another kunai. Now with the kunai in his right pointing outwards and the one of his left pointing inwards, Kanji struck. He stabbed forward with his left only to have Sasaki jump back to avoid the blow. Kanji frowned as he threw the kunai in his left towards the swordsman then charged forward.

Sasaki easily deflected the sword with a twist of his wrist; He then swung horizontally to cleave Kanji in half. Kanji barely had time to react from the swordsman's speed, Kanji jumped over the arc and flipped the kunai in his hand. He made it point inwards as he pulled his right arm back; he landed just before the swordsman and stabbed forward. Sasaki this time extended his left and caught Kanji's, "Kanji-san... I believe I told you that my blade's length isn't a weakness for me..." Sasaki smiled before kicking him back. "Gah...! Damn it... He still is holding back..." Kanji muttered as he threw the kunai in his right towards Sasaki. Using the brief time he had, he looked around at the battlefield. His other kunai was to the left of himself and was in front of Sasaki while the other is bound to land similarly close. Charging forward, Kanji had guessed right as Sasaki deflected it and it landed close by. Kanji picked up both kunai and had them pointing inwardly as he prepared to strike. Sasaki swung his sword down on the Senju preparing to cleave him clean in half. Luckily Kanji caught it by crossing his kunai into an 'x' shape and catching the blade in the middle. "I believe I told you... I am not easily killed Sasaki-san!" Kanji grunted before pushing the blade downwards, He jumped back out of the blade's reach and put both kunai up. Sasaki was indeed a formidable opponent.

"I see... I'll have to get serious..." Kanji prepared for anything as Sasaki took up a weird stance. With his back turned to the Senju and his blade held horizontally and parallel to himself. He looked over his shoulder as he smiled towards Kanji. "Did you know Kanji-san? There was once a swordsman attempting to figure out the means of cutting down a swallow in mid-flight. He found that swallows feel the shaking of the wind caused by the sword strike in order to avoid the blade. It is impossible to avoid disturbing the air, no matter how fast the strike, and a sword can only move in a straight line." Kanji watched carefully and pulled out one of the kunai with his right hand. He didn't like where this story was going, Sasaki was planning something. His aura, his stance, his everything seemed to suggest that this next move would be the last. "The swallow can move horizontally or vertically to avoid it, so a single strike cannot possibly cut one down. The swallow's escape route must be completely blocked off, meaning that after the first attack, another is necessary to entrap it. The second blow cannot possibly be done in time to hit the swallow, and it is beyond human capabilities to attack multiple times in one instant." Kanji definitely didn't enjoy this story now.

Taking in his surroundings, Kanji prepared for the next attack in case he had to substitute. "He accepted that it was impossible, but with nothing else to do, he spent his entire lifetime practicing the sword in order to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship. After a long period of time, he perfected the technique and it reached another state entirely. Although with some limitations, he eventually perfected and refined a prison of slashes that treads into a godly skill by doing nothing but spending his life swinging his sword following a single worthless idea on how to kill a swallow." Now the air became heavy, so heavy that Shinobu stirred in her sleep as Inu watched the fight before him. "Would you like to know the name of this swordsman Kanji-san?" Kanji looked around and found that he would have to dive underground to avoid anything as it stood. "I am fighting him..." "Hehe... You sure know how to flatter Kanji-san... But would you like to know of the technique the man made?" Sasaki said with a smile, now this battle was about to end. "It was called..." Kanji put away his kunai, if he couldn't dodge this attack he was going to die. "Tsubame Gaeshi..."

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Spoiler:

One slash, two slashes, three slashes. Tsubame Gaeshi was the unblock able move, the skill a swordsman had perfected to three instant slashes. Well, almost instant slashes. Kanji had preformed his handseals just in time as Sasaki closed the distance. The swordsman was no longer playing as one horizontal slice swept across the distance, Kanji managed to dive underground to avoid any damage but the attack was over in the instant he dived. A vertical slash came down to cage in the top to stop the swallow from flying upwards and another vertical slash came down on the side to stop it from running. The cage of slashes forced the bird to be caught and killed, however this was a shinobi. Not a simple bird, Kanji sprung from behind Sasaki and ducked low. A wide sweeping arc nearly cleaved him in half once more. Kanji kicked Sasaki in the stomach to force him back. Taking his chance, Kanji pulled out three kunai and threw them at Sasaki's chest. Each one landed with a thud as he stumbled backwards gritting his teeth. "Good job... If only I could have fought you sooner..." Sasaki grunted as his left hand began to turn to dirt. "You... You're an earth clone?!" Kanji cried out in anger.

"Yes Kanji-san... I'm sorry... But I don't know what happened to the original me... I've been surviving these last weeks but focusing all my chakra in maintaining my body... All I know is that I went missing and I might be dead..." His sword now began to crumble into dirt, "So... You decided to spend your final moments of life looking for a worthy opponent...?" Kanji clenched his fist in anger. "Yes... I spent my last moments of life looking for someone who I can gladly say killed Sasaki Kojiro..." Now his left leg gave out the and the swordsman was on one knee looking at Kanji. "That isn't fair! Not at all! You didn't fight me at your full strength because you couldn't! Damn it... If you're still alive...! No! You are still alive! We will fight later on Sasaki Kojiro! I know you are alive damn it!" Kanji yelled as he tried to hold back his anger. It wasn't that he was being pitied or his opponent went easy on him. It was because his opponent had to in order to sustain his body for as long as he did. "Yeah... We will Kanji-san... I have faith that I will find you again... Until then my friend... Grow strong..." Now over half his body was dirt, it began to scatter to the wind. "Sasaki..." Kanji muttered as he took a step forward towards the dirt clone, it looked up with its last remaining eye. "Don't go easy on me again." Cocking his right arm back, Kanji smiled towards the clone as it did the same. "I'd never dream of it." Kanji punch through the last piece of the earth clone's head. Now the rest of its body dispersed immediately.

Kanji walked towards Inu with his head lowered from view, he motioned for him to follow. They began up the mountain with little to no trouble, they ran into no enemies half way up the mountain and Shinobu remained asleep. "Out of my way." Kanji said in dark tone as the three bandits before them only laughed. Kanji kept his head low as he charged forward in an instant, punching the first in the gut and the second in the face. Two were down before the third had a chance to react, Kanji took this chance and grabbed his face. The man looked into the young man's eyes before him. They were empty and hollow, he didn't see the bandits before him. All he saw was Sasaki and obstacles leading towards him. Punching the man in the stomach, Kanji tossed him over to his friends as they continued up the mountain. "Kanji-kun? What is wrong?" Kanji looked back at Cu as his eyes softened, "He is dead..." "Who is dead...?" Cu asked with his eyes looking around. "Sasaki is dead... The man isn't alive anymore... I killed what was last of him in an unfair battle..." Kanji's voice began to crack as reality began to set on Inu.

"Oh..." Kanji had said such things to comfort a dying man, if his own clone wasn't sure he was still alive them he might be dead. "He might still be alive though Kanji... He was very mysterious... He probably is just wandering around somewhere..." "Yeah... He might be... Hopefully..." Kanji said as he looked into the sky. Kumogakure was close now, they were a good minute from the gates. "Give me Shinobu-chan. I'll carry her from here on out. We should be safe." Kanji said as he took her from Inu. They continued walking until the bridge came in sight. Now his mission was done, Inu made it home safely and Kanji made it as well. As they walked across the bridge a man wearing a hood walked pass them. He and Kanji bumped shoulders as his hood came off. Looking back for a second, long purple hair was revealed then quickly tucked back into the hood. "Sa-... Sorry." Kanji said as he felt a small smile crawl across his face, "I'm sorry as well. Ka- Young man." the two exchanged words whilst walking passed one another. Kanji felt himself walk a little faster as he walked up to the gates. "Mmmm... Kanji...? Are we home...?" Shinobu asked him while she stirred in his arms. He smiled looking down at her and nodded. "Yeah... We're home..."

[End/Submitting for Eval]