Battling the questions, mountain overlook. (Social Topic with Cross)

Posts : 730

Out along the village outskirts Rai had found a pleasant seat for herself, one atop a mountain overlooking the vast spread of valleys bordering Kumogakure, facing off towards the east. It was where she came from, somewhere over those mountains, somewhere amid all the streams, trees, and the storms which gave the Lightning Country its name. Her parents, her family, the entire farming village she’d come from was located somewhere over those peaks, and right now her mind was wandering. What would they say to her now? Would they congratulate her, would they scold her, or would they just pity her for the strange emptiness she felt in her chest? It’d been a strange day, one that saw her complete the her first mission as a full fledged Kumo ninja, but also one that saw her claim her first life.

In her fine kimono Kurai didn’t dare sit down on the rough and dirty rocks, the very idea of tearing or staining the soft and supple silk of her outfit quite the sin outside of a fight. Instead she stands, the pair of wooden blocks beneath her feet resting firmly atop a pointed rock overlooking the breathtaking scenery. The sun was only just leaving its position at the top of the sky, midday coming and going moments ago, so still it glared down brightly between the clouds. It seemed no storms would come today to wash away the blood she’d shed, nor to give respite from the sun. Instead a patch of silk would serve as her salvation, the parasol one she’d carried all day; one whose shade was even now casting her pale flesh into shadow. The matching fan drifted lazily in afternoon, wafting soft breaths of cool air past her face. It was a reflexive motion, one which required no though, and with her mind still wandering over the recent events of the day that was a good thing.

Only hours ago she’d been waiting to start her mission, lingering amongst the hustle and bustle of the Kumo docks as they were waking with the day. She’d watched for an hour as an endless string of workers and merchants set to making their way towards the various districts, bringing their food and clothes, weapons and medicine, and all other manner of wares to each corner of Kumo, and beyond. These people were the blood of the nation; they provided their wares like oxygen needed to keep each outer limb alive. They brought food to families and clothes to both rich and poor. These people were Kumogakure, every one of them, and they were her charge in these war filled times. A simple merchant had hired her to help bring his wares to market, and true to his fears he had been attacked by a pair of mindless thugs.

Kurai had a partner in her mission, a man who called himself Mun, and she’d been happy for that. When the two criminals had attacked he kept his cool and defended them well, though not alone. Kurai and Mun had proven to be an effective team, and with grace and skill they defended the man Toshiro, protected his wares, and even prevented the cart he’d pulled from being so much as splintered in the effort. Two the criminals had been well thwarted, each one receiving rather terrible injuries against both elemental assaults and razor sharp weapons of bone. Mun had done most of the offensive work, but when it came her chance to defend Kurai had not failed in her task. She’d completely disabled one only moments before the other was topple by Mun. Toshiro was not harmed through any of it, and shortly afterwards the merchant had been escorted to his desired location. Other than the obvious drama involved with defeating two robbers, it had gone off without a hitch, but then Rai had been left to tend to the wounds of the people trying to kill her only moments before.

Hano and Jargo they’d been called, two men clearly desperate for money, one perhaps just to feed himself or his family. The other, the larger one who was clearly the leader was Jargo, and he was not as fortunate as Hano. He’d never have to worry about money again, and Kurai had seen well to that. All her life her family had taught her the value of life and that value was next to nothing for those unwilling to help their community. Hano seemed to understand; perhaps he was serving a community of his own, but not Jargo. Hano was lucky though, for Rai was a blossoming medic in her own right, and though sacrifice of her own time and talent, with chakra and patience she’d mended the terminal damage inflicted upon his organs. She’d saved his life, all the while silently hoping the act of mercy might lead him to better path through life. When it came time to heal Jargo, however she had given no such mercy.

Instead of healing the man she’d summoned up her chakra, carefully worked through a series of hand seals, and then moved the earth beneath the man. The fountain of blood which resulted still lingered in her mind, the death screams accompanying the slender spikes which rent through his chest echoing all to clearly in her ears. She’d killed the man. Without medical attention he was doomed to die anyway, but she’d whispered his crimes to him, and then killed with with little hesitation, and less regret. Why then, did she that ache in her chest even now? It was the first time she’d ever taken a life, so perhaps the ache was just what came with doing a difficult job. Perhaps she’d made an error in judgment. Silently staring over the rolling mountains around her she is left questioning her own choices, wondering just what her parents might think of her now. If she returned home with this news would they celebrate her arrival, or shun her as a murderer, a criminal no better than the one she’d cleaned off the streets?

Age : 30 Posts : 1012

Mun was not far behind from the trail that was left from Kurai earlier. Ever since she left so sudden he continued to follow her from feet away; keeping his distance so he didn’t get spotted or alerted her in anyway. Something was really off with the girl to him no one just runs off like that when they are done with a mission, especially when it’s their first one. Mun had his mask pulled down so he could relax slightly from the battle earlier on while his hair was pushed back to show his features off slightly. His green eyes, Clan marks above his eyebrows, his flawless skin. Those things were the only features worth showing off at the moment.

Rocks remained stable while he stepped in the environment that the girl went to. He might not have had the smarts of the girl, but he was faster and could keep up with her. Mun’s breathing was calm and slow, barely noticeable to the naked hearing of most ninja. Perching behind a Tree; he looked up towards the sun moving out of the midday placement. It was like a brand new day starting when it was actually ending for everyone else. Licking his lips, he rolled his shoulders off the tree and turned again slightly to see the girl standing on a rock looking over the bordering countries

The last thing that Mun noticed about the girl was that her hands were covered in blood. Maybe it was from her healing the bandits and saving their lives? That is what Mun wanted to think it was, it is what he thought it was. His hands remained tightly in his coat’s pockets while he jiggled them around inside; moving the fabric left and right while his coins bounced and hit his knuckles making a slight noise. Not loud enough for the girl to hear him but, he stopped for his sake. Taking a deep breath he just looked over the girl a few minutes, looking over her stature and how she just remained still.

Something was on her mind, and it was something she was thinking about deeply. Most Genin would be out and celebrating their first mission success with their teammates over ramen or some other sort of food. Apparently Mun wasn’t going to get any grub from how this was going. Looking down on the rock covered ground; blood was making a trail that led to the rock she was standing on. Was she hurt? Was that blood hers? Or, was it some other animal nearby that was becoming a meal for a predator? Multiple reasons or thoughts would pop in his head while he looked her over. A sudden gust of wind blew his hair forward out of a pony tail and spiked it forward slightly. Sighing he pushed it back with his hands, making it flat with no waves in his hair.

One of the Things Kaguya were known for was their pearl white hair, and Muns’ was one of the better styles. It’s something he took seriously something he doesn’t really tell anyone to make himself look less manly than he already does. Crouching down slightly he thought about the mission earlier today. How Calm Kurai handled herself. How she single handedly made one of the bandits immobilized. Her use of Wind jutsu and Earth was that near Mun’s maybe even surpass it from how she used it. They made quite the pair for the mission. Toshiro was still a little pervy and annoying at the beginning but, he shortly changed after that attack.

Mun started to think back to his request of keeping them alive. Jargo and Hano was something that he used to see and hear about all the time back in Kirigakure. Bandits doing anything they can to get by or to help their families. It’s not as common in Kumogakure, looked down upon even. He didn’t think it was a good thing to go by, but he didn’t think it was something that should be handled so harshly. Most bandits are killed, or put into some sort of captivity. Jargo and Hano were no different from any other bandit out there. Sure, they were dumb and drop outs of the ninja academy here, but they still had feelings and goals.

The thoughts of the mission was just bothering Mun now. Something didn’t end well, and he needed to find out what. Taking in a deep breath and gripping his hands on the collar of his vest pulling down on it slightly to show his collarbones and chest slightly, he started to walk towards Kurai. No sound came from him while he walked towards her. No rock cracking underneath his weight, no branches breaking, no dirt being kicked up, his heel wasn’t dragging nor was his scent even noticeable that much. He didn’t sweat or wear cologne, not even the soap he used would give his position away.

Mun’s stride was soft and long in length. He still had holes in his outfit from where his bone’s pierced his clothes. His left wrist was in less pain than it was in before when It was freshly burned. It was still hurting to him when anything touched it or when he moved it in fast motions, but overall it was much better than was it was. He was going to try to hide it from the girl, if she cared at all, or not it didn’t really matter to him. That is not what he was here for, not to get healed at all.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he approached the rock and looked up towards the girl. Still wearing the same outfit she had on earlier, even with the parasol that covered her flesh in a shadow to keep her cool remained on her. He remained quiet for a few seconds before leaning back against a rock, folding his arms infront of his chest; keeping his left wrist on the bottom so he wouldn’t get hurt from it. “Why did you run off like that?” His voice was soft and none threatening, just questioning. “And the blood? Is it yours?”

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“The blood is not my own.” She replies softly, not looking back nor seeming to surprised by the silent intrusion. It was difficult to sneak up on Rai, especially without actually hiding behind something. While she didn’t have eyes in the back of her head the quiet crushing of dirt beneath feet and the movement of pebbles being trod upon were enough to alert her that she’d been followed. It didn’t surprise her, the look he’d given her before she left was one of curious suspicion, and few shinobi simply let things lie. She gives a glance down at her hand for a moment, her fingers still stained by blood, but the blood on her hands was from the man she’d saved. The irony is not lost on her, as she’d never bothered to get to touchy with the man she’d killed.

“The blood on the ground is also not my own. It was here when I arrived, and I suspect it is the blood of a rabbit. There are bones down there, off to the left. I would assume a bird was here feeding some hours ago.” She mutters quietly, her voice carrying easily in the wide open space. She didn’t wish to shout, lest it echo all through out the valley. “And why should I have remained? Our mission was over, and I have no desire to hear that old man whispering praises to me. Lord knows if he might have wanted a hug, or to dance and sing. Those who survive danger are often flooded with endorphins when it is over, making their heads swim similar to the manner a bottle of sake might. Our mission was not that difficult, those two thugs stood no chance against us. I am rather sure that either of us could have handled to both of them, by ourselves. I suppose we were lucky in that, but it does not seem to me a reason to celebrate.”

She closes her eyes for a moment and sighs softy; shaking her head subtly and letting her stained hand return to the soft and slow fanning motion its become accustomed too over the years. After a moment Rai continues speaking, just as soft as before, her voice cool and lacking in any definable emotions. “It may not seem a popular past time for most of those who have graduated the academy, yet all through my life I have always had taken time to view my own actions from outside of myself; to better place them in perspective by viewing them as not my own, but a piece of the entire timeline of village, and the world. Today I completed my first official mission; however that is not to say it is my first, or finest, accomplishment. I was born for this life, trained to place the village’s needs before my own comforts. I was told many times that the value of life was placed not in the importance or talents of a single person, but in how much they contribute to their community.”

“And today I put those lessons into practice, removing a dangerous element from the general population. That man, Jargo, he was the first human I’ve ever slain, but I have little doubt he will be the last. Death is part and parcel of the shinobi trade, and I still question my choice to allow Hano to survive. He may be traumatizing enough by his defeat to seek some manner of salvation from his former life of crime. On the other hand he may simply continue to prey upon those weaker than him. If he does, and the next person he tries to steal from does not have protection, whose fault will it be? If he kills, who is to blame? We could have put an end to that chance, and yet you asked that I spare his life, because you saw something of yourself within him.” She says, eventually trailing off from her lengthy sermon. She still doesn’t look back, her eyes slowly wandering along the mountain peaks and the valleys between them.

After only a moment she resumes speaking again in the same clear and quiet tone. “There are thousands, perhaps millions in this world who do right, who live their lives through honest work. Are they not the ones we should be sparing from those who seek the easy path? Those who live their life as predators to their peers show little mercy to their prey. They steal hard earned ryo, thus taking the very food from the mouths of the innocent. Those with families may lose their homes when their lively hood is stolen from them, and worse the children might lose the parents. Without parents to feed them and guide them, the cycle of crime will only continue; for a life of crime is one which takes little training. It is a life which requires one only close off their hearts to truth and virtue. There are few who can ascend from such an existence once they have trained their mind to accept crime as a valid path.” She notes, and then falls silent, apparently finished.

Below an eagle soars between mountains, her eyes fixing on it for a moment as it glides upon thermals, soaring high over the trees and shrubs of the valley below, no doubt searching for a meal. Some rabbit, some young goat, something it could swoop down upon and sink its talons into. Such predation was natural, it kept the balance maintained between predator and prey, and each death served a purpose. The eagle would feed its young, and in doing so continue the line. The rabbit may not see it that way, but without the eagle to cull the population the rabbits would soon overrun the countryside and become a plague upon the plants and animals around them. This was nature’s balance, balance which humanity had removed itself from the moment it took up spears and planted the seeds of harvest. Rai shakes her head slowly as she ponders these things, but continues to remain silent.

Age : 30 Posts : 1012

“The blood is not my own.” This didn’t really surprise Mun he guessed it was one of the bandits’ blood that she healed. So he was sticking with that thought while he looked over towards the blood that she pointed out was not hers. He simply nodded till after she talked about staying after the mission. Raining his hand, he shook his head and chuckled slightly. "You apparently don’t know what partners do after a mission. They celebrate on a job done well. They go out and relax and just eat, have fun, get drunk or whatever you are into. It’s common for every team to do this. You didn’t have to stay for the old man, I got him all settled in and he went to the springs shortly after. All I did was notice your little sudden change in appearance and you ran off as quickly as you first approached us.
"
“You are right about the mission being easy for us. Either one of us could of taken them on by ourselves without each others help. But , it went by so much more smoothly when we did work together.” Munenori tilted his head back against the rock and listened to her again. Talking about how she was viewing her actions of the village instead of herself. “Do you even know what you’re talking about? You think everyone makes up a village from their work? Then that stays true to the bandits too. They are as much part of the village as the workers here.” His voice was calm and not as emotional yet, as he turned his head to the ground, lowering his eyes from her while shaking his head.

“I asked you to save both.. You gave me your word.” Mun was aggravated with the choice she made to kill Jargo. She did say she will save them both for him, unless she twisted his words around to fit her own motives. Hitting his fist against the rock his was leaning back on, dust flew around his fist while he turned his head towards Kurai and started to get a little more emotional in his words. “Mercy is something that everyone possesses. Only the strongest give it and only the weakest don’t. Are you blaming me for wanting to keep Hano alive? So what, you took a life. Do you know what I’ve done to get here? To get to the spot I am at right now? It may not be much to me, but I worked my ass off for it!”

Mun was somewhat annoyed with the monotone of the girl. At least during the mission she smiled and acted like a normal person, but outside of it she is just a doll. Not moving without being played with. That’s how he read her. Once she started talking about honest work, Mun brought his voice up some volume, enough for a vein to pop in his neck, appearing slightly. "Who says that being a bandit isn’t hard work?! If they have to resort to that to bring in food or money for their family just to last a day?! You know nothing of what it is like to wonder when your next meal is, or when your parents are coming home. If you will hear their voice again, or what will happen if they get caught!” Shaking his head and rolling his shoulders, he walked near her a little, pointing up at her while eying the back of her head.

“Once you know what it is like to struggle, then, only then can you judge someone so quickly.” Taking in a deep breath, he swallowed slowly, walking back to the rock he was leaning against and sat down, sliding his back against the sharp edges of his back while he slide down until his bottom hit against the ground. Pulling up his left knee to his chest, he rested his burnt wrist on the limb while he licked his lips, wondering if what he said got to her. “.. Maybe I was too harsh..” he thought to himself while glaring up at the woman. To think he actually wanted to get to know her, but she was killing it when she spoke like this. When she judged one’s life by their actions. It’s not what they do, it’s what they do it for. That is how Mun was raised and he sticks to that.

“I will never ask to know of your life, or ask why you got here. But I will not simply judge it like you judge people so quickly. That is a very, very cold trait to have, even for a woman of your stature.” Pushing back his hair into a ponytail and tying it, his bangs fell to the side of his face, covering his right eye slightly while he pulled up his mask again, to the tip of his nose. He didn’t expect her to answer him, or correct him. Well, he did expect her to backlash at him for speaking back to a woman like he did. Mun was already feeling bad for doing so. Tilting his head up towards the sky, he started to think of his childhood. How he fought for everything he wanted, or needed; when he took when he had to base on his survival.

“Look. I am not here to badger you for killing him; or what other things you did that I don’t know about nor I care to know about from you. I am here to figure out why are you like this and why you are so monotone and none emotion when it comes to other human beings. You have a cold hear. You know that? You try to not be it, but you are in honesty Cold hearted.” Mun didn’t want to insult her, nor cause her to do some weird Jutsu that would cut him off in an instant. Hell, he was even expecting a back flip off the rock right into his crotch. Pulling up his other leg, he tried to block that from happening.

Posts : 730

Kurai continues to remain silent, watching the eagle soar until it has crested a mountaintop and sunk out of sight. Only then does she finally turn around and peer at her counterpart. She takes a step off the rock, then finally sits down, carefully closing her fan and setting it down gently in her lap. Her tone remains the same, serious to a point, formal but still soft. “You know nothing of my life, and I can not claim to know anything of yours. However I can tell you that those unwilling to live within the laws of society do not contribute to the overall good of mankind, but detract from it. They cause the needs for people like us to defend those who spend their lives perfecting skills which are related to peace and not war. As such, it is our task, one handed down to us from our superiors, that we offer mercy only to those who would not endanger our nation. Yes, you did ask me to spare them, and I listened well to your words. Do this for me one time, you said, and so I did. I spared the man Hano against my better judgment, and let him escape justice and flee back into the city. Once.. you said. And once I did. Jargo threatened to cut my hands off, and I will not allow such people to do much worse to the innocent, law abiding citizens of Kumo who rely upon me to keep them safe from their predators.”

“I understand where you are coming from; empathy is not lost to me in spite of my exterior. This is how I was raised, segregated from the people of my village, and surrounded by tutors, and teachers. You have an advantage over me in your bloodline. The Kaguya are a clan known to produce many fine ninja in this world, though I was long told they were a family of my enemies. It seems few ever migrate to Kumogakure no Sato, and instead they linger in other lands which are not allied to this one. While you may have suffered a life separated from your famous kin, my life was very different. My family exists in obscurity, and though they work very hard and labor their entire lives, none have ever risen onto the pedestal they placed me upon. None have ever been famous, nor powerful, nor wealthy. They’ve been little more than rabbits all through out history, silently, steadily supplying the world with unimportant offspring destined only to follow the same path of obscurity. You may not think it to look at me, but I know suffering. I know what it is to starve, to work, to fear that each night some bandit will come down upon my family, and take them from me. I know this, because it has happened before” she says and shakes her head once. Rai sighs softly, but continues.

“It is not something that only happened once in my life, but regularly, raiders venturing into my village with their weapons drawn and the willingness to end a life written across their faces. They took all they wanted, holding my family and others at the end of their spears and swords, even burnt down the homes of those cooperating with them, simply because it was within their power. All my life I was surrounded by these seemingly weak people, a village that wanted nothing but to exist as it always had. I can not abide the whims of an evil heart, for it knows no compassion, and it knows no needs other than their own. So tell me, then, what is this mercy you speak of? Where was mercy when bandits burnt homes? Where was mercy when crops were trampled under the hooves of horses, and grain was stolen from storehouses? Mercy is not a pretty word, and it is not nearly as common as you may believe. Instead it is a gift.. a rare thing given to those who are worthy. If mercy is given to all, it loses all of its majesty.” Kurai levels her deep black eyes on Mun and tips her head curiously to the side. Though her fan is at rest, her umbrella continues to linger above her, shading her from the sun. "Mercy is only a gift when it is given for the right reasons. When it is provided without proper reason, it is a hex. A burden to both the heart, and the nation."

“Would you ask an eagle to spare a rabbit.. a goat to spare the grass? If you do so, are you not asking them to die; for without their food they will parish as surely as the sun sets each evening? My personal history can not answer these questions any more than your own is able. Instead of turning inwards, we must answer these questions through outward observation, through education and speculation. We must step outside of ourselves, and be sure that that which we consider mercy, is not only an effort to sooth our own hearts at the cost of those around us. You claim I am cold-hearted, but you are wrong. I feel.. I feel many things; however I am able to think from my head, and not from my heart. A rational mind can not be swayed by powerful emotions, or it will cease to be rational and seek only to sooth the ache within them. If we sooth only ourselves, then we neglect the duty trusted to us as honorable shinobi of Kumogakure. If I am willing to neglect the people I am sworn to protect, in what way am I any better than those criminals which prey upon those weaker than themselves?” Rai peers curiously at Mun, wondering just how he’d answer. She shifts slightly on the rock, though her right hand still remains passive, lightly clutching her closed fan in her lap.

A cool wind drifts through the area, moisture on the wind as familiar to her as it was to all who lived within the Lightning Country. It held a promise of rain within it, the scent of precipitation lingering along the breeze in spite of the cottony white clouds lazily drifting westwards. For a moment one floats in front of the sun casting the world below in its soft shadow.

Age : 30 Posts : 1012

Listening to the words that come out of Kurais’ mouth Mun tilted his head while he looked at her. He in fact misjudged her, thinking from how she dressed and acted that she didn’t know what it was like to suffer day in and day out. “.. I did not know about Jargo threatening you like he did. For that, I apologize.” He remained silent until she brought up the Kaguya Clan to him while he chuckled and looked back at her. “If they are so great, why am I the only Kaguya in the village? Why am I judged for what I came from? Do you know what I am called? I’m called a freak. A freak because of my bloodline, I go in, do my job or mission and come back to my house and just lay there. Thinking of all everyone is looking at me, laughing or just mocking me.”

“You call the Kaguya a fine clan. No. No.. You are wrong at that.” Mun stood up slowly, shaking his head slightly while rolling his eyes. “They don’t bear the burden that their younger generations do. We were expected to be war machines. At 8! War machines to kill and to hunt. That’s all we were expected to do. I was much, much different as a child. Ruthless, cold hearted. You may call me a hypocrite, but I am no longer like that.” He looks down at his right hand, squeezing his fingers together forming a fist while he punched the boulder behind him.

“I had to kill my own father to get out of the village and to come here to start new.. No one. Should be able to kill a parent..” He stopped for moment, letting her talk about how she looked at her clan like rabbits. Turning around briefly he narrowed his eyes at her. “If you really think that, then why don’t you change it? You’re in a spot to do something and make a damn name for your Clan here in Kumogakure. Do something with your life instead of worrying what others think of you. If you truly live like that, you’re nothing but a doll that is being played around by Karma.” His voice was not as loud as before as he heard about her life being held at blade or spear point.

This is where he started to realize how much of a douchebag he came off as. To start questioning her and arguing just over her killing someone. Mun didn’t want it to go this far, but he was interested in her back story. They haven’t known each other for more than a few hours, and suddenly this girl is telling him about her past? This somewhat bothered him. He didn’t know what to think of it at first. She obviously didn’t like him from the looks she was giving him, as well as her tone that she was speaking to him in. Even her gestures showed that she didn’t. So why was she suddenly just opening up like that?

“You cannot hold grudges forever. They make your mind corrupt and mess with your emotions. If you hold them in, you will get enveloped into them. You will live in them, and they will come into your world in some form or another. In things you don’t even expect. They affect your actions, your thoughts, your speaking, your emotion, your outlook on life, and your judgment. Sure, you may not see it, or may even notice it. But others, who are around you, know it, or notice it in some way or form. It can either be a good thing or a bad thing. It’s all how they were raised.”

Mun let out a low breath once she started talking about asking animals to spare each other. “If you want to put it that way, the eagle doesn’t attack every single rabbit, it only takes out the weak or injure ones that it doesn’t require effort to get. Goat’s eat other things besides grass; they eat anything they can digest. Those are not good examples you are trying to put forward, Kurai.” He shook his head slightly while chuckling, trying to settle the mood shortly before moving his hands infront of his chest and locking them, leaning back and looking up at the sky.

“A rational mind is good, but if you only have that. You’re nothing but a robot with any feelings. You state that you feel a lot. Yet you only show this emotion so far. If you feel, why just have a rational mind? Why not think with both your heart and your mind? Not all ninja get away with just a mind. If I used just my mind, I’d still be in Kirigakure starving and crying every night. I don’t trust those easily who say they just think without emotion. As for the sworn part, as I said earlier. Bandits are just as part of the village as the people who work there.”

“They just slipped off from work, or had troubles and fell behind. Some don’t do it through their will. What if they have a debt to pay? You may think I am an idiot for thinking this way. Sure, go ahead. Make my day. But I don’t care. I honestly do not care what you, Toshiro, or any other person thinks of me and my actions. They are purely mine and mine alone.” Mun walked nearby to Kurai and sat down near her, If she moved, he didn’t care, he honestly wanted out of the sunlight, but she could take it how she wanted to.

Taking in a deep breath, he turned his head to the right and looked at her eyes, narrowing his against the gust of wind that appears briefly. “I am sorry for whatever mischief, aggravating, misunderstanding or whatever thing that I’ve said or done since I came out here. I am strong in my beliefs, it’s how I was raised and it is what I believe in. I don’t try to sway others to believe what I do, but I am entitled to opinions. You, Kurai, need to loosen up some. If you are going to stick to the serious game, then there is nothing you’re ever going to enjoy.”

Leaning his head back against the rock, he closed his eyes and lowered his mask, exposing his skin and mouth again, showing his scar that runs down his right cheek and left eye. Mun wasn’t done with the girl, but he waited to see her reactions.

Posts : 730

Rai continues to peer at him quietly as he speaks, shifting on the rock only to see him better when he sits. As she’s told to loosen up She manages a bit of an ironic smile, like she’s inwardly laughing at her own stiff demeanor. “Yes, you are right. Relaxation has always come very hard to me when others are around, because all my life I was supposed to put forth the image that I am more than just a simple girl. You say I should do something with my life, but that is just what I am doing. My family has placed this burden on my shoulders alone, to raise the name Hareyakana out of obscurity and find it written amongst the names of other famous clans. But this too shows the separation I have endured. The name was a creation of my family, they thought it suitable to my life. It is not a name I share with my parents, so even when I do become famous, I will always be reminded I am not truly one of them. Hareyakana means brilliant, they liken it to the sun, or a torch, or even my own mind, and yet they also named me Kurai. It means darkness and shadow, like that of my heart. It is who I was created to be, carefully controlled by my tutors, and raised only to be a ninja. But I have already made more of myself than they had planned.” She mutters softly, then holds out her parasol to him. “Please, hold my parasol. Let me see your hand, I will end the pain. It is just a minor burn, I should have enough chakra left now to mend it. Had I used any more on Jargo, I doubt I could have walked home, but now I've had time to rest.”

She waits until he takes her umbrella and then reaches out for his hand with both of hers, her own fingers soft as silk and somewhat cool to the touch. She pulls his hand into her lap and cups it between her own. She spends a moment just feeling the warmth there before focusing her eyes down on his hand and carefully charging her own with chakra. Slowly the energy would seep into his burns and greatly speed the healing of the wound. “They thought I would be an assassin of a sort. They’ve taught me to wear masks of formality and social grace, to speak with a soft voice to allow those around me to assume I am nothing more than a woman. It was they who insisted I hide even the symbol of my graduation until such a time comes when all the world knows of my talents. And yet here I am now, becoming a more talented medic as each day passes. I was trained in the use of blades, though upon arrival into the academy I learned that only those with a true natural talent for it will ever hope to survive on that skill alone. In truth, my mind is much sharper, and my tongue as well. I was given many lessons on speaking, and for that I am very thankful.” She smiles some as her chakra bleeds out into his hand, soon making short work of the burn, leaving his flesh as good as new.

She continues to hold his hands for a moment, then releases them and picks her fan up once more. She keeps it idle still, holding it gently still closed in her hand. She remains quiet a moment and peers down at the pure white of her fan, the gilded edge of the fan shimmering gold in the sunlight. Finally she resumes speaking again, and though she is smiling her tone remains as soft and passive as before. “In truth, I am very happy. Since I have arrived in this village I have had more freedom than at any other pointing my life. The endless stress of the medical academy and the ninja academy are nothing compared to the cloistered life I lead at home. There I ate, slept, and breathed my lessons with nothing else allowed to interfere with my studies. Here.. I am able to spend time in relaxation. It is why I came out here, I love the out doors, with the feel and smell of the wind and grass, and all the world is spread out before me. It is a beautiful place to come to think. Here I can be myself, whenever I choose. I know I come off as cold, but I’ve lived a life with few friends beyond those who wished to teach me skills. There was a shell built around me, and I am only slowly removing it.”

“I am not as cold as you think, I promise. I am just.. quiet. I spend much of my time just thinking. It’s how I’ve lead my life. Uhm.. Would you like to go somewhere else? I suppose I should learn how to celebrate one of these days. We could go find some food, and perhaps a drink, if you’d like. I am open to new experiences.” She peers up at him once more, her fingers flicking open lightly and opening her fan. She gives it a soft tug, once more resuming the slow fanning motion she seemed to always be occupied with. She reaches her right hand out slowly for her parasol once more. “I fear it will rain soon, and I wouldn’t want to get caught out in it.”

Age : 30 Posts : 1012

Peeking open one eye Mun turns it towards Kurais’ face while she lets out a smile and laugh. It was the first time he seen or hear her laugh. He’s seen her smile before in battle, but this one was a little different. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You have goals you could set for your life, or whatever you want to do. In a sense, you are free from the chains that your clan held you on. You need not to worry about getting caught up at spear point or whatever happened as a kid; you can relax for now. You call yourself Dark or shadows while your clan name means brilliant?”

“You know shadows can be just as brilliant and bright just as their complete opposites? They show a shell of what is really causing the shadow.” He holds up his hands, putting his middle finger in a square on top of his index finger, and spreading out his thumb. On the ground appeared to be a head of a bird like animal.“It shows and animal on the ground from the outline of the shadow, but the thing causing the shadow is a completely different thing.” Laying down his hand he chuckled slightly underneath his mask. His left wrist still in pain from the earlier mission was now starting to get irritating to him. With his mask on his mouth, she couldn’t be able to see the minor wince in his lips from every time he moved it.

Looking down at his hand, Mun didn’t want to say no to the girl for a quick healing session, but he didn’t know about her chakra levels in her body.“Are you sure?” He asked before grabbing the parasol and quickly tugged forwarded in front of her. Mun has never been touched by another female besides his mother. Kurais’ soft and cold touch made the hair on the back of his neck stand up slightly. They were much softer than what he expected them to be. It was like silk to him. His hands were obviously warmer and larger, but he looked down at his hand and then back up towards her while she looks down at his hands. She just held it there for a moment, before starting to talk and healing his hand.

“A medic is just as deadly as an assassin you know. You’ll learn how to heal anything at all, but at the same time, you can learn to make something much worse for someone. Probably like you did for Jargo.” He stopped and looked at his hand again, feeling the minor burn slowly be washed away like a cool breeze. “You are already on your own path from your Clan. I’m sure you won’t forget them, But I am also sure you can do much better on your own.” He notices her smile once again, shaking his head while he looked away for a brief moment. “She’s still a girl after all…” He thought to himself while he turned to her slightly.

After his hand is left go, he lifts up his wrist towards his eyes; looking at where the burn used to be. Twisting and turning his wrist, he didn’t feel any pain or any resistance. He started to do one hand seals and made sure his bones came out of the skin just fine. Putting his arms back into his pockets, he slides back into the rock he was on earlier. Listening to her talk again.” Kumogakure is very free to what I was used to as well. Atleast you had people teach you and actually know your name.” He nods for a moment and turns his eyes back to him. “You know how many people know my name?” he holds up two fingers on his right hand. “Toshiro and, you.” His eyes were barely open, narrowed is what people would say.

He didn’t expect her to believe him, but it was true. Mun was an outcast because of his last name. “Kaguya. That is what made me an outcast. Once they heard that name, they freak out and run thinking I’m going to end them on the spot right there. You’ve never heard a good thing about a Kaguya. I’ve never heard a good thing about them. I don’t want to hear anything about another Kaguya unless it has to deal with me, or if another one appears in the village.” His voice returned to the calm state that it was in before the whole argument.

“Are you asking me out on a date?” He folded his arms in front of him, tilting his head and doing a mocking tone with the girl. “Sure, we can find something to do. I’m sure. Whatever you want I guess. I’m just hungry and thirsty.” He smiled underneath his mask while holding out his hand to help her up if she needed it, if not he’d turn around and start heading towards the village walking beside her. “Don’t think too much though. You’ll get bored with yourself and start to well, think like you do. You’ll start thinking how people see you outside of your perspective and honestly. Does it really matter what they think? You should be you, and not someone they can mold in their image.”

He turned his head to the left and looked over at her walking his eyes move down to her sandals seeing that they are wooden. “You really need to invest into some other type of sandal or combat outfit in general. The more you can spread your legs.. er the more you can take a stride the faster you can move, and the less chance you can get caught.” He didn’t doubt her abilities, those wooden sandals just looked uncomfortable to him and to see her walk in them and hear them go against the rock and road was something that was slightly annoying to Mun. Pulling down his mask to his chin, he gripped his vest with his hands, having his elbows out on both sides.

“Pick where you want to go.”

[exit]

Posts : 730

“Outcast, perhaps, but it is still a famous bloodline. Perhaps known for savagery, but when you say your name, people know you are dangerous. They know you are no to be trifled with, for every part of your body is like to become more deadly than the next. While it may bring fear, it also brings with it immediate respect, like the names Hyuuga, Uchiha, and Senju. These are famous names. You keep referring to my own clan, however you fail to recognize that I do not have one. No one in my family has ever been famous. They have always lived in obscurity. I am the first of my line.. the first to have the name Hareyakana. I intend on making it famous and founding a clan, but for now.. I have none. I have a family, yes, but a clan is more than a family. It is an extended bloodline, with more than just one family. It’s many families, all claiming the same name.” she says softly, then carefully rises to her feet. She dusts herself off, her posture becoming quite formal once more, straight backed with her shoulders back and head held high.

She motions onwards gently before taking a step back towards the city gates, and the busy confines behind the walls. Out here it was more private but once back in the city they’d be pacing down roads full of people traveling to and from various places. Kumogakure was as busy as any other great nation, and the gates were especially busy with merchant traffic flowing in and out. “I still do not know the entire village, perhaps you know of some place we might sit in the shade, away from the potential downpour of rain. As impractical as my kimono might be, it is something I love to wear. I think it makes me look very.. nice. It is formal, yes, but when people see me in it, they rarely think I am dangerous. It makes me approachable, and it draws the eyes of strangers over to me” she notes, and that much was certainly true. More than one man paused to peer at her as she passed, merchants and commoners alike taking in her body as she took in the sight of the mountain overlook. The slow pace of her clogs allowing time for her hips to sway delightfully, while the sash bound around her waist gave her a thin and delicate appearance. More than one tried to catch her attention, but she seemed pleased to ignore them and continue on her way. She had something of a snooty demeanor to her, but she wore it as well as any noble of fine upbringing.

Her wooden clogs thunk softly on the stone path with each step, her parasol shading her as she fans herself gently with the pure paper fan. She makes her way through the busy gate district, and making her way towards the Shuuren district. It would be a long trip, and most of it uphill, as the Shurren district was set among the highest reaches of the Village Hidden by Clouds. Shurren district was the center of culture in the village, a place where all went to take in the sights, to enjoy the food and art, and to seek refuge in the more peaceful taverns dotting the path. There she hoped they could get some rest, though apparently her idea of celebration was a bit boring. Still, the first peel of thunder echos among the mountain peeks behind them. Dark clouds were gathering off on the horizon, just beginning to be drift in over the mountain range. Kurai’s umbrella was silk, it would stop rain, but it wasn’t truly designed for that, so much as offering a constant shade when the sun became bright and unbearable.

Their voyage would take them well past the gates before long, and by the time the first drops of rain would start to land on the ground they would likely be already seated in a booth, protected by ceiling and curtains from the storm about to fall. Few people would complain with more than jokes as the Land of Lightning was prone to these storms on almost a daily basis. Clouds clashed with the mountainous regions, getting stuck while trying to pass to the other side, and so each day they would see these showers. Heavy drops of water would form uncounted puddles on the street while even midst the downpour the merchants and commoners would busy themselves with getting their product to market and plying their service trades for enough money to eat. To look at her, few would realize she was just another piece of the commoner’s caste, and for as long as she could Kurai would keep it that way.

[exit]
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Topic Closed.