Open Blizzard Blues, Nightmare's Hues [Open]

[Ryuu Rei]

Hospital work was a chore, especially considering Rei’s own extensive research into the disease threatening to maul her DNA, but it was a necessary one. Getting back into a work life routine was aiding her mind more towards recovery from the three years trapped under a fae god’s thumb. Far more than pouring over countless lines of math to find that perfect formula was, anyhow.

It had surprised her how alien and yet, same, Kumogakure had been in her three years away. The buildings seemed taller. Roads were a thing she was getting used to dodging as the kunoichi darted between them as she preferred leaping across the city far more than riding. Since coming back she had already nearly caused five wrecks and been hit about a dozen times, but managed to just, keep accidents from happening. The one thing that hadn’t changed, thankfully, was the people themselves. Still wired from living under samurai rule there continued to be a social hierarchy that just refused to break; but, despite it being weird to her, she was glad one thing remained from the Kumo she left.

Even the slums were far less…slummy. The downtick on homlessness was almost nil save maybe a hundred people give-or-take that either refused to seek shelter or were there illegally and trying hard to not be caught. At least, what little reports she got back from loyalists in the KIA stated those things. Rei herself never witnessed a single person looking downtrodden due to lack of shelter. She did see the faces of poverty though. Working in the hospital she beheld rampant diseases that still plagued them. New ones that were from the shock changes to the climate and infrastructure, people coming down with illness due to finally getting a chance to relax; which was weird but, prevalent. Food poisoning from improperly cooking the cheaper meats, illness borne of immigrants from the coast moving to the mountains, and the occasional chemical weapon created by accidentally mixing the wrong cleaning products.

She carried all proudly as Rei always had. Happy to be a kunoichi, happy to help her fellow man.

Today, however, had been especially draining. A flu outbreak from the previous colder seasons had resurfaced in the advent of a freak blizzard that had closed down the Dragon Tooth pass temporarily. Not that blizzards at any time of the year were uncommon in their mountain home, but this one struck hard and fast. It was just the same kind she had dealt with a scant ten years ago when metal had been a part of her body. It made her wonder if it was just one of those weather cells that build up over a decade and swung in all at once, but either way it shocked immune systems hard. She had guesstimated that at least fifteen-percent of Kumogakure was dealing with the flu now, and it made the hospital work she had been using as therapy stressful.

Which is why one would find her at that pub today; beer was a backup therapist. Sitting at the bar with a half eaten burger, she downed her third beer and called for another refill. The man behind the counter started to protest but, the jaded look with tired bags beneath Rei’s eyes made him second guess his suggestion - so simply fill back her up glass he did. Reaching into the cooler under his side of the bar, he produced a brown bottle with the image of an equally brown dragon wrapped around the image of a hop flower on a crisp white background. The name of the beer, scrawled out in Kumogakure’s native Vulgar, said ‘Esō’s Grace.’ The name of a dragon, allegedly. All Rei knew or, even care to know, was that the beer was her own clan’s second farming venture after their cabbage empire; and that it was damned delicious.

Cracking the bottle cap against the edge of the bar, the grizzled drink-slinger grabbed the glass and tipped it before gently pouring the golden beer into the cup. As it neared to filled he tilted it back down and finished the top until it fizzed up a nice head that threatened to run over the edge of the glass. He turned away, and tossed the bottle into a recyclables tin for glass, and left the medical shinobi to nurse her stress with the fourth bottle of beer that evening. Grabbing the glass and holding the liquid steady with a gentle stream of chakra, Rei leaned her head back and drained a fourth of the beverage before sighing happily and releasing an audacious belch. It had gathered the attention of a male down the bar who smiled as if he suddenly saw an opening; Rei did not miss that look in his eyes.

He hopped up off his barstool and sauntered down to lean against the bar before reaching into his white jacket to produce a pack of cigarettes. Rei’s red eyes glanced over at the audacity as he shook the pack to produce a single cancer stick, his eyebrows raised and his smile wistful. Three years ago, the ex-Sennin would have taken the advances as a challenge. Downed her beer, grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him into a nearby closet to have her way with him - but there had been a stopper placed on that nonsense. Shirokuu provided enough intimacy both physical and emotional, she didn’t feel that odd craving for attention she once had been nothing but a willing victim off.
“No, I don’t smoke,” she lied, pushing the cigarette back down with a smile. The medical shinobi did, in fact, smoke, just not that brand - and she didn’t want to feed any of the man’s shallow needs.
“Oh? Well, maybe I can buy you a proper drink then? Something with a little more…” his hand slid across the bar to touch her hand, “…edge?”

A flurry of emotions rolled through her. Anger was the probably the first, followed by fear, recurring anger once more, and then a simmered annoyance; the latter at a wondering if she had been this bad. Rei snatched her hand back,
“Do not,” she warned simply before lifting her beer back to lips to gulp down to a remaining quarter. Her head was getting a little swimmy from the mix of alcohol and raw emotions she had been enjoying slowly since returning from a waking nightmare. Probably best to call it a night and head home. Reaching into her back pocket she pulled out a simple folding wallet and placed down a large bill,
“Keep the change as a tip,” she stated, knowing it was worth at least twice what she had bought but there was a deep gut urge to get out now. The man had not taken the hint and kept smiling at her. Picking up her white labcoat from the stool beside her, Rei shrugged it on and moved towards the door only to find the male continuing to stalk after her. He called out, trying to get her attention once more,
“Oy, hey wait! Sure you don’t want to head downtown? I know a much better bar whe-” A single finger interrupted him. She placed it against his lips and shook her head without a smile this time before silently exiting out into the snowy night. The man let out a small chuckle before pulling out a comb and slicking his hair back. There was a certain look in his eyes that said ‘I ain’t giving up that easy,’ and after waiting a full minute, stepped out into the blizzard after Rei…

 

[Chigokai Yuna]

Chigokai Yuna had to get some things ready. It was mainly going out to buy last minute ingredients for help making dinner with her mom and brother. It surely has been a while since she had actually been with them, what with her taking up the Anbu Sennin position, and then suddenly, she was the only active Sennin around for some time until just recently. Heck, everything in between her rise to Sennin-hood till now has been much to a blur for her. Only a few things had stood out to her. One such things was when some giant from Sand attacked Cloud. She was the first to intercept and promptly subdued him. And as it turns out, he is related to the Ryu clan, and by its extension, Rei, someone that she had come to understand, despite their one and only encounter.

Yuna was bundled up in winter clothing as she stepped outside. She didn't really expect such a winter storm to hit, when they are at the end of winter. Then again, sometimes nature is more mysterious than even chakra at times. Nevertheless, she pressed on, she grabbed some of the things that she needed at the store, including some spices to add into the steak. Yes, they were having steak, with mashed potatoes, all slathered in gravy. Yuna's mouth salivated at the thought. Yes, she can just go out to eat, especially since she now has the money for it, however, one can never go wrong with homecooked meals. And that is something that she hasn't had in a long while.

Exiting the store, Yuna would squint her eyes in the blizzard. She seen two figures, and it seemed like one was following the other. She listened to their blood flows, but with the blizzard as harsh as it is right now, even she is having a hard time discerning blood flows. She knows both are humans at the very least, but any other sounds the blood flows make is drowned out by the blizzard. Yuna pushed on ahead and fell into the same walking pace as the person that was ahead of the stalker. It was then that she realized the face. Years of being hit with surprise after surprise made it easy for the Anbu Sennin to cover up the fact that she is surprised to see Rei after all these years. But she has an inkling idea about Rei's follower.

"Hey!" She exclaimed, "Been a while! I was wondering if you would like to join me with my mom and brother to have steak and mashed potatoes with gravy at my place?" Yuna had to basically raise her voice to make herself be heard over the snowstorm. She just hopes that Rei can pick up on the fact that she is trying to help her get away from the stalker.

 

[Ryuu Rei]

The extreme cold on her face felt weird in the heavy buzz she was feeling. Warmth spread from her core throughout most of her body; especially in the head, feet, and hands. The wind’s icy howls almost felt really nice as she pulled her coat closer to form, but knew it was a lie. Living as a mountain dweller, and trained as a deadly soldier in that environment, meant she knew every last thing to avoid when it came to their unpredictable weather. Walking around in a blizzard drunk was one of those things. The chance of falling into hypothermia was increased and with all the white even she was having a hard time telling which street she was on; all the extra technology and roads didn’t help either. She had crunched only a few yards away from the bar through the slow drift before realizing that this street wasn’t the street she thought.

Her ruby eyes glared at the sign. It seemed…wobbly, but that was probably the beer. Her head was also suddenly swimming far more than it should be with the amount of beer consumed…but, then maybe that was just having not had a good drink in years. Holding a head to her hand with a groan, Rei looked around hoping she could get her bearings. It was all white. The temptation to simply leap into the air and check her surroundings ran up her spine, but that too was ignored; last thing she needed was forgetting how to land after.

Unbeknown to the green-haired kunoichi, the man from the bar had stepped out and followed her but with a good distance between them. His left hand was formed into a half-tiger seal - one used to trigger and/or hold a planted technique. A simple pat on her hand and the Genjutsu had been planted into her chakra coil. Worked every time, the man thought to himself with a smile as he watched Rei struggle with her senses. He kept far back, though. His mission wasn’t entirely as disgusting as it appeared.

He was a shinobi compromised. Worked for ANBU for a number of years until the whole rebellion thing happened, where he had been fingered as a minor player in the whole scheme; which was true. He passed along notes among other shinobi for hefty pay, but had no idea what they were about; nor did he care. So long as he had money for himself and enough left over to woo the girls, life for the deplorable would be easy street. After losing the ANBU license and struck from the military via the new courts, he had little to work with save a government stipend. It payed for his home, for basic meals, and that was it. The life of a simple ex-soldier was boring, and after a year of laying low decided to start selling his services.

Before being cut from the military he was a Specialist within ANBU. Illusions and sabotage. Though he never advanced far up the ladder, he was exceptional in his ability - just, also smart enough to not show it. Staying low kept him out of prison like some of his higher ranking comrades who dove head first into Miro’s bullshit. That said, the mercenary work in Kumogakure was very far and few between with the way the military had branched out and taken control of the entire country. Working freelance usually meant reporting to the head honchos, and the last thing he needed was them knowing that Ous Notori was back in business.

So, underground work was where he went. Shady was putting it lightly, too. The belly that existed in Lightning was deep and dark to keep certain people from finding it, and he had to go through some serious hoops. Wet work was where he was used for the most part, and that worked out all right since he excelled in causing fatal accidents. However, it had grown…bothersome. Nightmares of some of his victims were beginning to take root and he needed a big break to retire on. So, after asking for something bigger, he had been saddled with a job a whole year in the making - kidnap Ryuu Rei.

Apparently, she had some people who wanted her body for reasons not given, but understood that the Kunoichi was some kind of key for them. She was to be brought back, alive; that was it. How, was not mentioned. So as he watched her stumble around trying to fight the flaying of her own chakra, Ous remained calm and kept an eye out for-

Oh shit, who is this now?!

His body naturally turned fully down the alley and began to walk away. He did it with such a purpose in his step to throw off his stalking activity if the person showing up on the scene had some ability to see through the blizzard; make it looked like he was just following her out before taking to his own route. At least, he hoped that person was dumb enough to believe that. At least now, he knew she had a weakness to alcohol. He just needed a new face and a second chance. His left hand broke the seal and let the chakra tethering between the two fade away…

…and Rei suddenly found her supper bubbling out of her stomach and onto the ground. A cold sweat spread suddenly across the soldier’s body as he used a wall to brace her suddenly weak legs against. Breathing was a little hard now, and her chakra system was out of whack. That was something alcohol did not affect, especially in women. They had the sole talent among shinobi to suddenly sober themselves with a shot from their coil. The fact that it was noticibly chaotic when all she had was a buzz concerned her. The weakness of 3 years asleep also had not been fully shaken, and for the first time Rei realized how vulnerable she was. The familar voice calling through the wind caught her by surprise, and her thumping heart of fear began to calm knowing who was nearby.

Embarrassed to be happy, the ruby-eyed soldier lifted a hand to get Yuna closer,
“Sure! But ah, could you help me out? Legs are…wobbly,” she asked with a little shame in her voice. Rei was shocked Yuna was going out of her way to invite her to…well, anything. They weren’t exactly on great terms when she vanished a few years ago due to some…territorial dispute. Guess time healed all wounds? Once Yuna was nearby to support the fellow warrior’s weight in their trip back home, Rei gave the other woman a look. One of fear, one that said “watch out,” just in case. She had no idea who was able to muddle her chakra like that, but whoever it was could potentially take advantage of their situation and that was not something she wanted to drag the ANBU Sennin into.

Though, that would assume her stalker was stupid enough to tangle with the Sennin too.