“Ever since that day with Shieo, it's been happening. My biggest fear came to life that day and, in turn, almost took mine. I was able to win that battle. Since then, I've been pretty okay. Well, I was until recently.” explained the magenta-eyed girl as she painted the scene from recent recollection. “It was only a few days following the class that I noticed something was off. I kept waking night after night with the same... nightmare? Dream? It felt like neither, really. It was almost like a vision. I found myself in a forest confronted by a monstrous shadow. The entity before me meant harm to me, but with it also came an invitation. To what exactly? I wasn't sure. I felt no fear or concern, but that was because I felt the presence of a warm, bright light making its way toward us. I knew that once it came, the shadow would disappear. I would be safe.” The gypsy girl bit the edge of her lip and tapped her foot in rhythmic concern. “Whatever it is I'm dealing with, it poses no real trouble within itself. But the intensity of the visions and its occurrences are growing stronger each day. As a result, I haven't really slept. My training has been half-assed and it's even interfered with my flow of chakra.” She immediately stopped keeping tempo and gave the woman a tired. hopeful look. “Do you know what's wrong with me?”
Before Suika was a tiny old woman adorned with a colorful turban and an assortment of fine jewelry. Despite her bedazzlement, her fine wrinkles were her most noticeable attribute. Her cloudy eyes bulged from her sunken face as loose, wiry strands of silver hair fell over it. Her appearance frightened most as she resembled a wicked, aged witch; however, strangely enough, that was what attracted thousands of people to her within the years. Her aura of mystery was enticing; one could almost sense the other-worldly connection she had. The seer's mystifying nature tempted answer-seekers all over the globe. Suika was among those who sought guidance from the ghostly woman. It was convenient enough for her, too, because that hag was a member of the girl's old troupe. The fortune teller, Ichigo, slid her long, bony fingers along her crystal ball. She hummed a raspy tune as she gazed into the glowing ball. Suddenly, fog slowly formed in the room as it flashed like lightning. Most fell into awe with the fortune teller's showy display, but the gypsy girl's deadpanned expression revealed that she was not amused.
“Cut the act, old lady.” blurted out Suika as she slammed her hands on the round, curtained table. She then reached under the piece of furniture and pulled a plug. This instantly dispelled all “magical” effects in the room. “I already know your act is bogus, Ichigo. Just get on with it and I'll give you what was promised.” The old woman was unaffected by the girl's pessimism. As if still in the act, she unveiled the information that Suika wanted. “You, young child, must venture into the forest in person. Once there, you will find the solution to this prophetic riddle that haunts you.” Suika nodded intently. That was good enough for her. “Thank you, Ichigo. You may be a conman, but you actually do have a gift.” The girl tossed a sealed bag on the woman's table. It was filled with Suika and Ichigo's favorite snack: cups of green tea pudding. The fortune teller eagerly snatched the goods and peeked inside. “Piece of advise before I leave, Ichigo,” the youth added plainly as she stood and made her exit, “you know this place is a piece of garbage. Ringo is a crook that will even try to profit from your soon death. Pass away with some dignity, old lady.” Despite her word of caution, the seer shakily opened her pudding cup and shamelessly ingested one using her hand as a spoon. Suika shuddered at the sight and left the camp site.
“Forest... forest. Where can I find a forest?” she pondered as she made her way in Kumogakure. It was then that she vaguely recalled relevant information. You see, it has been a little over a month since Suika's been in Cloud village. When she was taken here to join the shinobi academy, she was given two zany guides that toured her around the village's many landmarks. Among those sites was the Ancient Forest. “That's somewhere I can explore. Maybe I'll find some answers there.”</I><i></i> Suika knew that there were many forestland terrains all over the world, but she didn't have time to research which matched her dreams most. Even if a shot in the dark, she seized the opportunity presented and prayed for desirable results. The girl needed her sleep back. After some time traveling with chakra-enhanced mobility, Suika made her entrance into the Ancient Forest. Signs were posted everywhere that warned on lurking creatures that posed potential threat to anyone venturing into its depths. With her shinobi gear equipped and readied, the gyspy girl was not afraid. Suika was self-assured she could take on any monster that lurked in this forest. She was confident, but the student also decided to keep her wits about her. It was unfamiliar territory, so it was better to be overly cautious than not. “Ok, where to begin...?”
Where was she to start?
Normally, Suika would have had a game plan followed by backups. The youth, in her current sleep-deprived state of mind, didn't do so. She had no clue as to where to look for the information she needed. This caused her to wander aimlessly for the next hour or so. “Where am I going? Ugh.” The Ancient Forest, to her, looked the same at every turn. It was vast and, in a sense, gave this grand-nature vibe that called for its respect. The calls of the wild echoed throughout the trees as the occasionally shuffle of a bush or snap of a branch was clearly heard. Again, Suika wasn't scared one bit by this. She was practically fear-repellent at this point. Well, until she stumbled upon it. “Who are you? Reveal yourself!”</B><i></i> called out the girl with unrestrained authority.
Moments before this occurrence, the animals grew silent as bird flapped frantically away from Suika's general vicinity. It was then that she felt a very familiar presence. It was dark, sinister, and was watching watching her every move. Whatever it was, she decided to spotlight it before it made itself known. But it remained silent as time briefly froze in place. The gypsy drew out her knife and entered an anticipated battle-ready stance. She scanned the area thoroughly, but she found nothing. She knew she wasn't in the clear yet, her instincts told her someone was still.
That is when the student heard a high-pitched cry. <I>“What the-” And then out came a giant shadow. It burst through the heavy covering of the forest's trees and rushed at Suika. Although it was in an instant, she caught glimpse of its form. The creature before her appeared as a fifteen by fifteen ball of darkness with thin tendrils sprouting from it. She didn't witness any distinguishable features; to her untrained eyes, it was just a giant blob of evil aura. The gypsy girl expertly tossed her knife at the being, but it went through it as if the monster was ethereal. “Crap.” It lunged at her, but Suika was able to gracefully evade. She rapidly formed seals and attempted to trap the shadowy mass in an illusion. It failed. “Mommy can't protect you anymore, Mystic.” A chill-inducing tri-toned voice echoed throughout the forest area from every direction. She wasn't able to process its cryptic message at the moment, but part of her wondered what the heck it was talking about. “Gotcha.”
Tendrils sprouted from the ground and wrapped around the tan-skinned gypsy. She struggled to release herself from the restraint, but its grasp on her was too powerful. She was trapped. “Join me. Gift me with your untapped power, Mystic.” It pulled her toward itself.<B> “Over my dead body!” spat Suika in frustration as she clenched her teeth. His shadowy limbs fully enveloped her into a type of cocoon. It went black.
Before Suika was a tiny old woman adorned with a colorful turban and an assortment of fine jewelry. Despite her bedazzlement, her fine wrinkles were her most noticeable attribute. Her cloudy eyes bulged from her sunken face as loose, wiry strands of silver hair fell over it. Her appearance frightened most as she resembled a wicked, aged witch; however, strangely enough, that was what attracted thousands of people to her within the years. Her aura of mystery was enticing; one could almost sense the other-worldly connection she had. The seer's mystifying nature tempted answer-seekers all over the globe. Suika was among those who sought guidance from the ghostly woman. It was convenient enough for her, too, because that hag was a member of the girl's old troupe. The fortune teller, Ichigo, slid her long, bony fingers along her crystal ball. She hummed a raspy tune as she gazed into the glowing ball. Suddenly, fog slowly formed in the room as it flashed like lightning. Most fell into awe with the fortune teller's showy display, but the gypsy girl's deadpanned expression revealed that she was not amused.
“Cut the act, old lady.” blurted out Suika as she slammed her hands on the round, curtained table. She then reached under the piece of furniture and pulled a plug. This instantly dispelled all “magical” effects in the room. “I already know your act is bogus, Ichigo. Just get on with it and I'll give you what was promised.” The old woman was unaffected by the girl's pessimism. As if still in the act, she unveiled the information that Suika wanted. “You, young child, must venture into the forest in person. Once there, you will find the solution to this prophetic riddle that haunts you.” Suika nodded intently. That was good enough for her. “Thank you, Ichigo. You may be a conman, but you actually do have a gift.” The girl tossed a sealed bag on the woman's table. It was filled with Suika and Ichigo's favorite snack: cups of green tea pudding. The fortune teller eagerly snatched the goods and peeked inside. “Piece of advise before I leave, Ichigo,” the youth added plainly as she stood and made her exit, “you know this place is a piece of garbage. Ringo is a crook that will even try to profit from your soon death. Pass away with some dignity, old lady.” Despite her word of caution, the seer shakily opened her pudding cup and shamelessly ingested one using her hand as a spoon. Suika shuddered at the sight and left the camp site.
“Forest... forest. Where can I find a forest?” she pondered as she made her way in Kumogakure. It was then that she vaguely recalled relevant information. You see, it has been a little over a month since Suika's been in Cloud village. When she was taken here to join the shinobi academy, she was given two zany guides that toured her around the village's many landmarks. Among those sites was the Ancient Forest. “That's somewhere I can explore. Maybe I'll find some answers there.”</I><i></i> Suika knew that there were many forestland terrains all over the world, but she didn't have time to research which matched her dreams most. Even if a shot in the dark, she seized the opportunity presented and prayed for desirable results. The girl needed her sleep back. After some time traveling with chakra-enhanced mobility, Suika made her entrance into the Ancient Forest. Signs were posted everywhere that warned on lurking creatures that posed potential threat to anyone venturing into its depths. With her shinobi gear equipped and readied, the gyspy girl was not afraid. Suika was self-assured she could take on any monster that lurked in this forest. She was confident, but the student also decided to keep her wits about her. It was unfamiliar territory, so it was better to be overly cautious than not. “Ok, where to begin...?”
Where was she to start?
Normally, Suika would have had a game plan followed by backups. The youth, in her current sleep-deprived state of mind, didn't do so. She had no clue as to where to look for the information she needed. This caused her to wander aimlessly for the next hour or so. “Where am I going? Ugh.” The Ancient Forest, to her, looked the same at every turn. It was vast and, in a sense, gave this grand-nature vibe that called for its respect. The calls of the wild echoed throughout the trees as the occasionally shuffle of a bush or snap of a branch was clearly heard. Again, Suika wasn't scared one bit by this. She was practically fear-repellent at this point. Well, until she stumbled upon it. “Who are you? Reveal yourself!”</B><i></i> called out the girl with unrestrained authority.
Moments before this occurrence, the animals grew silent as bird flapped frantically away from Suika's general vicinity. It was then that she felt a very familiar presence. It was dark, sinister, and was watching watching her every move. Whatever it was, she decided to spotlight it before it made itself known. But it remained silent as time briefly froze in place. The gypsy drew out her knife and entered an anticipated battle-ready stance. She scanned the area thoroughly, but she found nothing. She knew she wasn't in the clear yet, her instincts told her someone was still.
That is when the student heard a high-pitched cry. <I>“What the-” And then out came a giant shadow. It burst through the heavy covering of the forest's trees and rushed at Suika. Although it was in an instant, she caught glimpse of its form. The creature before her appeared as a fifteen by fifteen ball of darkness with thin tendrils sprouting from it. She didn't witness any distinguishable features; to her untrained eyes, it was just a giant blob of evil aura. The gypsy girl expertly tossed her knife at the being, but it went through it as if the monster was ethereal. “Crap.” It lunged at her, but Suika was able to gracefully evade. She rapidly formed seals and attempted to trap the shadowy mass in an illusion. It failed. “Mommy can't protect you anymore, Mystic.” A chill-inducing tri-toned voice echoed throughout the forest area from every direction. She wasn't able to process its cryptic message at the moment, but part of her wondered what the heck it was talking about. “Gotcha.”
Tendrils sprouted from the ground and wrapped around the tan-skinned gypsy. She struggled to release herself from the restraint, but its grasp on her was too powerful. She was trapped. “Join me. Gift me with your untapped power, Mystic.” It pulled her toward itself.<B> “Over my dead body!” spat Suika in frustration as she clenched her teeth. His shadowy limbs fully enveloped her into a type of cocoon. It went black.
