Exit, Pursued By Bear! (Requesting exit)

[Kairyuu]

His pack wasn't very large. A few changes of clothes, some light travel food, money...just the necessities. Hoshikata looked nervous for the first time in a long time. He was taking one of the biggest steps of his life this day. Not even when facing the Deep One was he nervous, but on that day he was striding towards immortality, not away from it. He had to admit, there was something quite cathartic about giving up eternal life and power.

He stood before the gates of the village in his trademark black robes, with the silver trim and golden runes. He held felt naked without the Staff, but he'd sent a note to Haruka to bring it, for it would be needed in their destination. Without it to hold onto, the Seer was left standing free with his hands clasped before him and his eyes on the portal to his destiny. In his pocket was a letter, to be sent immediately to his family.

The letter simply declared Isaki Tenken the new leader of the clan. Once it was sent, Hoshikata would lose access to most of his funds, not all. He had several private ventures to keep him from being destitute, but it would be the first time in his life he would be without nearly limitless resources. It was quite odd, to be giving his entire life away like this.

He waited silently, knowing that on this day he would leave Cloud...and also knowing he would receive his punishment before doing so.

(Leaving with Haruka and Shashu)

 

[Sanageyama Masaoko]

The window slammed shut, shocking the dark black birds into flight. She watched as her crows shuddered their powerful wings and took off in flight carrying the messages she wrote for her spies around the city. Haruka peered through the window pane, holding in the sight of her city before turning her back on it to gather up the remaining things for the journey. Her thoughts dwelled on Masaru and the look he had given her before she left him with her final message. She felt so lonely on her walk home, as if she might never see her dear cousin again. But, Haruka knew that Hoshikata would bring her home safe. They would all return home safely. She would not suffer loss again.

She saw him looming in the distance. His dark robes blending with the darkness of the shadows that hung over the gate from the mountain above. His white hair cut through that blackness. As she got closer and closer, her heart thundered with anticipation of what might happen in their journey. She gripped his staff firmly, turning the skin of her knuckled white. Everything would change when they returned. Everything would be anew and she wasn't sure if it would be for the better.

When she drew close enough, she tilted her head towards him in acknowledgement. The look of worry on his face caught her attention. She had not seen this look on him before, even when he had faced possible death. She gave a small smile, hoping to instill courage and ease his mind. Her hand reached out to take his when she got close enough. "Good morning. I've brought the staff as you asked." She spoke, lifting it to but not yet handing it over. Her eyes rested on its carving. Faintly she felt the pushing aura of the weapon pulse through the air. Know that she knew the whole story, Haruka very well understood just how important the staff was to their mission.

"You look on edge, my love. I am here beside you, no matter what happens. Please remember this and rest easy. It won't do us any good for you to falter." Her words seemed hardly comforting to outsiders, as the tone of her stern voice called him back to a stronger state. Still, Hoshikata and Haruka understood each other. He even knew her better than most. So, as her hand squeezed his briefly before letting go, Haruka's cold stare grew gentler.

[Topic Entered/Exited]

 

[Tsuirakuya Shashu]

"No? Alright, any volunteers then?" Ayumu said, holding up the manilla folder containing the mission details for all to see. The Sennin had called in what few ANBU were currently on hand and not already assigned a mission. Even with the recent rise in numbers the ANBU branch was still understaffed and overworked, and the room was barely occupied. Originally constructed years ago under the leadership of Santaru Rin, the auditorium (if it could be called that) was built to house the entire standing ANBU force. Back then the entire hall would have been filled, but these days even if the every single ANBU, including reserves, had somehow found time to file in it still wouldn't be at half capacity. Today, they didn't even fill one section.

Unsurprisingly, no one raised their hands. Most of the people here weren't on any assignments because they had just come back from an assignment, and weren't even fully rested for another one. Shashu herself had just come back from a mission the day before and had not expected another for a few days at the earliest. Most people would (and had) decline under the circumstances, but the mission had two things going for it. One, it was Ayumu asking, and Shashu wasn't about to let an opportunity to impress him go by that easily, and two, it would give her a chance to visit another country, even if only briefly. Her encounter with the former Mist-nin Sairasu had piqued her interest in Water Country, and she was interested to see exactly how bad things had to have been to force an entire populace away from their homeland. Well, with that in mind...

"Shukun. I'll take it." Shashu said, rising from her seat and stepping forward to take the folder.

Ayumu nodded and passed it to her with a smile before moving on to the next order of business. Shashu went back to her seat and set the folder aside. There would be time to read and get ready later...

</B>

* * *​

<i></i>

After reviewing it one last time, Shashu flipped the folder closed and stretched. She was rested, her bag was packed, and she knew the details and dossiers by heart. It was time to leave. The folder went into the fire, it's use fulfilled. She shouldered her pack, barely noticing the burden. Everything she needed for the road was stored in sealing scrolls to save space, with the added side effect of weighing very little. A quickly penned note was pinned to Kahako's door, explaining where she would be for the foreseeable future, adding that she didn't know when she would be back. After a second thought she tacked on enough money for a couple good dinners at a nice restaurant. Shashu had become accustomed to the med-nin's presence lately, and she would miss her company on the trip.

The walk to the gates was uneventful, life in Kumogakure continuing in the same vein as any other day about her. As she neared the gates themselves she stepped into an alley and summoned her mask, a mix of arachnid and feline features combined to give it a somewhat menacing and predatory look, before heading out to meet the two she was to travel with.

She found them already together, close enough to signal some degree of intimacy but just far enough apart to not be obvious about it. Of course, thanks to their dossiers Shashu was already familiar with their relationship, as it was known to the Kage and Sennin at least. It made things tricky; Haruka was a steadfast and loyal Kumo-nin, but love could do strange things to people. Her main purpose for this mission was to keep an eye on them and report back if anything untoward were to happen. Still, it wasn't Shashu's place to judge. She knew first-hand how inconvenient love could be.

The ANBU stepped forward, stopping at a respectful distance away. She did not bow, instead choosing to wait until they noticed her presence to offer a simple introduction by way of greeting.

"<B>You may call me Bikou, I'll be accompanying you on this trip. We can leave whenever you're ready."

It wasn't much, but then again she was just a faceless ANBU to them, no more, no less. Perhaps on the trip she would get to know them better, and vice versa, but for now that was all that was needed. She would wait silently until they were ready to leave.

[MFT: WC-744]​

 

[Morishige]

"Good lord, I've let myself go. How on earth is this bitch the sennin. Like, women get ahead by using their looks. Men these days must have low standards." said Tomomi, looking at herself in the mirror. Today, she was the illustrious redheaded sennin known as Hikari. Yesterday she was the cabbage man who pushed his cart around, and the day before that, a troll under a bridge scaring kids at the academy.

She left the women's restroom and made her way to the gates to go have some fun. She saw a group that needed addressing little did she know the history between these individuals.

"Well you know the fucking routine. Gimmie your shit, and go do your job." she said with a chipper attitude, holding her hand out like she was full contempt for the world.

...

Meanwhile, Gekido was teaching his youngest son how to hunt in the woods. What a great dad!

[Exit granted upon deliverance of proper passports and papers, yada yada]

[Topic Entered/Left
Run time: 30 minutes
Tomomi(Haruka) is a former PC, retaining the S rank run time]​

 

[Sato Daigo]

Before, Hitomi handed a young courier a parchment folded as thin as a letter sealed in Kumogakure's emblem. The contents contained the proceeding of Hoshikata's exile. Now, the same man was rushing toward the gate hoping that he would be able to find Hoshikata. As he reached the gates he would see four figures, apparently one of them was the gate guard as she exhorted them to deliver their credentials.

"I am sorry I arrived...." The young chunnin said as he grasped his ankles trying to catch his breath. It was a while since he had to sprint to one place to another in a matter of seconds. "Hitomi-san, would like to give you your exile papers before you leave, Hoshikata-san." The man said as he walked toward the only man in the group. His hand slipped into his coat as he handed him the sealed parchment.

Once he opened it he would see that his exile would last five years and not until then will he be considered in having the privilege to enter the village. He is free to remain in the country. Haruka will be in charged in maintaining this contract and any violation against will be judged accordingly.

"If there is nothing else I will head back to the village." The man continued.

[[Entering amd leaving topic unless stopped]]

 

[Kairyuu]

He looks up at Haruka approaches, a smile crossing his face that was barely there, tinged with concern. As she raises the staff, he reaches out, not to it but her, grasping her hand around it’s carved wooden surface and letting the cold of her hand and the warmth of his own be absorbed into the fell weapon. Her words were received well, and Hoshikata leaned down, his breath hot on her neck as he responded. ”I won’t falter, dearest. I admit to being concerned about the punishment your oh-so-great leader will see fit to give me.”

He would say more, but at this time a third wheel made itself known. Golden eyes rise to meet a mask that would instill fear if he had fear of anything physical on this planet at the moment. The girl, introduced herself in an odd way, setting his mind to spinning. Young, likely in her mid to late teens. Call her Bikou so it wasn’t her name, probably a code name. ANBU, which meant she was loyal to the village. No signs of deference, but there was the respect of waiting on them before interrupting.

All work, no play, as the saying goes. As another arrives to see them out, Shin makes his own appearance, handing over a letter with the punishment. Quite a rushed ceremony, but Hoshikata simply walks past the woman letting them out as he reads it. He had no paperwork, and he figured the Raikage seeing him off would be good enough proof for this woman to let them out. The words on the paper were dimming his world as he read them. Five years was quite a while, a punishment that part of him felt unjust. It was that part of him that he was seeking to eradicate. The Seer, the monster of his father’s design, what some people in this village were calling the Devil or the Father of Lies.

”Five year exile. You’re tasked with making sure I obey it.”

With those words, he gives a sigh and sets off, not looking back at the gates. He had no reason to, the only thing he would miss was going with him.

(Topic/village left)

 

[Sanageyama Masaoko]

"As am I..." She whispered as Hoshikata's attention was drawn to the little shadow that had appeared in their midst. She hoped the girl would not interfere much with what needed to be done. Haruka trusted this Bikou to remain as a shadow as her Commander had trained her to be. The Shima turned away from the girl with staff in hand as another woman came sauntering towards them. She was shocked to see the burning red hair of her Sennin. Her words were ill matched to her normal personality. Haruka was taken aback by this sudden deviation of character. Who the hell is this? Someone who wants to practice their deception it seems. Although they are doing a piss poor job at it... Haruka handed her a passport, waiting for "Hikari" to process it.

As the faux Sennin worked, another man came rushing up to the leaving party with letter in hand. She watched from the corner of her view as Hoshikata accepted the parchment and quickly went to reading the contents. His exile papers. It sent a rushing shock to her nerves, as her heart stuttered while her Sol scanned the sentence. As hurriedly as the man came, he so went. The doppelganger handed back her passport in time for Haruka to turn and catch up with Hoshikata. She fell silent as his side while he announced his sentence.

"Five years!? But-" She held her tongue. It was best to talk about this later. She needed to let her anger cool. Even though she was a cold blood ice demon, Haruka had a certain temper that sent her over the boiling point. If she wanted to change anything, she'd have to learn to keep her irrational behavior in check. She looked back at gates once more before setting off with Hoshikata down the mountain path, with a little shadow at their tails.

[Village Left]
[MFT.]

 

[Tsuirakuya Shashu]

Five years...five whole years I'll be gone...

Shashu was immensely grateful for her mask and the fact that nobody was paying any attention to her, otherwise they might have seen the surprise and shock on her face. She had known she would be away for a while, she had even looked forward to such a trip, but five years? Five years spent away from everyone and everything she knew, all to follow a pair of strangers in exile? If she had known it would be this long...

No, it's no use thinking about it. I can't go back now. Damnit Shukun, why didn't you tell me? She thought, her hands clenched tight behind her back. Was I too much of a bother? Are you trying to get rid of me? Inwardly she shook her head. No, that's not like him. From the look of things, these two were just as surprised as I am...he probably didn't know. Damn it all!

Surprised turned to confusion, confusion turned to anger, and anger turned to resignation. There was nothing she could do about it after all, except say good-bye to the village she knew. A lot could change in five years...who could say what it would be like when she returned?

She tried to look on the bright side. Well it could be worse. It's not like I'm leaving anything behind really, except for Shukun, Kahako-chan, and everybody at the Dragon's Rest...and I'm pretty sure Saya can handle things just fine. Hell, she'll probably be even better off when I get back.

It was the absence from Ayumu and Kahako that really bothered her. How was she supposed to get Ayumu to notice her if she was Yevon-knows how far away, following around a pair of exiles? And Kahako...the past few months had proven her company to be invaluable to Shashu. She got along pretty well with anyone, but she didn't really have any close friends before Kahako. Their time together had formed a strong attachment to the other girl, in more ways then one.

Not to mention how strangely she's been acting lately. There's something wrong, but she won't tell me what it is, and now I won't be able to find out for myself. I hope she'll be ok... Shashu sighed. At least I can still write.

Shashu pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind as Hoshikata and Haruka turned to leave. With one final glance towards the the village, she followed the pair of exiles out. Perhaps this is for the best...

[MFT: WC-429]​