Open Father & Son, a Somber Reunion

[Shishiwakamaru]

​

The sun had already set upon the horizon, no colorful hues danced across the sky this time. Even the moon and stars refused to come from behind the murky clouds, only the artificial lights lit across Konahagure would be a source of light. The evening air was unnaturally cold, crisp and bitter it was. A lone, disheartened Shishiwakmaru sat upon the stairs to the graveyard. You see, it was the anniversary of his father's death, but Shi had yet to work up the courage to face his father's tombstone. With a subdued tone Shi would talk to himself, or to his father really.

"Why did you have to leave me, it's not fair ya know. Nao-San and Keiji-San are great caretakers, but it's just not the same. I wish you were here, father... Please... Help me..." Life is pleasant, death is peaceful. It's the transition that's the troubling part. Shi wished he had more information about how he died and about who it was that did it. If only he could put a name or a face to the bastard that attacked the gates. Shishi was terrified about the notion of never figuring anything out. It seemed wherever he looked he was stonewalled, just dead ends.

Tears now forming in the corner of Shi's eyes the soft bloops of liquid began to hit the ground beneath him. It burned to cry this time, for some reason it just felt more intense than normal. Perhaps it was because of it being the anniversary of his death, or just the numbness fighting to gain control over the boy's psyche. Whatever the reason it plagued Shi to no end. Balling his fists he squeezed his eyes shut tight, his fingernails digging almost to the point of drawing blood. "I miss you so much, father. I just want you back, tell me how to avenge you, tell me something, anything!" The tears came more frequently now as Shi escalated to full on bawling.

Putting his fists to the side of his head he began to hit himself in frustration. He was torn between two realities. On the one hand he was a 12 year old kid who desperately missed his real father, but on the other he was supposed to be a shinobi would didn't back down from anything, a tool to serve the village. "I don't know what to do! Aggghh!" Shi cried out in anguish, caring not that half the neighborhood could probably hear him. Ceasing the self harm he buried his face into his knees and screamed again. Perhaps he was acting too imprudent or doltish about the whole ordeal, but he truly didn't care in this moment. He didn't care about anything, except the fleeting thought of his father.

 

[Hoshirei]

Hoshirei had come to pay respects to her mother's grave, though really it was for both of her parents, she had, after all, managed to get her father's name inscribed on the headstone as well despite the fact that his body had never been recovered. She was just finishing up when she heard possibly the most painful sound she had heard in some time. She made her way over in the direction of the sound only to find Shishiwakamaru sitting on the steps crying. She was reminded that she had yet had the opportunity to look into the attack on the gates and reminded herself to do so as soon as possible. Hoshirei walked softly until she was just in front of the boy before her. She thought about offering a hug but wasn't sure how receptive he would be to someone he had only met once before. So instead, she reached one hand up and placed it on top of his head gently, just letting him know someone was there in case he hadn't registered her approach.

"Hey there," she said as if talking to a skittish young colt. "You look like you could use a spot of company. Was there someone you came to see? I was just here to see my mom." Aside from them, the graveyard had a number of ghosts floating about, chatting with each other. A few looked in their direction but many were just milling about, waiting to see if their grave would get any visitors today. Hoshirei ignored them today, at least unless one came directly up to them.

 

[Shishiwakamaru]

A gentle hand was placed upon Shi's head, it startled Shishiwakamaru a bit as he had been too busy swimming in his misery to notice her approach. A soft voice and subtle voice uttered out some comforting words. "Hey there," she started; "You look like you could use a spot of company. Was there someone you came to see? I was just here to see my mom." Shi would slowly look up, his hair falling in front of his face in the process. He knew he recognized the voice, it belonged to the Jounin he and Shusuke-kun met at the falls. Shishi was not one to forget easily and knew her by name. Sniffling Shi would wipe away his tear stained face with the arm of his shirt. Clearing his throat, as it was rough and sore due to his screaming, Shi would respond in a numb-like voice; "Hey, Hoshirei..."

Embarrassed that someone had caught him in this moment he buried his face into his hands, as if that would erase the last couple seconds of knowledge from Hoshirei's mind. Or perhaps he just felt like curling into a ball so small that nobody could see him. But Shi was wise enough to know when he needed help, or company for that matter. "Yeah, I suppose I could use some company. I'm here to visit my father's grave. I... I miss him so much." Shishi started to cry again, the tears flowing relentlessly. Grunting in frustration he tried to force the tears to stop. "I'm sorry I'm crying. I know I'm supposed to be a strong shinobi. I shouldn't be letting this get to me." The two minds inside wavered back and forth from the hurt child and the shinobi he knew he was duty-bound to be.

 

[Hoshirei]

Hoshirei kept as much eye contact as Shishi would allow in his state. She could tell he was really trying to not cry, but she wouldn't begrudge him his tears. She removed her hand from his head as he hid his face in his hands again. She kept her voice soft and spoke as she stood. "You're allowed to cry. As much as many shinobi seem emotionless, most of the time that is a front we show the world. On our own, we can allow ourselves to feel and eventually, you find some people who you can rely on while you are feeling vulnerable. They'll be there to lift you up just as you are there for them." She reached out her hand in an obvious gesture to allow her to help him up. "Let me be your buoy right now. I'll help keep you afloat," she said sincerely. If he looked at her face, he wouldn't see pity but an understanding bred from loss. And, if he placed his hand in hers, she would gently tug him until he was standing again.

A few of the ghosts drew closer to them as Hoshirei spoke, trying to get a good look at the young man who lost his father. Hoshirei would hear them start whispering and she threw a narrow-eyed look over her shoulder. She couldn't really catch what they were saying, but a few of them were gesturing at Shishi's hair and then pointing off to the newer section of the cemetery. She had an inkling what they might be talking about, but wouldn't get her hopes up. After all, not everyone stayed around after they passed on.

She would start by guiding Shishi over to the newer section of the cemetery but would walk step-for-step with him up to his father's grave. She would have to see if any of the ghosts approached.

 

[Shishiwakamaru]

Hoshirei and Shi's eyes locked when he noticed she was trying to engage him. "You're allowed to cry. As much as many shinobi seem emotionless, most of the time that is a front we show the world. On our own, we can allow ourselves to feel and eventually, you find some people who you can rely on while you are feeling vulnerable. They'll be there to lift you up just as you are there for them." Shi needed to hear these words above all else. He needed to know that his feelings were valid and that it was ok to actually feel when the appropriate time came. That helped resolve some of the internal torture he was feeling. Hoshirei would extend a hand outward as if to say; 'let me help you up'. "Let me be your buoy right now. I'll help keep you afloat," she said sincerely. Shi inspected her character to see if she was merely showing him pity in his dark hour. But he saw no deception, only compassion and grace. She felt like a safe space, this was good.

Taking her hand in his own she would help him to his feet. Shi dried his tears once more upon his shirt, sniffling as he did so. Observant and calculating, even in his distress, Shi noticed Hoshirei look over her shoulder into the graveyard. Had she seen something? It certainly seemed like she did, he wondered what it could be. Motioning for him to head towards his father's grave they would walk hand in hand along the way. Shishi gripped her palm tightly as tears began to flow again. The closer they got the more they came. But Hoshirei didn't let go, she kept up with his pace. It seemed like she was here to see him through this till the end. It comforted Shi, his appreciation was firm and unfaltering.

Shishi would guide their way until they finally reached the gravestone in question. Etched upon the cold stone was a date that signified his birth and a second date following it signifying his death. The year of his death was only two years ago, so fresh, the memory still raw within the young Nara's mind. Also inscribed on the surface of the tombstone was a name; Nara Kenishi. Unbeknownst to Shishiwakamaru the very ghost of his father was standing beside him, trying desperately to comfort his son. But the physical realm and the spiritual realm just didn't mix, his father could not touch Shi, his hands simply phasing through his son. Shi could do nothing but cry in this moment, still holding onto Hoshirei's hand, the only comforting thing he could perceive in this moment.

 

[Hoshirei]

Hoshirei's heart broke a little bit as she saw tears flow down the young boy's face. He was so strong, moving forward when he was so hesitant to do so. She could tell that it was hard for him to get closer to the grave. They finally arrived and she read the name on the headstone: Nara Kenishi. While she didn't know the young man's father in life, seeing a ghost trying to comfort Shishi made it obvious that his ghost had stuck around for the boy. Her father had done the same, but she could see her father while he was around. Shishi couldn't see his father. Hoshirei gently maneuvered herself so the hand she was still holding would remain, but she would reach over and poke the ghost with an incorporeal hand. She would mouth to the ghost, "Want me to say something for you?"

If Shishi looked at her at all, he would see her intently looking at the space just behind him and over his head. She would also look down at him as if she wanted to say something but was unsure of how to broach the topic.

OOC: sorry it's short, wanted to get it out before we went to dinner

 

[Shishiwakamaru]

Kenishi's eyes grew wide as he noticed Hoshirei noticing him, bewildered that she could actually see him. Without hesitation, even though this moment was peculiar in that someone living could actually see or communicate with him, he would speak up. "Yes, yes! Please tell him that I love him, tell him everything is going to be ok. Tell him... Tell him... Oh jeez, I'm not even sure what to say, I never thought I would get the chance to speak to him again." The ghost of Shi's father seemed vexed, unsure of what to say next. Truthfully he wanted to hug his son so badly, just to touch his face one more time, for him to hear his father's voice just one more time.


[OOC - Short post is shorter, but that's ok. I don't mind small quick back and forths]

 

[Hoshirei]

Hoshirei listened to the ghost intently and steeled herself before turning her body so she was slightly in front of Shishi. "I am about to tell you something that might seem a bit odd, okay? Just, keep an open mind," she said with a soft squeeze to the young man's hand. "Your father is here with us. He wants me to tell you that he loves you and that everything is going to be okay. If you want, he can answer some of your questions or maybe you have a secret that only he knows. It's a little odd, I know, but I can see into the next plane of existence and, I don't know, maybe you after you talk with him through me you might be able to more easily carry your grief?" Hoshirei rambled and bit her lower lip in a show of nerves. She didn't do this for people very often, as she still wasn't entirely used to being believed and now she was doing it for another person so soon after the last. Hopefully, this in-built skeptic of a Nara would see how earnest she was in her words and would believe her.

 

[Shishiwakamaru]

His tears now slowing as he began to run out of emotional steam, Shi looked at Hoshirei as she spoke; "I am about to tell you something that might seem a bit odd, okay? Just, keep an open mind," With a soft squeeze of his hand she would continue; "Your father is here with us. He wants me to tell you that he loves you and that everything is going to be okay. If you want, he can answer some of your questions or maybe you have a secret that only he knows. It's a little odd, I know, but I can see into the next plane of existence and, I don't know, maybe you after you talk with him through me you might be able to more easily carry your grief?" Shi raised a skeptical eyebrow in response to this information, but after giving it some thought he came to the conclusion that it wasn't entirely impossible. The world of shinobi is full of strange varieties, shapes and forms of abilities. Why not one that allows you to speak to loved ones past? Still a little hesitant about the whole ordeal he would give in to the oddity.

"Father, is it really you?" Shi would ask, his father was quick to reply; "Yes, Shi, I am here." Hoshirei would more than likely relay this information. Deciding to test the spirit Shi would ask a question only he would know. "What did you get me for my 7th birthday?" Without even needing time to think his father would reply; "An action figure of Lady Asuka and a plastic Kunai set" Upon hearing this Shi would begin to cry again, but with joy this time. "Oh father, I can't believe it's really you! I have so many questions. But first I need to know, who killed you?" A sudden sharp question, straight to the point. But Shishiwakamaru was bent on avenging his father's death. Thankfully his father wasn't aware of this and thought there would be no harm in telling the boy what he wanted to know.

"A sunan shinobi, he called himself Shinku Kaen. He was a beastly warrior who easily felled us with his horrific flames." His father would then go on to explain what he looked like, large stature, red hair, etc. Shishi would listen intently taking in and memorizing this information. It would be important later in life when he was strong enough to hunt his father's killer down. And so the pair would talk back and forth for a while, using Hoshirei as the conduit. Shi felt more at ease about the situation, coming to terms with his father's death. Somehow being able to talk with him just one more time gave him the peace and resolution he needed to move forward in life.

When they finished speaking at his father's spirit could finally move on to the next life they said their goodbyes. Shishi would nearly leap into Hoshirei's arms and hugged her tightly. "Thank you lady Hoshirei, I owe you greatly for this, truly. Words cannot express my gratitude towards this grand gesture. Whatever it is that you wish, ask it of me. Whether it be now or in the future, I owe you a boon for this act of love and kindness." Shi would release his grasp of Hoshirei and take a few steps back. Drying his tears completely he smiled at Hoshirei. "Thank you... so much. I think I'm ready to go home now..." And so the pair would finish their task here. Whether escorted by Hoshirei or walking alone, Shishiwakamaru would make his way back to the Sakuraku clan house and stepped inside, closing the door softly behind him, both literally and metaphorically.


[OOC - MFT - WC: 620 - Leaving topic]

 

[Hoshirei]

Hoshirei was patient as she more or less translated the father's words to the son. Her brow furrowed a bit as he described his attacker. She found it a little strange that the man had been blatant about who he was. If you were there on orders to cause chaos, why would you make it obvious who you were? Wouldn't it have been enough to make it obvious which village he was from if he wanted to start a war? Hoshirei really needed to get ahold of the documentation surrounding the incident and get a feel for relations with Suna. She did still have family there after all. She also studied Shishi's face as she passed on the information. Being in front of him as she was, she could see the shadow of something pass through the young man's eyes, she wasn't fully certain what it was but had a feeling it could lead to trouble in the future.

She offered a nod of thanks to Kenishi's soul as he moved on, so she was rather surprised to be tackled and hugged by Shishi. She had to catch herself from falling back with her hands, but after a moment, she returned Shishi's hug. "You're welcome, Shishi." Hoshirei then stood up as he did. She made the offer to walk him home and was silent support as they made their way to his house. The Isaki clan head watched as the door shut before launching herself to the rooftops and making her way home. Just one more thing to talk to the Hokage about when she finally gathered enough courage to do so.

[Topic Left]