Paging Sousuke (Free, Open)

[Kairyuu]

Enzeru made his way through the streets of Sunagakure with wide eyes. He saw some of the damage to the city before when he merely began to help out, but now that he was leading another through the outskirts and deeper into the village he could see the true extent of the destruction that this village underwent so recently. His desire to keep Kimi from feeling like a burden almost became to not feel as one himself as he was taking in the ruin around them both. His mind wandered to the attack he did not see, unable to know but definitely able to guess at just how much life it cost to do such a thing. And he knew that whoever was behind it would have to pay for such sins.

He let Kimi direct him, the tigers staying close to them as they made their way down to this area, the Seitch. Enzeru's tan robes were left above, his two-tone blue tunic and brown pants being ample enough protection once underground. The bow and quiver remained on his back, however, in case of need for them. Down here, in the dark, with all of the emotions running through him, his eyes seemed to hold an inner glow, the ice blue almost like a flame behind those eyes.

”What this village has undergone...it will never be the same as it was. And that saddens me, for in a way it will be a different village to those who used to call it home.” He turns to look at Kimi, his face a mix of emotions going from anger at the evils perpetrated here to compassion for those suffering still.

 

[Hoshirei]

They had stopped by the office and had been pointed back toward her own home. She knew that her father would probably be worried about her, but she also knew that she couldn't quite go home yet. Katsu and Kora were silent as they walked through the town, though they were much happier than when they had exited this region of Suna.

Due to the plethora of people in Suna, Kimi wasn't surprised that Enzeru was able to pick up on just how different the village would be now. "Yeah, things are going to be really different. I heard rumor that they might be looking for a way to build the village outside of this cave again. It hasn't been up there since before my clan arrived seeking a new place to live."

The people were going about their business, almost as normal, but now even the civilians were wary. You could see it in how they walked, how they looked like they weren't sure who to trust. "Perhaps going above ground is just what Sunagakure needs. We won't know until it actually happens, if it happens at all."

 

[Takahashi Aki]

"Paging Takahashi Sousuke."

"He's booked out right now."

"Query?"

"He's re-acquiring or destroying some of the equipment that was taken from him during the Cabal crisis."

"Understood. ETA completion?"

"Hold ... I stand corrected. Communications has signaled through he completed his task. Relying message."

***

The Steward and his friendly nemesis Inuzuka Shizune stood amongst a series of fallen bodies and broken tech. Sousuke was a little bit out of breath. He had formed a list of people and places were his tech had been seen with or seen at. Most of the tech he had was in a prototype stage, and was very dangerous to those not knowing what they were doing with it. He received the page from communications. "Understood."<i></i> He relayed. He was being summoned. Sousuke was getting used to battling with his new arm. He had decided to keep an inventory of them. The original sandworm flesh grafted arm. A metallic one. A bio-grade one that was crafted from his own regenerated flesh. Each of them having a very specific time and place for use. The one that he had been fighting with was his sandworm arm. It was something he was not used to. Fighting with flesh that was not his own.

Shizune wiped off the blood from her brow. "Off to your next appointment. You know you better put in some time with the girlfriend. She'll be getting suspicious.<i></i> The taller, leaner Inuzuka woman teased.

A small laugh escaped Sousuke. Shizune used to bully Sousuke as a child, and in the past she and him were at each other due to her former criminal occupation. Things were changing now. For the better of course. "Our schedules synch up better than you think. I'm seeing her later tonight."<i></i>

***

A bruised and tired looking Sousuke would be easily found by Enzeru and Kimi. He could be found sitting on a bench, taking it easier for a moment. Finding Sousuke like this would be a slight surprise. Usually his Takahashi fire-forged steel armour protected him from bruising. Unfortunately the acidic vomit of the sandworm had weakened his armour. The steel plates that would usually sink in and out of his flesh were growing weaker and weaker. Sousuke didn't want to really speak much about it to Yume, it would put her in a panic. Tsukiko being the social butterfly would probably let the cat out of the bag. It was the sort of thing he should have probably had looked after when he first got back, but he didn't.

Sousuke wore a very casual set of clothes, a black shirt and a pair of navy blue jeans. Very little would have changed for Kimi's eyes except for the arm, and maybe the fact he looked a bit roughed up. Sousuke had aged little in fact. Certainly he was wearing an ear-ring now and had a facial scar that almost formed a cross on his face, but that was old news. He turned his head and saw the couple coming towards him. Right on time.

(MFT)

 

[Kairyuu]

Her words make sense, the village certainly couldn't remain underground after this. Even if the people accepted a life without the open sky, this cavern was proving to be one giant deathtrap after their recent terroristic attack. He recalled the map he saw of the layers under the ruins of the tower, how one simple misstep could mean falling for over a mile into the earth. That was no way to live. ”The only downside to that would be dealing with the storm above. But...perhaps something could be done about that by your shinobi.” Shinobi were powerful alone, but together could they change nature itself? Perhaps. Of course if it came to that he would see what help he could offer being that he was somewhat attuned to wind chakra.

They soon come upon an odd man. He looked more tired that most, as if the weight of the world rested on him and was bearing him down. And then there was his arm. Enzeru knew human anatomy well enough to hurt it, and that was certainly not a normal human arm. He comes up short as they approach, one hand moving from aiding Kimi to drop to his side near his daggers. Something about this man was not right, and it wasn't merely the arm. He would make no threatening movements, but nor would he take his eyes off the other. That the other was now watching them did not help matters much on that end.

”Kimi, do you know this man?”

Perhaps it was the one they sought, but it could just as easily be someone who was unrelated to current matters. Or a member of the group that did this who had yet to be caught. He wouldn't take a chance just yet.

 

[Hoshirei]

The Tiger Trio smelled their quarry first. His scent was slightly changed, but it was definitely the person they were needing. Enzeru asked her if she knew that man. She noted his hand moving to where she assumed daggers would be, but only felt a strange happiness because of his willingness to protect her.

When Kimi looked at Sousuke, she really wished she wasn't exhausted. She really wanted to heal those nasty bruises. Instead of verbally answering her companion, she nodded and gestured for them to join the man. Kimi released Enzeru's arm and took a step toward Sousuke.

"Sousuke-san, this is Enzeru, he helped me here from the gates. Sir, I have something to report." She took a few steps before wobbling a bit. Katsu pressed against her leg, keeping her upright until she could sit on the bench beside him.

"I'm sure you know of my absence from the village and probably know that it was not by my own choice. I was kidnapped by someone I believe to be in league with those who attacked our home. The one who ordered it was Aburabuta Hirotomi. He believed his accomplice to have stolen a civilian and got myself. He dumped me in the bedroom of a merchant lord named Fukui Shino. When I tried to use a clone to discuss my presence within his compound, he told me something kind of shocking."

She paused for a moment, but not long enough to force a question from the Steward.

"He told me, and I quote, that '[he] really felt it was a terrible idea but [that he could not] debate with results'. Sir, I believe that the merchant lords hired the Cabal."

Kimi took a deep breath and let it out once she was done reporting. If Sousuke studied her face as he would study anyone else, he would see that she was still bone tired, and had come straight home, hardly resting.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke mentally grinned. Enzeru knew he was being watched. Few people realized it when they were being watch. What it meant was that he was a man of higher skill. What Sousuke could tell was that he was not native to Sungakure. Usually people ignored Sousuke as their liege lord unless he had called them. Soon enough Enzeru was named. The Steward listened well to Kimi. Her words caused Sousuke to close his eyes. He was drinking in the details. Playing her words again and again in his head. He didn't say anything for a time. He leaned forward for a moment and held his head in his hands. Thinking, reasoning, and calculating. He sat back up. He ruffled his own hair. "First and foremost."<i></i> He spoke, "Many happy returns."<i></i> There was a taste of happiness in his voice. Her family and his own had been friends for generations. He placed a hand on her shoulder and managed a small smile. He gave her shoulder a small squeeze. It was the sort of thing Sousuke wouldn't do in the past, but the fact alone he had smiled openly was ground breaking. He could indeed tell that she was tired. He tried not to hold that against the information she had just gathered. Tiredness could indeed warp a person's senses. He turned to Enzeru next, "Thank you Enzeru for returning to me a dear friend."<i></i>

Sousuke would grow silent once more as he continued to interpret the meaning of what "What you've given me is some difficult results. House Fukui has always been rivals to House Takahashi in terms of ... weapons production. Swords. Axes. Puppets. They've been trying to figure out the secret of Fire Forged Steel for some time. It is entirely possible. At the same time, house Fukui always wanted to be beat us out in the open in terms of quality of craft. Doing it through the Cabal would be most ... unhistorically becoming of them."<i></i> Though ... with the Raikage missing in Soon's, it still stood to reason. Sousuke had to fight his way into Sunagakure. Alone. Sousuke rubbed his chest with his sandworm hand. He was still very much sore from his fight from earlier. Cleaning up Sungakure on the ground level was exhausting and very difficult when his internal armours weren't working. "Hirotomi comes from old money. He has his uses, but he's always been up to something morally insane. Granted that aspect of moral insanity can be ... used towards something that will justify the means."<i></i> Sousuke spoke in a lower voice.

 

[Kairyuu]

Her nod was enough as he relaxed visibly, his hand straying from the weapons and then feeling empty as she moved away. Enzeru followed at a slower pace, mostly to make sure she didn't fall again, but also to keep an eye on the situation as a whole. That she knew the man and was moving towards him was a plus, but that didn't mean someone wouldn't take this moment to take advantage of a distracted group. His blue eyes were drinking in the world as she finally made it to the other and referred to him with a respectful title. As she wobbled, he would start to move but the tiger beat him to it.

Enzeru finally felt safe enough to move closer, standing before the two sitting on the bench. Of them he was obviously the best rested and therefore remained on his feet. Someone would have to be, after all. He hated treating every situation like a possible fight, but at the moment he was given little choice in this village. With this point, both of them would be able to see his reaction to Kimi's words, however. At mention of kidnapping and taking hostages that faint blue glow beneath his brow would seem to grow slightly. No mere trick of the light, it was indeed a light unto itself. And it was responding to something.

He looks to Sousuke as the man, whose name he knows he'd heard in this village before, welcomes her back. And then he thanks Enzeru, bringing the Kirigakurian to bow his head, the only method he can think of to receive graciousness for something that was in his nature. His silence after only heightened the feeling of unease Enzeru had for the moment, and his words as they came out did little to help. While he had no care for arms manufacturing, for humans would always be humans, he did note the final phrase of the other.

”Ends do not justify the means.”

The words were out before he could stop them. But to him it was truth. You could not justify such acts as the ones this village underwent with any end. Giving in to evil, even a small evil, made evil fester. Even should the result be good, evil would always have a home there and it would grow as only evil can. He recalled a parable he learned in Kirigakure. An army once came upon a city and demanded the sacrifice of a child or they would slay every man woman and child in the city. The city agreed to this demand, and took the child of a homeless woman for the sacrifice. That allowed hatred to fester in her heart, which led to the poor rising against the elite and the city tore itself apart in a civil war, leaving the army to pick up the pieces.

Evil did not flourish when good men did good. It was when good men allowed evil to happen for good reasons.

”If this person had something to do with what happened to your village, sir, then there can be no end that makes the loss these people have gone through worth it. Merely by looking around I can assume hundreds or thousands lost their lives in this attack. Even should he usher in an era of peace and prosperity for the world, it would not be worth all of the innocents that had to be stomped upon for it to happen. And people who are as you claim him to be rarely will be able to do such an extreme.”

 

[Hoshirei]

Kimi couldn't help but smile softly as her friend welcomed her home. She was fine with him falling silent for a time, she knew how he was. His silence meant that he was at least taking her information into account instead of blowing it off because of her exhaustion. Her smile grew even brighter when Sousuke thanked Enzeru for helping her home.

The young woman listened to Sousuke's tale of why Fukui might have participated in the destruction of their village. It was what, because of business? Business was why their city was in ruins?! She felt Kashiro twitch within her, wishing to be free to wreck havoc on the ones responsible. Enzeru summed it up perfectly. There were no way that ends could ever justify means.

"I do not believe that my homeland would ever go straight into a war. What I know of our governmental system, seeking peaceful solutions would be preferable. I know we are shinobi, some of us basically paid assassins, but I know many people who would rather peace unless violence cannot be avoided." Kimi paused for a moment. "Sir, I worry about our safety down in the caverns. If the Cabal have proven anything, it is that remaining down here is potential suicide. Our entire way of life has been changed by this horrific event, but shouldn't we be seeking a safer place? To my knowledge, the threat has been mitigated, though not completely removed. I- Oh, I'm rambling again."

Her cheeks turned bright red and she looked down at her lap where her hands were wringing each other.

_________________________________________________________________
MFT
WC: 263

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke kept track of multiple things. Enzeru's glowing blue eyes, and his weaponry. They were not the weapons of a contemporary who had to keep up with him. Old fashioned but still deadly if in the right hands. It didn't take much to realize his words had troubled the man before him. It was an interesting way to meet a man. A philosophical battle to be had, "A debate worth having. I see points in both sides. I myself have had the inner argument of that too. When I was younger, I used to believe that, but now that I'm older ... things are different. Children in one's life ... changes perspective."<i></i> He turned to regard Kimi. She would understand this more than Enzeru would. "Okibi left me because she couldn't take the fact she was a mother due to circumstances outside of her control, and she couldn't take the fact that I would have given ... everything ... to best the Cabal. She said it was pitiful people didn't thank me enough for what I've done, and what defeats I suffered."<i></i> He hesitated. "So. Here I am with her son, who is ... more surrogate child, and thus I have begun to heavily reflect upon the question of ends and means."<i></i> Okibi and Kimi were aware of each other. It was only fair that she understood the nature of the child Sousuke now cared for.

He finished his sentence eyeing Kimi strangely. Something was present. Kashiro would for a split moment realize that he was not only being watched by Sousuke, but by Shade the spirit of Sousuke's Black Blade. The specter did not make his appearance truly visual, but the demon would know that he was not the only one present in the spirit. Shade would merely kept to himself keeping a focus on Kahsiro. Shade was not prone to fits of anger. Sousuke shook his head. "Peace is a preferable state... but there are those of an inclination towards moral insanity who see nothing but profit in this. Those individuals of course, are above me influence... and manipulating things from a perspective and range."<i></i> Sousuke watched as Kimi turned red. She commented upon the situation that Suna had been suffering from. The student fell silent once more. He was in one of those calculating and projecting phases. What happened next to Suna? Good question. Sousuke had spent time theorizing about it. "It's always been the proper endgame to return to the surface. The storm above has always been a challenge to work around. I once thought of having an elementium wall form and exert a form against the diamond sands above. There is also the potential of causing a Force-Event which would ... not be in the exact interest of our surrounding neighbors or most people. We would endanger our subterranean allies of the Kirishii and the more sentient sand-wolves could possibly be extinct from it."<i></i> There was also the dreaded option of simply invading Soon's Sanctuary and taking it over. That was a solution Sousuke would not condone. The more and more he thought about future endgame, and future's end the more tired he seemed to be getting. The frustration of it was gradually showing in Sousuke's face. He eventually made the mental snap off of the topic. "The threat of the Cabal is at best contained, but ... understanding it is what is needed most. Yes staying underground is a problem, but if we lived on the surface there are disadvantages to that as well... being the storm primarily. I hope to reach a solution to both but... it will take time... and finality to certain conflicts."<i></i>

 

[Kairyuu]

He wasn't interested in philosophy much, just in stating his opinion. He listens as Sousuke brushes off the concern with a statement about children. Having children shouldn't open one up to more evil, it should urge them to protect their loved ones from that evil. As the other speaks to Kimi of someone named Okibi, Enzeru takes to looking around again. While he had little doubt the tigers could smell anyone sneaking up on them, he still trusted himself far more than them. It was not an insult to them, indeed that he trusted them at all spoke highly of his regard for the senses of the animals, but he didn't get this far trusting others beyond his own skill.

As they begin to discuss returning to the surface and of dealing with things peacefully, Enzeru once more focuses on the two before him, frowning. Obviously this man was of some important to the village, perhaps one of the leaders. And he knew that if these merchants did in fact cause this to happen, then peace would not win out. People did not stop because of peace. They did not avoid committing crimes because of the threat of nothing happening. They responded to punishment. They were brought to a halt by the looming spectre of justice. But doing nothing merely showed them that they could try again and again until they got what they wanted.

”I can offer no true solutions to your issue of living underground, though I will admit that what I have seen of this village has me wondering if those who made that decision were simply insane or truly had no other options. This place is merely a death trap waiting to be sprung. It might be another attack as happened, it could be a natural occurrence. But staying in here will eventually result in the complete annihilation of your home.”

He looks solely to Sousuke now, his blue eyes going cold as he speaks once more. ”As for those who thought it fine to kidnap a woman and cause this destruction for person gain...they might be above your influence but there are ways of ensuring it does not happen again. If you can confirm this information, I will gladly offer my services to see justice done. I am not of this land, but the sins committed here are not ones I can simply ignore. Revenge cannot bring these people back, but justice can make sure that the evil does not repeat itself.”

 

[Hoshirei]

Kashiro certainly felt eyes on him, Sousuke's and another spirit that was centered around the weapon the man carried. He and Kimi both listened quietly while Sousuke and Enzeru spoke. Kashiro prodded Kimi gently.

Kimi's attention turned inward momentarily and Kashiro persuaded her to let him have the reins for a moment. Her eyes became struck through with sapphire and the feel of her chakra darkened slightly. Her voice took on a slightly growling tone as she spoke.

"So long as I remain in this village, as a part of it, I will protect it." The dual tone made it plainly obvious that both host and spirit were speaking together, making their promise to be a protector, a healer.

Kashiro retreated and Kimi's eyes returned to their completely amethyst color. She turned a soft smile toward Enzeru, grateful for his willingness to aid them in the name of justice.

_____________________________________________________________________
and another short post... school's such a muse killer...

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke listened to the dual toned Kimi and Kashiro speak. "So long as you are good to your host ... and so long as you do not cause problems to the realm then we are at peace."<i></i> Sousuke's shadow shifted to a more fierce and armoured and bladed. It was a form that Sousuke took to when the going got tough. It would seem that the extra presence in Kimi would leave her be. Sousuke filed this away in his mind. Kimi would be of concern, in the sense that she was not herself entirely now. Sousuke too had this characteristic, but Shade rarely surfaced, more importantly he never took control. Certainly Sousuke and Shade shared the one body, but Sousuke was in control of it.

Sousuke turned to listening to what Enzeru had said. It caused Sousuke's eyes to narrow at the man as he described his father to possibly be insane. "My father does not suffer from insanity. Not morally. Not mentally. None of it. My father worked with what he had with, and he did the best that he could in the short time he had before the entire village was destroyed by storm or had their lungs corrupted by Diamond sands. We have lived underground since I was born, and while it is not the best of ways, we have survived the times."<i></i> It seemed that Enzeru had struck a chord with the Steward. It wasn't the good kind either. There was usually a pause between the moments where Sousuke spoke, this particular moment seemed to lack that spacing out, or rather it seemed shorter than others. Enzeru offered his services. "I need time. I don't think its coincidental, but there are pieces on the puzzle board that need examining."<i></i> He leaned forward slightly. He knitted his fingers together and held them infront of his lips, his thumbs tucking under his chin. "The Cabal surrendered, not without a fight and offered us information. Killing them at this point would be detrimental to solving the riddle of--"<i></i> He paused for a moment. He was thinking of Shouki. He countered an apect of the storm, yet the giant was ... perhaps the most difficult member of the Cabal to deal with. He was of a higher intellect like Sousuke, but used his talents ... questionably. "I need more time. I need more hours in the day. This is far more than black, white, and grey."<i></i>

(MFT)

 

[Kairyuu]

He looks to Kimi as the flanging of her voice occurs, one eyebrow rising above the other for a moment before realizing she was vowing to protect her home. He smiles, looking back to her apparent boss. It was good that someone was backing him up here, because the look this man gave him was anything but pleasant. As Sousuke goes on about his father, the blue haired shinobi's face changes little. The man was apparently taking offense ot his words without listening to them completely, a characteristic he had little love for and it was shading his opinion of this one.

”As I said, insane or without choice. I never meant insult, merely to point out that if anything could be done to alleviate the issue it should. If you found my words offensive I offer a sincere apology for them, but I do not take back my point. This place is a death trap.” It was true, in every sense it could be. Nothing about this village was reassuring him that it wouldn't simply collapse on top of them all one day, and the only reason he hadn't left yet was people needed help he could supply.

The other goes on to speak of time, of the prisoners they have. Those blue eyes bore into the other as he bites back his response that those animals should be put down. Getting information from them was indeed the best thing to do, but what he'd seen so far certainly jaded him to how this village apparently did so. Offering them freedom, offering to train them, after what they did? He doesn't notice as his eyes seem to grow dangerous from an inner fire. Hands clenching, the Hunter takes a deep breath to calm himself, that glow once more fading.

”If your Sennin is anything to go by, then those prisoners of your's have a long and happy life ahead of them. Unlike the people who were killed here by their hands.”

 

[Hoshirei]

Kimi smiled confidently at Sousuke. "Kashiro has been attached to my family for many ages. As compared to many other beings, he is good to his containers." Kashiro on his part just chuffed and slid back behind his seal to rest.

If she had enough energy, the interlude between Sousuke and Enzeru would have been answered with her palm smacking her forehead while she shook her head no. As it was, she could only close her eyes and sigh softly. Enzeru's last jab had her launching herself to her feet before her body could remember how tired she was. She reached up and caught Enzeru by the ear and dragged him a couple feet away, but still in Sousuke's earshot.

"What do you think you are doing? Even if that might be true, it is not something you blatantly say. Alluding that the Sennin cannot handle themselves is not something you bring to this man's attention without a grand amount of proof. I know you are concerned with justice, but there are more ways than one to go about it. We plan, we politic, and then we deal with the problems as best we can. I-" Kimi had been prodding Enzeru's chest with her finger. She was cut off by her legs failing her once more.

If she hit the ground, she would huff softly and growl lightly.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke hesitantly nodded his head. "Kashiro."<i></i> He repeated now documenting his name to memory. It was possible that Kashiro had some distant link to the Toraono clan. He would need to look into the mystery that was this entity. Kashiro to him was a legend, nothing of actual fact. Yet, here he was. Speaking. Breathing. Violating. Well the last of the three was questionable. At least from Kimi's point of view, there wasn't so much of a concern of violation. Demons were most often linked to the aspect of violation. Enzeru apologized to him about earlier. "Apology accepted. I have taken to dealing with the threats of falling rocks as a personal undertaking. Maintenance isn't the issue... and I'm not saying we're invulnerable down here either."<i></i>

Sousuke raised an eyebrow. "What?!?"<i></i> He exclaimed. It seemed more like a shout. Sousuke was louder than what Kimi was used to. Sousuke was not a man for being loud. It wasn't a shout, but it was certainly a tone louder than what he was speaking. "Explain."<i></i> Sousuke's expression was one of clear surprise. As soon as he exclaimed, his usual tone once again return to him. "Cabal members were locked up in Asylum, Prison, or were being given some form of medical care so they would not perish. Them being happy was not part of the plan. They merely need to be conscious and operational."<i></i> He looked at Enzeru. "Which Cabal member was it? Give me a description of gender, eye colour, and hair colour. Most of them had distinguished features."<i></i> The answer was not going to be delivered as Enzeru was taken away from him. Kimi seemed to want to have words with him. They were acting like a married couple. Sousuke hadn't seen Kimi with a man before, well a man who wasn't her father or himself. He watched as she was about to fall, the Steward reached down and placed his hands on the ground, the shadows reaching out and towards Kimi to grab hold of her to prevent her from having a hard landing. The rest he would leave up to Enzeru. He wanted to see how this played out. "My intentions were to detain the Cabal. Get information out of them, and to punish them accordingly."<i></i> Granted the real problem was that Katuso wanted to keep them alive. Sousuke would not turn Katuso into an oath breaker. "Not all of them are equal, and some of them are more dangerous than others, but with how you've spoken of the situation ... I am deeply disturbed."<i></i>

 

[Kairyuu]

His words brought an appropriate reaction, at least. He missed Kimi's sigh, a rarity for him to not notice something like that. The apology being accepted was certainly a welcome thing, but his next words may well have ruined that anyways. In his mind he still saw that scene, heard the man screaming that he would do as he wished regardless of others telling him he was in the wrong on that matter. It was not a good moment for anyone involved, least of all the sennin. Enzeru felt he likely made an enemy that day in his actions, but if it was only with that one he could live with the consequences. You didn't coddle evil, you did not treat with it and offer it salvation. While he knew evil men could turn to the light, that did not make up for the sins they committed before hand.

As Sousuke explodes into a shout, Kimi was at his side, a hand gripping his ear and bodily dragging him away from the man to be angrily whispered to. Sousuke was asking him about the cabal and the sennin, while Kimi was telling him to not be so blatant in his words and poking at his chest. For most it would be a confusing moment, for him it was more so because of the physical nature that overcame the kunoichi before him. And then her legs went out on her.

Enzeru saw the shadows rising but trusted his own instincts more, his arm shooting out to encirlce her waist and pull her towards him, holding her up as he does so. He looks into her eyes, concern in his own as he speaks, ”Are you okay? And you are correct, I perhaps am being uncivilized...” Whatever her answer, he half carries her back to the bench to take a seat, looking to Sousuke once more as he explains his intentions with the Cabal, apparently the terrorists behind all of this.

”Once more I must apologize. Kimi is correct in that I have been unnecessarily rude to you. My mind keeps focusing on all of the negatives I've encountered here, and after so long without human contact, I must be appear quite the barbarian. The woman in question had dark hair, it appeared to be a very dark green or blue, I could not tell which. I did not see her eyes as she was unconscious most of the time and wearing a hospital gown. She smelled rather unique, however, like a reptile or something.” He knew animals, his smelling wasn't as keen as the twins, but it was keen enough to tell scales from fur.

”I arrived to help one of your ANBU with a situation, and we discovered that your sennin, he was called the Border Sennin I believe, one Kuro, was offering the woman safe haven in his home instead of letting her be admitted. He...showed me what actss he performed. He apparently wished to use her as a weapon against her former allies, and he was speaking of training her.”

”I will not lie, I attempted to kill the woman for her deeds. Kurisu stopped me, and explained to me that her being alive was a necessity for the moment. But the fact is had we not been there Kuro quite likely would have taken her out of the hospital.”

 

[Hoshirei]

Frustrated with herself, Kimi bowed her head forward and rested it against Enzeru's chest. She really shouldn't have stood so quickly or remained so for as long as she did. She knew better than that, she is a healer for heavens sake! She listened as Enzeru apologized for his words and explained that he had tried to kill Naganisa. Kimi perked up slightly at that and then her intrigue fell as she heard that he was unsuccessful. For her part, Kimi remained silent, waiting until she was asked a question or felt she had a good comment.

______________________________________________________________________________
OOC: short post is super short... Wasn't sure what to write.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke covered his face in his hands. The exhaustion he had been facing was becoming more and more apparent. He rubbed his forehead with his fingers. Then he rubbed his eyes. "This is not how I would have liked to meet you."<i></i> He accepted the apology. The apologies seemed forced, but that wasn't a problem. A man who said sorry and seemed to have difficulty doing so was perhaps more sincere than the rest. "Likewise I must seem inept to you at managing things."<i></i> He made the comparison when Enzeru spoke of the barbarian remark. Not two seconds after the discussions and the description did Sousuke identify her. "Naganisa. She betrayed the Cabal, and was able to get our people topside. Strangely though she had a way of ... attacking me indirectly with poisions. It was not pleasant. My armour endured.. and her lover awkwardly tried to murder her once she was unconscious. I revealed this information to her, as her lover ... worked the Cabal. I tried defusing the situation in the reveal."<i></i> His gaze shifted to the ground. "Kuro is all about training people to be the best they can be, but training her would not be in our interest in the event she turned on us again... and I agree that her deeds do not merit reward. He is a very forgiving individual... I am not so when it comes to matters like this."<i></i> Part of Sousuke regretted not snapping Naganisa's neck along with Urufu's. He had the power to have done so. Their lives were within his range for the taking. The red cloak merely needed to have wrapped itself around their necks, and then assert force. What kind of man would have he come? To Katuso he would have been seen as a monster. Nor would he have been superior for doing so.

"Thank-you for stopping Kuro. I will need to have a discussion with him on ... the possible consequences of his actions."<i></i> Kuro's heart was very big. The discussion would to be had would not be anything strict, more so of a reminder that the Cabal were not friends, they were defeated and had to never again raise their hand to Suna. Doing so again would lead to their crushing and total oblieration. They were a cancer that needed to be sliced out, surgically before they became malignant to the realm. "Snakes have a way of ... metaphorically becoming hydras. Cut one head off and two would take its place. It's a situation that needs containment."<i></i> Sousuke was silent for a time after. Kimi would realize this as a sort of operational time for Sousuke. He rubbed his temples thinking, but he was running low on mental power. After some time he seemed to notice that Kimi was resting her head against Enzeru's chest. The sight of this was ... different. "So. Is Koichi going to have a problem with Enzeru staying at your place?"<i></i> Yes. Way to jump to conclusions. Well done Sousuke.

 

[Kairyuu]

As he pulls Kimi back up, she simply rests her head on his chest and seems content there. The blue haired shinobi thinks for a moment before using both arms to hold her up and decides the bench is not going to be happening. This woman was exhausted, and he didn't want to sit her down only to have to pick her up once more to help her home. That was it, yep. Entirely the reason he was fine with holding a beautiful woman against him while she rests on him. Her slight change at his mention of Naganisa simply brings slight smile to his face.

Her leader, meanwhile, takes the apology with grace. And goes on to explain things better to him than has yet been done. Enzeru listens intently to his words, noting the woman was a user of poisons. That explained the snake smell around here, at least. He filed that tidbit away for later, in case he ever needed to use it against the woman. Enzeru had doubts he would, but you never knew in this world. He also took note of her lover attempting to kill her, bringing a frown to his face. While the man likely was doing the right thing by abandoning evil, betraying your love was still a distateful thing to him.

”I understand now. Kurisu made it clear that they needed to live, for now. I do not like it, but then I also understand the importance of information, especially in regards to groups like this one. If I can be of assistance, merely let me know. I know my way around an interrogation.” He did not hide what he was, what he believed. That would do no good, to put a lie forth in his attempt to be of use to these people. They would have to know what the man before them truly was, a weapon and shield against evil, protecting those who could not protect themselves and ending the lives of those who sought to prey upon the innocent.

He looks back down at Kimi, wondering if she was sleeping against him, when Sousuke mentions her staying at his place. His head snaps up, looking for all the world like he was blindsided by that one. ”I....who is.....what?” He honestly hadn't given any thought of where he would be staying here, but he never intended to intrude upon anyone if he could help it. Meanwhile the back of his mind was wondering....who is Koichi?

 

[Hoshirei]

Kimi was nearly dead on her feet and could really use a sit, but Enzeru didn't seem to be moving them back toward the bench. So, instead of slouching on a bench, she just slouched in his arms as she listened to the conversation. Sousuke asked her a question and she opened her mouth to answer but was beaten out by the very Koichi mentioned. She couldn't help but groan softly. Her father always had such marvelous timing! Not...

Nekozuka Koichi​

"Is Koichi going to have a problem with whom staying where?" Koichi said. He looked remarkably similar to his daughter with his long purple locks somewhat angular face. Kisa, his panther, followed beside him, her great yellow eyes catching the way Enzeru was helping Kimi to stand.

Kimi saw when her father's eyes latched onto Enzeru and how he was holding her up. Before a suspicious gleam could even form in his mind, Kimi wiggled out of Enzeru's arms and launched herself at her father. He caught her easily and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. She whispered loudly enough for their fellow shinobi to hear, "Dad, this is Enzeru. He helped me get from the border to here so I could report to Sousuke-san. I was going to give him a tour around the Seitch after a shower."

Koichi's eyes softened as he chuckled and he kissed his daughter's forehead. He turned his attention to the blue-haired shinobi. "Anyone who comes to the aid of my heir is welcome in our compound. I thank you, Enzeru, for ensuring that she returned home to us."

When his wife had died, Koichi had a very hard time, and almost didn't allow Kimi to become a shinobi. Only the thought of what Kashiro's untempered power could do to someone who did not use their chakra frequently stayed that decision. He had quit his job as a tracker and settled into learning more and more healing jutsus. He was proficient enough that he had taught his daughter a few of the easier ones as she grew up. Putting that knowledge to use, he looked over his daughter. While it was plain as her purple locks that she was exhausted, he knew that she would have enough energy for at least a little jaunt after some freshening up and chewing on some of her energy supplements.

The Head of the Nekozuka family scooped his daughter up and moved to sit them beside Sousuke. Seeing her in her father's lap must have made her look small, and her falling asleep the instant he lifted her feet from the ground probably didn't help anything.

"Sousuke, my friend." He smiled and rested Kimi's head on his shoulder before continuing. "I will no doubt hear her tale in the morning, however, could you summarize her report for me? I would like to know if there is anything I need to watch for in the next few days."