Seeking Witness to the Madness

[Takahashi Aki]

Sora did re-account how the situation enacted itself. That was problematic. It was perhaps due to the shock, and what followed evidenced it further. Sora accused Sousuke of having caused this, having set some mad dog and destroy his apartment and set fire to the building. Sousuke closed his eyes and rubbed forehead with his index and middle fingers. "So. This is how this is going to go then."<i></i> He began. "You think, I did this? ... You've prejudiced yourself against me due to seeing things from a particular angle. No matter what I'm going to say or explain is going to free me from this particular point of view."<i></i> Sousuke exhaled. This was how things were going to go. Shiori was clearly going to destroy his reputation starting with this. Sousuke was silent for a moment, "Let me put the logistics of this on paper for you. I, the Kazekage, built this establishment. I have had to secure building resources. Finances. Insurance. Workers. Time. Effort. Energy. I needed all of those to make this building. I live here because due to a personal choice. I have yet to settle the estate of my father, and the household. Do you know anything about ... what I do? I have had a hand in the building of several, if not all the structures here. Do you think I like wasting time? I cannot get back my time. This burning building, it is resources going down the drain. It means the time I spent building this all mounted to nothing. I am trying to put the fire out."<i></i> He spoke slowly and very politely. He shrugged his shoulder, his arms raised and fell and his hand slapped his pantlegs. "You think I wanted to -destroy- this? My neighbor on the first floor, I helped her put up shelves the other day in turn she baked me a loaf of spice bread. The occupant next to my apartment, her kid asked me for an autographed picture the child drew of me. The neighbor above me, his kids like to roleplay my battles in the past that I have nightmares of when I manage to sleep. Do you comprehend the ... vileness, and the cruelty if I did this? Everyone in that building were quite surprised and happy that I was going to live there because I help people personally from shopkeeper to ... civilian ... like nearly every waking moment? My neighbours were looking very forward to ... cooking me lunches, and ... having me over for dinner ... and simple things people do to re-thank others."<i></i> For a fleeting moment it seemed like Sousuke was going to snap into a fit of laughter. Perhaps he had gone mad. Fortunately he didn't. "The alternative to laughter at this moment is crying. I could very well do that too, but I don't think things will be any better? Aside from shooting this thing with water, and dousing the flames, I have absolutely no idea how one reacts to this kind of situation. I'm not taking it out on you personally, I am simply astounded that this is even being considered. Has this happened to you before? Anyone? Well, Kazuki and Kuro yes, but they're well above my living standards. Before we even moved stop side, I lived in the old residential zone, not the Diamond District."<i></i> He paused for a moment. He looked up straight at Sora, the whites of his eyes were visible. "Wait. You were here... Ms. Takahashi. As in ... a red haired woman, not purple haired early forties? My mother has been AWOL."<i></i> Sousuke rewound his mind and listened to Sora say the words Miss Takahashi four times. "I haven't seen her in three weeks. I have had a falling out with her."<i></i> That was putting it mildly. He couldn't really say that... Shiori was in fact the most dangerous one present in that room aside from the Anbu who ... "Wait. This doesn't make sense. Aside from ... okay well, aside from coming out of a building burning. I am most content that ... you're in one piece, spiritually and physically."<i></i> Yes. Yes. That's the way to do it. Do not mention that Sora may have had his soul sucked out and devoured as a luncheon. That explanation could come later.
Kazuki confirmed that Shiori was indeed in the apartment, and that there was an Anbu in there who set things aflame. The chilling presence that was akin to Kazuki's reaffirmed who it was given the use of shadow ninjutsu. It was not hard to make the conclusion of who it was. Sousuke exchanged glances with Kuro. He had warned Kuro of this. Sousuke himself knew that this was coming. At the very least he had thought that this was going to ... be a slow burn. Unfortunately "We're going on high alert."<i></i> He answered finally after having the news. Kazuki had offered to make him a new house. Sousuke waved his hand, "No. It's fine. I'm more concerned about my neighbors really. Most of them are at work, and basically we're all going to be stuck in the same situation."<i></i> Sousuke shook his head. "We have to contain this inferno. Unfortunately it is spreading. Put the word out. We need to control this here and now."<i></i> Sousuke watched as the fire continued onward. Sousuke reached into his coat and removed his headset. He began calibrating it to the public lines. "This is the Kazekage, requesting immediate back up. Fire in residential zone."<i></i>

 

[Yamaryuu Sora]

what followed his outburst, was not what he had expected, he had expected a mentally unstable person that was easy to violence, and instead he got a sound, logical and argumentative answer. He did not even get offended from Sora's accusations. Perhaps this was a misunderstanding, but it could just as well be because of the others standing around them. Sora would not know, since he did not know any of the present shinobi, he had been in the city for less than a month, and in that time he had experiences a whole different world. He had to be careful, cause he had no idea about the politics or the rules around the Kage, and he might just had broken them, even though the kage himself did not seem flustered about it. one of the other Shinobi's the one walking out of the building, seemed exude the opinion that Sora was not supposed to be present anymore. maybe because of the accusations earlier. he could just as well have been a random passerby, but just as well a planted spy or something else, what could they know, he was a new face, and that was saying a lot, since Sora was not easy to overlook.

"Wait. You were here... Ms. Takahashi. As in ... a red haired woman, not purple haired early forties? My mother has been AWOL."
"I haven't seen her in three weeks. I have had a falling out with her."
"Wait. This doesn't make sense. Aside from ... okay well, aside from coming out of a building burning. I am most content that ... you're in one piece, spiritually and physically."

Sora looked confused, well as confused as he could be, he had no idea what the Kage was rambling about... this sounded wrong.. mother?.. she did not look like a mother.. more like a brother or cousin, as she had told him she were She was older than Sora yes, no doubt about that, but by that much.. he did not think so..

"I am myself, thank you in every way! and no she told me she were your cousin?"

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Mouko Kuro nodded as Sousuke's normal rhetoric asserted itself as usual completely negating the emotional impact of the moment.

"No. It's fine. I'm more concerned about my neighbors really. Most of them are at work, and basically we're all going to be stuck in the same situation." Sousuke shook his head. "We have to contain this inferno. Unfortunately it is spreading. Put the word out. We need to control this here and now." Sousuke watched as the fire continued onward. Sousuke reached into his coat and removed his headset. He began calibrating it to the public lines. "This is the Kazekage, requesting immediate back up. Fire in residential zone."

~ Takahashi Sousuke

Kuro motioned about looking around for any trace of Mikaboshi or Shiori before addressing Sousuke in a formal manner... " Steward Takahashi, I have distributed a significant amount of water in this area to douse the fire consuming your apartment area. I can call upon that same water again to redistribute the necessary water to other fires but we need other water or earth users to make it functional and not just a band-aid on the situation. Personnel are scarce, and we are limited in scope as the ANBU corps has not yet recovered its numbers and the trainees at the dojo are exhausted."<i></i>

 

[Senju Kazuki]

Sousuke attempted to explain his side to Sora, but if the boy was understanding what the Steward was trying to convey, was something still yet to be seen. Kazuki realized how hard this situation could be to the semi-young Academy Student. He met a Red Haired Woman that was nice to him. Then a scary ANBU joined the building and set it on fire through a bomb. At the same time, Shiori's words, plus the ANBU's, made Sora concluded this was all the work of the Takahashi Highlord, as implausible it might seem. Of course would not set his own house on fire, after the hard work he had put into it. The Overlord knew the Steward enough to know he was not a deranged individual. Void of emotions? Yes, but not a complete maniac as Suna was trying to make him. "Wait. This doesn't make sense. Aside from ... okay well, aside from coming out of a building burning. I am most content that ... you're in one piece, spiritually and physically." the Purple Haired Man declared. "I am myself, thank you in every way! and no she told me she were your cousin?" was Sora's answer, although he had no precise idea to what Sousuke really meant by spiritually whole. "I can attest he remains intact Sousuke. There are signs for the trained eye to see." Reaper noted. As far as he could tell, the Academy Student still retained his soul. If Suna had done something to his soul, that was something not even he could see right now. Tampering with souls usually takes time for physical manifestations, and Sora showed none so far.

After hearing the White Wolf's own words about what happened, Sousuke dictated they were now on high alert. The Silvery Haired Man almost rolled his eyes. When was he not in the state of high alert? Probably on his birth moment. But every moment henceforth, he was always on a red alert condition. It was not a pleasant way of life, but such was his. The Steward then refused his offer for a new home, being more concerned with the remaining houses than his own. A noble feeling and befitting of a ruler. It was a matter of quickly dousing the fire then. The Toraono Warlord responded to the Purple Haired Man's command by stating he could use his band-aid solution again, but it was what it was, a quick fix. "Perhaps I can be of assistance, Kuro. You are not the only Water user in the area." the former Sennin noted. Most practitioners of Ninjutsu had to use handseals when using such a jutsu, but Kazuki was not most practitioners. A single chakra surge and a bit of focus was all that he needed. Moments later a cloud bedding obscured the sky and eventually rain began to pour down on their heads. The Overlord had calculated the area where the fire had spread and so the clouds only covered such portion of Sunagakure. Outside of that area, the sky was still clear and there was no rain at all. If the rain alone was enough to put down the entire raging inferno, that he could not tell.

 

[Kouyuu]

[col]"This is the Kazekage, requesting immediate back up. Fire in residential zone."


A voice stammered back in reply.
"H-hello, yes, hello?," he said. "This is a request to anyone present at the scene: please be careful not to contaminate any evidence."
Kouhantei Kouyuu had been sitting at the kitchen table in his nearby home when he heard the call. Until then, it had been an otherwise ordinary and leisurely day. He was reading the newspaper and enjoying a fresh pot of tea when the radio interrupted. His head cocked to attention when he heard the first words, and he dropped the newspaper when he heard the next. A dispatch call from the Kazekage-Steward himself already carried urgency. It held even more when there was mention of a possible crime.
He had clambered out of his seat to fetch his headset and respond, spilling tea across the table and almost falling flat on his face. He gave his initial reply. Arson, he thought, would be difficult and trying to investigate. Efforts to contain the fire could destroy evidence and possible clues. The chaotic current circumstances of the village also magnified the difficulties. Institutions responsible for investigating crimes were strained and spread thin. Facilities which could conduct forensics were even worse off. There was an enormous backlog of unfinished autopsies. Crime scenes went unprocessed, and cases were left to grow cold. Kouyuu was one of the few people even left in the village still actively investigating crimes. And with so much chaos to deal with, even he couldn't devote his full attention to it.|Still it was important work that needed to be done. And with work urgently awaiting him, he scrambled about his home to get his tools in order. He found his jacket and cap hanging on the coat-rack. He plopped the cap on his head and slung his jacket over his shoulder. Nearby he found his holster and weapon, a simple revolver. He rummaged around for his mask, but couldn't find it.
He paused and stopped his search. He realized that he might have misspoken earlier on the radio and it had been nagging at him. He opened the microphone."Uh, I mean. If there are buildings on fire, you should probably focus on putting them out," he explained. "Just don't flood the area. Well, if flooding is necessary to fight the fire then by all means, but it'll make the investigation a bit more difficult. But not that much more difficult, so don't fret too much, but it may make it difficult to solve a crime, if there is any."
He paused. He still didn't have his mask. He grabbed a brown paper bag from a drawer. He opened the radio again
"Just be careful, please. I am en-route," he said. He rushed out the door.
Following the plume of smoke, Kouyuu arrived at the burning apartment moments later. By now the fire had begun to spread to the surrounding district. Yet he could tell at a glance of the flames which building was the source. People were already gathered outside of it.
He ran up to the crowd, brandishing a revolver in his left hand. In place of an ANBU mask, he was wearing a brown paper bag over his head, with two crude eye-holes poked out. Placed atop of the bag was his usual cap.
"Excuse me! Yes, hello! Excuse me," he called. "Are there any dead bodies?"
A stray spark from the building had landed on the paper bag mask and it slowly began to burn.[/col]

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Sousuke exchanged glances again with Kuro and Kazuki. "Well. Yes. Shiori is indeed my cousin. She is just capable of ... well ... let's just consider it after the fires are dealt with." Sora probably did not need to be told that Shiori was obviously not as helpless as she seemed to be. "The opposite gender is a most frightening entity. Always be aware of that." He spoke seriously but it was the truth. He rubbed the back of his neck. Kuro spoke of how the fires were being dealt with. "I agree. Our numbers and forces may be exhausted, but we need to put an end to this fire. We moved to the surface. If we fail here and now... I would abhor to think how we will fail the next trial that we will have to endure."<i></i> He warned. Sousuke then proceeded to receive incoming calls that there were suna nin beginning to rally up and begin to deal with the fires that were spreading. Kazuki in turn had conjured up more water to combat the fires ongoing.

Another call was sent coming directly to him. He listened intently as the voice inquired that the evidence not be contaminated. Sousuke blinked. Wait. Did he just? He did. He totally said what he usually would. "But ... that is what I usually say to others."<i></i> It was different being on receiving end of it. Well the alternate to destroying the evidence was to let the village burn down. Yes. Yes. All evidence aside from eye witness accounts was more or less ... botched. Entirely. Another remark came back. "Well, yes flooding the area would lead to any and all evidence being entirely obliterated."<i></i> Eventually Sousuke would come face to face with the individual. He wore a paperbag for an anbu mask. This... this was real. Sousuke always found his wardrobe to be lacking. Usually full of handmedowns from Kuro, but this was ... penury. Well. No. Was it? Sousuke looked at the man in question. He had a revolver. He couldn't have been that finically challenged. Sousuke heard his query, and then looked at the burning building. "Well. Yes. In there."<i></i> He pointed to the ruin that was his building. "Identifying the bodies may be difficult given the damage due to fire, and the water. Dental is still an option to be used. "<i></i> He answered. He received another call. He shook his head. "The fire has spread to Westside? Alright. Enroute. Call Roku. Tell him to meet me there."<i></i> Sousuke ended the call. He turned to Kuro, then Sora, then Kazuki, and the yet to be identified due to an infernal paper bagged headed Kouyuu. "Gentlemen. I am going to intercept the growing fires in the West. I've gotten reports of people working to put the fires out in surrounding areas."<i></i> With that Sousuke departed to meet up with Roku to continue the fight.

[Topic left]

 

[Yamaryuu Sora]

The one that came out of the now completely overflown building agreed with Sora on his statement. Sora felt relived.. it was not something he had imagines, although it seemed like they did not believe his words about miss Takahashi, this confused him, but that was not a unknown state for him his whole life had been like that, nothing ever really fell into place all but the constant stride to ever higher achievements.

"The opposite gender is a most frightening entity. Always be aware of that."

mister Takahashi said and once again Sora did not quite understand what he meant, but that would be for another time. the adults were going to put out this fire, and he were probably expected to help out, even in his current state. as they finished talking, Sora looked around for something more viable than a blanket to cover his torso, but nothing were to be found.
he decided to just fashion the blanket to hit torso with some rope that had blown from the building. so he could have his hands free. he then starting using his abilities with water jutsu, they were not his best suit, but they were in existence and therefore they were useful. the then went to help put out the fire where he could

[Topic left unless stopped]

 

[Senju Kazuki]

With rain or not rain, the fires in their area had been contained. Most of the guys were gone or in the act of leaving. Kazuki's purpose here had been done. It was time for the ANBU, the loyal sect, to take care of the crime scene and initiate a proper investigation. As a former ANBU himself, the Overlord could, with great probability, help them out on this, but since he was not part of the ANBU branch Sand, he was probably do worse than good. It was time to leave as well.

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