What's Up? [Entering Country]

[Morishige]

Choo Choo! cried the train. They were on a long bend in the track allowing them the see the smoke roll past the windows and slowly dissipate into the atmosphere.

Zaku was off in the food cart eating whatever extra money they had from the village, which left Nobuyuki and Haruka sitting across from each other. He still had that darn mask on, so there would be no way to tell if he was watching her or reading that newspaper he was brandishing. The headline across the front read "Unknown Paramilitary Group has seized Southern Armory."

[Country Entered]

 

[Sanageyama Masaoko]

Although she spent most of her time gazing out the window, occasionally Haruka was drawn to the eerie mask on Nobuyuki's face. The face under the mask was unmistakably Nobuyuki's. She had figured that out almost a week into his entrance into Earth country. So, why did he persist in keeping up this ridiculous facade? Was it to throw her off of his thoughts, or perhaps to intimidate her? The first time she ever saw Nobuyuki had been at Shin's funeral. Those eyes that burned away the darkness and saw the truth were the first to met her gaze. She wondered if they were still the same eyes. Her hand twitched as she dreamed of reaching up and lifting off his mask tenderly. As if he'd ever let her that close.

Her eyes swayed down his figure before catching the headline on the newspaper. Titan. It brought the notion of what she should do about them back to thought. She might not get a chance to deal with them though, if justice was to be served upon her life. She knew they had to be stopped, but Cloud had been putting too much effort into bringing justice to Shin's killers. She was all to blame about that. Could she trust Nobuyuki to help her with them? She studied him once more, unable to tell if he was gazing back at her.

"There's something I need to tell you." Her voice was soft and firm, almost completely disturbed by the rustle of his newspaper as he set it down across his lap. "Its about Titan." And although he said nothing, she knew he was interested by the visible shift of his body. His back stiffened ever so slightly, like a lioness ready to devour her prey. "A while back, just before I left Lightning country, I ran into Titan. They attacked a group of our shinobi while Kioku tried to replenish life back to the crater they caused. You probably know of the incident, if you're as competent a Sennin I'd hope you to be. I was there. I learned something that day. Something I never told anyone- not even Kioku. Those machines they created, they're alive. I know because when I destroyed one, a soul came forth. A soul of what, I am unsure, but I felt it." She wrung her hands ever so slightly. Would he believe her?

"They're planning so much more than they've lead on. We've left them to their own devices for far too long. And, I believe this is just the beginning. They want me for reasons I am unable to determine." Was it because she willingly betrayed her Raikage? Or perhaps they were interested because she earned the common people's love, at least long enough to become their Raikage? Or maybe...

Maybe it was the Aeon the slept inside her?

Did he know about it? Or had Kitsune actually managed to keep her mouth shut about that secret? The only two who knew were Kitsune and Kioku. Kioku would never betray her. He'd never do anything to harm her. That's why she left her precious ones with him. She didn't even trust herself with them.

[Topic Entered]​

 

[Morishige]

His eye's switched between Haruka and the paper every so often. Often enough to realize that she too was diverting attention between the window and his mask at irregular intervals. There were times where he swore that she could see through his facade and that they knowingly were staring into each others eyes. There was something similar between them. Well, perhaps a better word for it was something familiar.

His thoughts were disrupted by her words. It had been during one of those times where he was actually focused on the newspaper. The sennin cleared his throat and neatly folded the periodical on his lap.

There was a flash of worry as if she had been reading his mind. But he quickly remembered the headline on the front of the newspaper and his levels returned to a more normal state. She visibly moved in his seat as he prepared for what she had to say. He was quite curious as to what she could know since she had left the country. Turns out his curiosity would be sated...

He remembered the report of that mission. He had acquired it with the authority of the investigation since Haruka had made a presence there. But what she said had never been mentioned on the report in any way shape or form.

Nobuyuki studied her as she spoke, looking for clues as the just how she felt about this. Not only had she chosen to reveal this now, and not before, but her hands were busy fidgeting about nervously. She had no reason to lie about something like this, and Nobuyuki had no reason to ignore her. Especially since she was basically on a highway to hell. It was obvious that she wanted something done about it and was leaving it to him.

"Mmmm." responded Nobuyuki with a nod. "I agree completely. But without an invitation from the Shogun, the village doesn't have jurisdiction to do a thing against them. Even we were technically in the wrong when Kioku took those shinobi to reshape the crater. It seems the coin they send to the capitol is influential enough to keep the government from taking steps against them. This," he paused, tapping a finger on the headline beneath his hand. "Is just one of many. They have been making moves against the country every so often with careful planning. I am curious as to what you mean by what you said though. What do you mean they want you? How do you know this?"

As he spoke, it was clear that she was more concerned about this than her own future they were speeding towards.

 

[Sanageyama Masaoko]

It seemed that Kumogakure was stuck, all because those swines in the capital cared more about satiating their greed than the greater good. It seemed unfair. Kumogakure was at risk, did that not merit enough warrant to investigate Titan then? The Raikage swore fealty to the Shogun, but he also swore to protecting his people in Kumogakure no Sato. She remembered the tales of a village feared by all. A village that upheld duty and order within the country. How could Cloud be reduced to a lap dog?

"I-" The words were caught in her throat. She was unsure why they wanted her. It scared her, to think she could be used as a tool to hurt the place she loved. "Their agents made it clear they had been looking for me. Its just another reason why I left the country. I was afraid if I stayed, it would only bring more disaster to Cloud. I have reasons to suspect why they would want me." She just didn't know if she was ready to tell Nobuyuki. He needed to know though, if he were to help her set things right. She wanted to get closer to that island in the sky before it was too late. She wanted to make that Titan fall.

"I betrayed the Raikage and that might be reason enough for their interest in me, but even that seems shallow for Titan. They applaud themselves as champion of the common people, they have no interest in our politics. I believe they may want me because of what I am..." Every fiber in her being warned her to silence herself this instant, but if they were to get closer to the truth, Nobuyuki needed to know. "I am a jinchuuriki. Within me I hold the avatar of ice. I believe they know of my power and seek to obtain it."​

 

[Morishige]

Her eyes just watched her from behind the mask as she spoke, still surprised that should would even bring this up. But she was the honorable type, to do the right thing even in her final hours. But her story was... speculation? Though he didn't doubt her, she could only really guess at why they had wanted her. "Betraying Shin indeed might have been enough for them to get interested in her as a potential ally. he thought to himself. But she had other designs she thought might be the purpose. And they weren't what he was expecting at all.

"Jinchuuriki?!"

It was a surprise. Due to his position in the ANBU the kinjutsu registry was something that he was aware of and he knew exactly who was on this list. She wasn't. That drew all sorts of implications in his mind. "How would they have learned of this if you aren't registered? Who put the demon inside of you? When did this happen? he spoke, in a less calm tone than he usually did. "Did you go to them for this power you now wield?" he accused. It would explain how they knew about it and why she wasn't on the registry. If she had worked for them before, and then betrayed them... Was Haruka nothing like he suspected she was?

 

[Sanageyama Masaoko]

She looked to the door window of their little compartment after his outburst. She swiftly gave him orders to lower his voice with the wave of her hand. She leaned in to speak with him as his barrage of questions quieted to a standstill. Haruka had never seen Nobuyuki so shaken. Her confidence withered away. Perhaps she really had done the wrong thing in seeking this power. It was even worse that she hid it away from the village. It seemed Kitsune hadn't betrayed her after all on that little note. It still wasn't enough to save her ass though.

"No! I would never side with them after what they've done. I brought the spirit back with me from Mist. Not on purpose. It latched onto me. A while after I returned, I met with Kioku. He invoked it's physical form to manifest and I made a deal with it. I needed something more to protect this village, after how weak I had been in the Torre fight..." She lowered her head and sighed. As she peeked up, she could almost picture his look of disbelief. His body posture seemed all wrong. "They saw me in a fight, using my power. I believe that's how they knew I had it. They could probably sense it. This all happened right before I left to Stone."

As she sat back, Haruka's stiff smile sourly crept upon her face. "You seem disappointed, Captain. Did you not quite figure me out as thoroughly as you had hope?" Despite the grim situation, there was a tone of amusement in her voice.​

 

[Morishige]

Her own heated response did more to put him at ease than her words themselves. You could always just a person by the way they said something much more accurately than by what they said. Granted, a talented liar knew how to manipulate both, but once again there was no reason for her to be lying here.

The story was almost unbelievable. He had told himself time and time ago that the supernatural was just a myth, but time and time again he was proven wrong. Now the woman across from him was a vessel for some spirit and was being targeted by perhaps an adversary that was on par a shinobi village. But why?

He shook his head at her. "Well. I think we can both agree that this is something I simply couldn't just figure out." he replied with a smile and exhaled deeply. As he leaned back against his seat, his hands folded together and rested on the back of his head. "So I guess our next step in that puzzle would be to figure out why they would want you becuase of that, and why they are reinforcing their positions across lightning country." he reasoned whilst looking out the window.

"Hard to believe there are those out there with enough influence to make you and I speak like this. If I were an honest man, I would even say it's downright frightening." he spoke in a more rhetorical tone, followed by a sigh.

"It's likely you will be put in the Underprison until Saito decides what to do with you. You'll be safe from their reach their. But... you won't be able to make moves against them either."

 

[Sanageyama Masaoko]

"I don't have much of a choice, do I? This is why I told you what I know. You'll make the difference, Nobuyuki. You always have." It was hard to believe that these two shinobi were enemies. After all, she had betrayed his village. Yet, here they were behaving with all the ease in the world towards one another. Even their posture spoke for them as Nobuyuki relaxed again his seat. She glanced out the window, afraid that they were speeding along faster than before. Time was running out.

"I'm sorry I can't be of more use to you. I didn't find anything out about them while in Stone. I was too busy being a coward." They sat in between silences. Nobu in his thoughts and Haruka stewing in her self hatred.

"Promise me something." She finally spoke with uneasiness once again.

"Hm?" He tilted his head ever so slightly, no doubt interested in what she needed to say.

"Promise me you'll stay safe. Kumogakure needs you more than ever. People are depending on you. You're one of the few who can keep their eyes on the real threat. I need to know that my people- your people will be safe. I'd give my life for them. No matter what Saito or anyone would say, I love my village. But, I can't protect them anymore, you can. You're the only one and I need to you to promise that you'll be careful. Titan will try to hurt you if you get in their way." She scooted to the edge of her seat, knees pressing into Nobuyuki's in such a confined area.​

 

[Morishige]

Nobuyuki's hidden expression would have read as surprise. She had never called him by his first name before. In all seriousness, by his own law he should be expelled from the ANBU corps, but the woman had previously been the Raikage. She knew far more than anyone else in the village. But that didn't matter right now.

To be honest, he didn't enjoy her beating herself up over what happened, but she wasn't wrong. So he decided to remain silent and watch the landscape pass them by until she said something peculiar. "Hmmm?" he responded, indicating that he was listening to whatever her request was.

It sounded like she was passing the torch to him, but she didn't sound like those times they had discussed before. This really was a plea for him to be careful and watch his back. "She believes in me. Of all the people, the one who is dragging her back for judgement."

She entered his personal space. He didn't mind, but it had been a VERY long time since he had even been alone with a woman in tight quarters. He tended to avoid them to avoid temptation. His duty was to the village, and no one else. Why was he even thinking these things to himself?

He put his hand on her knee to put her at ease. It was apparent that things were weighing on her heart and mind pretty heavily. "I promise that I will be careful, but sometimes I must put myself in harms way to protect our people. But know that I will watch over your flock with vigilance and pride. No harm will befall them as long as I shall live. I promise." he said. He didn't know if he believed the words at that moment. But he would soon find himself believing them sooner or later.

 

[Sanageyama Masaoko]

She nodded, put at ease by his promise. Although she didn't smile, her eyes seemed brighter. More hopeful that when she entered the train. His hand laid on her knee. She almost could feel the flow of his spirit. She never felt more in sync with another before. Perhaps it was the Jinchuuriki's power that made her so sensitive to the ebb and flow. Perhaps it was something more than that. When it came to Nobuyuki and Haruka most answered remained a mystery. "Hm, your hands are worn too. Can you remember a time before all of this?" She noted quietly. His skin was scarred and rough like her's. She remembered when her hands were pure as snow.

"Thank you." She pulled away, sitting back completely on the bench once more. She knew ANBU's codes and laws. If the other ANBU escorting her were to see them in such a tender position, it could prove bad for Nobuyuki. She stared out the window once more, the mountains broke the horizon. The air between them was comfortable, yet tense. They were too much alike after all. The small thoughts she wanted to say passed into the open air, never to be said to the stoic ANBU. Her one last thought before departing from their compartment was the same as when they had first begun to speak to one another.

I wish to remove that mask, to see those eyes that burned away the darkness and revealed the truth.

[TLUS]
[MFT]​