Melancholy {p}

The rain poured down relentlessly, each drop felt like a small bullet, they were that large. There was no one on the streets of the Leaf village, well almost no one. There was a lone figure navigating the puddles in swift confident strides. This figure was in fact Shinji Uzumaki, former Tenkage of Tengakure and current exile from his homeland. The Uzumaki was pleased for the first time in a long while. He had gained the assistance of the Hokage in the recent Tengakure take over debacle and Shinji was currently on his way to the Uzumaki district, a place he always wanted to visit. Sure, he could be worrying, and there was a time and place for worry, but, for now, Shinji was content-there was nothing more he could do. In a manner of minutes Shinji was soaking wet, but he was also just entering the Uzumaki district.

It was by no means a grand district, but it had a very homey appeal the likes of which Shinji had not seen in a while. This was when a bit or trepidation set over the young man: what did he do now? A little lost the Uzumaki chose one door of a rather elaborately constructed house and gave three sharp raps on the large oaken door that reminded the former kage of the door that led to his old office. Waiting for what felt like an eternity in the pouring rain the Uzumaki was about to turn to go when he heard locks being opened and finally the door swung inward.

The figure standing in the doorway could only be described as the epitome of an Uzumaki: long red hair, pale white skin and a rather petite form.  Shinji noted that he stood about four or so inches taller than the woman and that the red hair seemed to glow in the doorway.  Before Shinji could say a single word the lady ushered him into the house with a few quick words that came out almost like a song, "Oh!?! You poor thing, get in here before you catch something." Having nothing to say to this outburst of the woman, Shinji simply allowed himself to be ushered into the warm cozy house. It was also at this point that the Uzumaki noticed that the woman was much older than him, maybe thirty years of so, he couldn't really tell.

Taking a bit of a second to take it all in, Shinji elected to actually say something like a normal human being, "I'm sorry I cant intrude on yo---" The lady cut Shinji off in a rather harsh, but almost motherly way, "Nonsense, I cant let you go back out into that storm. Now, who are you?" Shinji could not help, but absentmindly scratch his neck as he responded, "Oh, I am Shinji, Shinji Uzumaki. Thank you for your kindn--" For the second time in their conversation the lady cut him off, "You're Shinji? So, you're the clan head now...My oh my you do look like your fathe--" Now it was Shinji's turn to cut the lady off, "Wait...you knew my father?" There was a long silence and then the lady simply said a few words, "You should come in take a seat by the fire."

Shinji almost said no, but cooler head prevailed and the young man did as was suggested and walked into a warm living room. Naturally, Shinji took a seat in one of the large chairs. In matter of moments the older woman came back into the room holding a cup of what smelled like orange tea and handed it to Shinji who readily took it. Taking a sip from the boiling hot tea, Shinji ignored the slight burn and swallowed. He then spoke in a steady manner, "So....you knew my parents?" The old woman nodded ever so slightly and spoke, "Yes, yes...My name is Rika Uzumaki. I did know your father, but not your mother...he never talked much about her. On the other hand he talked of you endlessly, he was proud of you even at your young age, a true father." Rather exasperated Shinji asked his big question, "W-what was his name?" Rika sighed once and continued, "His name was Gozuboro, but we all called him Gozu, he was a good man. And, well, I know you will ask where he is now: I honestly do not know. He left some years ago. In fact, he came here from Tengakure he mentioned how he had left his family there. Your father had become feed up with the shinobi lifestyle, which, according to him, was in stark contrast of your mother. As a result the two went their separate ways." Pausing for a second Rika would look over towards Shinji. The young man had a single  tear in his eye: his father had left him.

Taking another sip of the tea, Shinji allowed the waves of emotion to wash over him. Oddly enough Shinji had always imagined that his parents had somehow died. The weird part was that even as kage he had been unable to find any information on his parents as if they had been expunged from the records. Shinji's introspection was interrupted as Rika spoke again, "He then came here and finished his supposed purification here in the Leaf village. I was good friends with old Gozu. One day he came to me and announced his intention to give up all possessions of his that linked him to the shinobi world. He left all his shinobi trappings here....I suppose the right thing to do is to pass something onto you. He had this peculiar sword that he used to wear. I for one am no warrior, but you....you look like warrior, that much is sure." Shinji could see where this was going and he quickly interjected, like anyone would, "I'm flattered I really am, but there is no way I could take something from you, even if it were my fathers...I'm not sure I would even want it."

There was a long awkward moment of silence in which all that could be heard save for the crackling of the fire. Finally Rika stood silently and walked over to a large chest that sat in the corner, hidden by shadows. After a bit of fiddling with locks Rika returned to the fireside with a sword sheathed in black. Handing it to Shinji Rika spoke, "Well, I will not take no for an answer. This sword was meant to be yours, please, take it. There are other things you should have, but those are for another time." Without a word the young Uzumaki took the sword and instantly felt a weight as if the sword as feeding off of him. However, this was only a mild sensation and at last Shinji spoke again in a sad whisper, "T-thank you....."

A warm look passed over Rika's face as she spoke for the final time, "You can stay here for a while. I have a guest room upstairs, the first room on the left. Good night to you." With that Rika left the living room and went upstairs, surely to bed. Shinji, on the other hand, simply fell alseep in the cozy chair in front of the fire, which quickly dried his soaked frame. Sword in hand he fell into a land of dreams, a land of dreams where he still had both his mother and father, not just heirlooms.

{Total word count: 1225/1000 for receiving Solace complete.}

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