Operation: "Principle" Commences (Travel)

Mon Apr 10, 2017 10:42 pm

Mission:

Whatever air of calm or serenity existed before, it is now gone, replaced by an anxious heart and an unsure mind. Two day before, events had been taking place smoothly and for Shiro’s benefit: a spar with a jounin new to him, a day relaying his experiences with Atsuko and herself doing the same for him, and the peaceful mind which comes with knowing that his life is taking a turn for favor. Yesterday is when the deterioration of these short lived emotions began to set in. On a mission to escort a priest outside of the village, the following symptoms started to take place for unknown reasons: a sense of underlying fear accompanied by the sensing of some chakra initially felt as foreign then sensed to be his own, the occasional visual illusion of thick fog upon the ground or floor, and of even more severity, the experience of an illusion of fog raised to the ceiling along with the loss of muscular control where the body moves on its own in such a way that Shiro acts as though he is out of breath. Indeed, the last of these symptoms is the most severe as along with it not only comes the aforementioned effects but also the sweating of the palms, the feeling of being cold, a sense of helplessness, and now that Shiro thinks about it, some mysterious… overarching, and terrible fear…

It is put immediately out of his mind, as Shiro decides to remain focused on his current task. His fist hovers in front of the door to Atsuko’s home. With the purpose to strike the wood of door two or three times, Shiro finds himself hesitant, paralyzingly hesitant. The reason for this being the message that he must bring to Atsuko. What will her reaction be? Will she ask to come along? Such a request would not be to Shiro’s liking but at the same time, he cannot say no to her. Should Shiro leave without word and remain out of the village for the entirety of his mission which would be some six days (and this is the length of time which will pass before he does return), Atsuko would seek him out and fail to find him. Shiro would hate for her to feel as though he is once again avoiding her…

The situation, as any might be able to tell with this information, is difficult. Yet, this act remains necessary. Shiro proceeds to knock upon the door in front of him. This door opens in a moment, Atsuko’s father appearing before Shiro.

An inviting grin spreads across his face upon visually evaluating Shiro. He chuckles. “Hello, Shiro, what brings you here? In fact, come right in, I can fix you breakfast.” The father’s arm wraps around him and pulls him into the home.

Once within, the two come upon the table, Shiro taking a seat. There as well are Atsuko and her mother whom Shiro does not very well know. The father later returns to the table with some breakfast which Shiro pays no attention to. His purpose for coming here is not to eat. Rather, he begins by greeting Atsuko’s parents and then addressing Atsuko herself.

“Good morning…” He greets her then pauses for her response. He sees her mouth move but her words are largely ignored aside from her question of how he is feeling. After his answer, he cuts to the chase, wanting to let her know what she must know quickly. “I’m fine. Look, I’ve been assigned a mission requiring me to exit the village for a week or so.”

“I understand, just return safely.” Is her simple response.

With Shiro then feeling relieved because he does not have to deliver the real news, Atsuko’s father begins to speak. His question causes Shiro to once again hold his breath. “What are they having you do?”

In his head, Shiro laments. You had to ask. He then responds but after a moment of thought. He thinks over how exactly he is to present this topic. Then, wanting to get it over with, he comes right out to say it. “I have been assigned to seek out Genri Koutaishi and return him to the village.”

Their expressions, previously all pleasant, now show concern. Atsuko seems most upset by the sudden information. Seeing the look on her face, there are little words Shiro can use to quantify the emotion Atsuko must feel now. There is no build up to this revelation, Shiro had decided simply to get it over with and the outcome would be no different had he eased into the situation. Genri Koutashi’s name and the context related to it will always bring about these reactions.

Atsuko’s father, tightens his fists and nearly rises out of his seat as his expression shifts from “I feel sorry for you” to one of anger. “How can they give you that kind of mission?” He growls.

She interjects. “I get their reasoning… the village has yet to locate Genri’s location of refuge. Shiro is most likely to make the best educated guess because of his relationship with him. He would be integral to finding Genri. It is sound reasoning... however unfortunate.”

Atsuko’s reasoning settles her father. He begrudgingly takes his seat again, likely having been planning to march up to the village’s location of government and protest their decision. But such a course of action would have no effect on Shiro’s circumstances. However, what is said next will indeed change the equation.

Some time passes, Shiro does not eat and neither do any other family members. Atsuko’s mother sighs and gazes into the wood of the table. Her father continues to feel anger but can do nothing about it. Atsuko however, looks apologetically at Shiro before being filled with conviction.

“I will go with you.” She states. An unseen fire is in her eyes only formally recognized by Shiro. He is on the fence about this proposition, neither rejecting it nor agreeing with it. The father expresses his opinion, the opinion that this must not happen. These words convince Shiro to be against Atsuko’s coming along as well.

“I agree with your father. Should Genri harm you, I will never forgive myself. And if you die… I don’t know what I would do without you.” Shiro’s words are sincere and his heart is poured into these convictions.

Her mother also has words to say on the matter, an opinion differing from both her husband’s and Shiro’s. After a moment of thought, she proceeds. “We shouldn’t put it out of consideration.” She begins. Next, she looks with sympathy at her daughter. “Atsuko. You hide it well but there is still a hole in you left by Shiro’s recent detachment. Closure for him means closure for you. The two of you should be together for this healing.”

“It will be no place for the untrained.” Shiro says, trying hard not to let the thought of a life without Atsuko creep into his imagination. “He and I will engage in battle for a second time. Back then, there was little danger to surroundings because the fight was one sided and I was his only target. Now, I am better equipped. In fact, I would dare to say that he and I are somewhat equals considering my sharp growth and his probable lack of training due to needing to constantly run from authority. Our clash will be a heated exchange of blows and lethal attempts. I cannot in my right mind vow to protect you from all harm… and I’m sorry.”

Wanting to further urge her goal, Atsuko’s mother retorts while the father remains silent, thinking on the matter. “Bring a partner to aid you, even for the sole purpose of protecting Atsuko. On top of this, she does have formal training though not as advanced as your own. She may take care of herself in more basic maneuvers.”

The argument is simple but solid. There is no reason that, with these provisions, Shiro should refuse to allow Atsuko admittance to the mission. And so he responds, looking to Atsuko’s father. “These things are fine with me…. Do you have anything to add?”

To this, Atsuko’s father responds with a flat “OK… sure”.

The four of them rise and walk towards the door. Atsuko grabs her coat and makes some preparations for the journey. Shiro makes note that he can form further provisions for her and that their departure must be swift. Atsuko exists the house first. Before Shiro can follow her, he is stopped when he hears Atsuko’s father say his name. He turns back.

Her father, for the first time having Shiro see it, has not fear nor dread in his eyes but terror for what he perceives as happening upon Shiro’s confrontation with Genri. In a low volume, he addresses Shiro.“He doesn’t lay a finger on her. Defend her as you would a treasure. You understand me, don’t you?”

Shiro responds in a voice of the same volume. “I do. To me, she is more precious than diamonds. I cherish her more than I would cherish emeralds. Atsuko will come back unharmed… this is a vow on my honor.” The last words, “a vow on my honor” sound different from the rest of Shiro’s words. Within them can be heard a wavering spirit but one that will prove to be overwhelmingly powerful. Somehow, this simply is. None should deny it…

Wanting a partner for his assignment, Shiro notifies a QueensGuard of his needed attention. He soon returns with a ninja who is to accompany Shiro and Atsuko on this trek. The features are as follows. This ninja has short blond hair and looks to be a year or two older than Shiro making him nineteen or twenty years of age. His eyes are blue and his physique is promising as a guard for Atsuko. In terms of height, he is shorter than Shiro who stands at six feet and three inches. This ninja has a height of six feet. For reference, Atsuko has a height of five feet and ten inches. Also, this ninja wears the standard armor of a Hoshigakure shinobi.

The three of them: Shiro, Atsuko, and Hanzo. This team heads out towards Shiro’s first hunch for Genri’s location. Through his studies, he has learned much of this place and has determined that it is a likely hideout considering Genri’s lack of ability to create relationship bonds with most other people. This location is isolated and its past should draw Genri towards it. What is also convenient as that this place is on the way to a second potential hideout. Should the target be nowhere to be found, the next hunch is to become priority. But Shiro leads the group east for now.

The Iwagakure Ruins. This is the group’s destination.

(1,811/1,811)
(1,811/10,000 towards mission completion)

[Exit to Earth Country Borders]

Next Thread:

Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:49 pm

Please ensure that you have exited all topics within the village before attempting to travel.

Thu Apr 27, 2017 3:59 pm

And now that you've exited all topics, approved

Operation: "Principle" Commences (Travel)

Operation: "Principle" Commences (Travel)

Re: Operation: "Principle" Commences (Travel)

Re: Operation: "Principle" Commences (Travel)