Farewell and See You Again, Kiri

After her meeting with the Mizukage, the young Konoha kunoichi had briskly made her way to Aryll’s home and gathered all of her belongings. It didn’t take her long to collect her things, as most of her items had already been stored in scrolls or in her storage dimension for ease of transport. Hikari didn’t particularly want to travel home already, her visit to Kiri having not been long enough to satiate her hunger for knowledge and power, but she would not disobey the order of the man in charge and looked forward to the possibility of returning to the surprisingly pleasant village hidden in the mist.

Once she made sure all of her things had been gathered and the room she had been staying in was neat and tidy, she exited the room and searched for the woman who was gracious enough to let her stay in her home during her time in Kirigakure. If she was able to find Aryll she would bow and thank her for all she had done then explain why she had to depart so suddenly. If she wasn’t able to find Aryll within the comfortable walls of her home, she would take out a piece of paper and a pen to write a letter for the heiress, detailing the situation and saying her gratitude for the kindness she had been showed. Then she would make her departure, heading to the docks in order to find a boat that would safely take her out of the village and the storm circle, waiting as long as necessary to obtain the transportation.

Luckily she was able to purchase a ticket to the borders, allowing her to travel on foot the rest of the way to her village, which was of no inconvenience to her. Hikari did not have to wait long for the boat to come back for another round of transporting people, and she boarded the boat and prepared herself for her journey to Konoha. She wasn’t sure what to expect after having been gone, but hoped that not too much had changed since she left, and that Kuro was still safely at home, waiting eagerly for her arrival- even if he didn’t know exactly when that was.

(Exit)
(TWC: 373)
(Will claim those words to something later XD)

It was time. Today Kotsuzui returned to his home in Konoha. The Mizukage had given him permission to return, allowing him back into his comfort zone. But only for a little while. He had made it very clear to the Kaguya that he was expecting him to return to Kiri. When that would be, Kotsuzui was not entirely sure. But those were matters of the future. For now he needed to get back home and likely report to Risako. No doubt the Hokage was going to want to speak with him. But was the Kaguya ready to come face to face with the Hokage he failed to protect? To be reminded that her broken back came as a result of his failure to protect her and the village. Just more questions for the Kaguya to contemplate as he gathered the few belongings he had brought with him to the Hidden Mist Village. Once all was collected in his white sack to match his all white clothing and cloak, Kotsuzui flipped the bag over his shoulder and exited the building where he had resided. 

It did not take him long to reach the gates of the village. Had it been up to him, he would have just teleported right out of the village and back to Konoha. But Kiri had some sort of anti-teleportation barrier surrounding it preventing and teleportation both in or out of the village. A clever idea, once Konoha should consider implementing themselves. Not sure how far this barrier extended around the village, Kotsuzui decided to make his way over to the docks just to be safe. It was the location people went to in order to leave the island, surely he could teleport from there.

As the bare-foot Kaguya approached the docks, something caught his eye. Adjusting his line of sight towards it, he soon realized it was white long hair. That of Hikari Hyuuga. He small but apparent smile formed on Kotsuzui's face. Seeing someone familiar in this strange land was definitely a relief. But also a realization that he was going to have to meet new people if he was going to spend his days here. He noticed she was approaching the boats at the dock meaning she was departing from the island as well. He quickly headed in her direction reaching her not moments before she purchased her tickets. "Heading home also" Kotsuzui would say. Had Hikari memorized Kotsuzui's signature she likely would have noticed him before he even got close. If not, his words would be his introduction to her.

In all honesty, he wasn't expecting Hikari to be here ready to leave Kiri. Last he spoke to her, she was seeking power. Her way of obtaining that power was reaching out to Xyxer to have him teach and train her. But if she were leaving now, how much of that had she actually obtained? "Did you get what you were looking for?" he asked, not sure if there were even an answer to the question. Whether she answered or not, Kotsuzui would wait to give a potential reply before he continued on. "We're both headed in the same direction You should just come with me. We'll be back home before you know it." He waited to hear her response, having no doubt she would agree to take the journey back home with him.

[Interrupting exit for now]

She was next in line to purchase her ticket for the ship ride to the borders, her mind occupied by the thought of having to spend time in the place her brother perished, and a small sigh escaped her rosy lips as her pale eyes looked out into the horizon. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, informing them that there was still quite a few hours left in the day, and the ocean waves crashed against the wooden pillars of the dock, droplets of water landing on the wooden flooring every once in a while as the sea continued its rhythmic pulsing. Hikari was not looking forward to the travel back to the leaf village, wishing she knew someone on the boat to make the trip a bit more bearable. But alas, she had not even glimpsed a sight of anyone she might have possibly known in the line or already on the dock waiting to board.

That is, until she sensed a familiar chakra signature closing in on her location.

Hikari didn’t need to turn or glance in their direction as they quickly made work of the distance, and shortly after she sensed him approaching he appeared before her, a smile dancing across his features. She couldn’t keep a small smile from spreading across her visage, her eyes lighting up ever so softly at the sight of him. Or perhaps it was her eyes playing tricks on those who glanced at them, as the man before her was blindingly bright in his milk colored garments. A great contrast to his vibrantly pink mohawk. 

He informed her that he, too, was heading home, the words being music to her ears as it meant they would be able to travel together and catch up, for it had been quite a while since the two last spoke. Hikari moved out of the line at the ticket place and off to the side, not wanting to hold up the slowly increasing amount of people wanting to leave. 

“It’s such a surprise to see you again, here of all places.” Her voice was light, and when she said the word here she meant at the docks, not Kirigakure since she obviously knew he was going to be there. A cool breeze blew past, bringing with it the salty scent of the sea and loosening a few strands of her tied up hair to freely move around in the wind. “I’m glad to see you again. It’s nice to see a familiar face around here even if we are about to depart from this land.”

After he either commented on her sentiments, acknowledged them in some way, or remained silent for enough time, she would either reply to what he said or he would continue speaking and ask her if she had gotten what she had been searching for. Hikari wished she had, it would’ve made going back to Konoha more special for she might’ve been able to exact her revenge sooner than anticipated. Obviously it was not meant to be, nor the right moment to end the man’s pitiful life. She would have to wait and hope that Risako allows her to travel back to Kiri, and that Xyxer recognizes her efforts, taking her in as another student of his.

“Not entirely…” She trailed off, the corners of her lips turning downward slightly enough that if he weren’t looking at her at that moment then he wouldn’t have noticed the change at all. “However, Lord Mizukage said I was welcome to come back here after a few weeks. So I will try again for my goal if Lady Hokage permits me to travel here once more.”  She would pause for a moment, letting the information sink in for the Kaguya before she continued. “What about you? Am I allowed to ask or even know what you’ve been up to the entire time we were here?” She wasn’t hopeful he would be able to disclose anything to her, but figured it was worth a shot to ask anyways. 

After he replied to her own question, either with an actual answer or silence due to the fact that he was unable to disclose the training or tasks he had done with Xyxer, he changed the subject and stated that she should go with him back to Konoha, and that they would be back before she knew it. Hikari wasn’t sure what his means of transportation was, perhaps he was able to summon a bird to quickly fly them back or maybe he was able to teleport between places as a very advanced technique? Anything was possible in the world of shinobi, and nothing would come as a surprise to her anymore. “I would greatly appreciate traveling back to Konoha with you, thank you for the offer.” Her tone was full of gratitude and the small smile appeared once more across her lips. She awaited his response or information about just how they would be traveling, curious as to what exactly it would be.

(WC: 1,214)

It would seem Kotsuzui was not the only one happy to see a familiar face in a sea of strangers. It was easy to pick up on Hikari's facial hints that Hikari was also delighted to see the Kaguya. She had even turned to spot him before he had reached her. Just as he had suspected. She picked up his chakra signature before he even had the time to near her. Maybe it would do him well to memorize her chakra signature as well. Readjusting his bag of clothes, Kotsuzui flipped it over to allow one shoulder some rest and the other to bare its weight as Hikari began speaking.

"I had to come here in order to leave. It was impossible for me to do so within the village" the Kaguya spoke in response to Hikari's remark about having met here. Of course to Hikari his words would likely seem strange, definitely a little odd. She was likely un-aware of the Kaguya's ability to travel and possibly even about the barriers around the village preventing the Kaguya from traveling. "Although I'm not that surprised to see us both leaving the same day. It would seem the Mizukage wants to rid himself of Konoha for the time being." Kotsuzui smiled yet again when Hikari expressed how it was nice to finally see him, even though they were both leaving. "Yes, it is nice to see you too" he responded, "it may have done some good to have spent time while here." It may have even helped clear his mind from all his thoughts and confusion. 

Due to the fact Kotsuzui was watching Hikari the entire time he picked up on the sudden yet slight change of expression on her face in response to his question. Kotsuzui quickly concluded that she had likely not obtained what she came for and her response only solidified his thoughts. Though the Mizukage was going to allow her to return in a few weeks, assuming the Hokage permitted her. Kotsuzui too was to return to Kiri. Although there was no time table for his return. He was simply meant to return. Only for him, he did not require the Hokage's permission. His was a direct order from the Mizukage to return. "I'm going to be back here eventually. If things work out, we'll take the trip back together" he added in, willing to wait if need be for her to get permission from the Hokage.

Hikari reciprocated Kotsuzui's question in a way, asking what had happened during his stay. "Nothing" the Kaguya replied in all honesty. "I think the purpose of my stay was simply to get myself adapted to life in Kiri." He paused before continuing, a slight breeze rushing by the two Konoha shinobi with a mist of water as he thought about his conversation with Xyxer. "He's..." Kotsuzui said, stopping a brief moment to think of what he was going to say but quickly changing his train of thought. "He's sure to have something for me once I return." Now may not have been the time to discuss his inner confusion.

A slight smirk returned to his face when Hikari accepted his offer to travel together, one step closer to being home. "Perfect. Ready when you are" he'd add in one final time. He waited for her 'ready', whether that be a simple nod or verbally informing him. But once he got it, he would lift his free hand and gently place it onto her shoulder. At the moment he realized the jutsu wasn't working. "Not far enough" the Kaguya thought to himself. "It looks like we'll be getting on that boat after all. Just until we get far enough from here." 

Not having realized how far the barrier actually reached, Kotsuzui would proceed to retrieving his ticket alongside the Hyuuga. Once having it, they could board the ship. "I'll try once we're past that" Kotsuzui re-assured himself as he looked at the massive storm wall in the distance. Eventually, the ship would set sail and proceed to leaving Kiri behind as it quickly picked up its pace and headed towards the storm wall. Once finally past it with the village of Kiri no longer in sight, Kotsuzui would attempt it another time. "Shall we?" he said as he placed his hand upon Hikari's shoulder again. Hoping this was far enough, the Kaguya would proceed with his attempt at using Vanish one more time to return home.

[EXIT to Konoha with Hikari once she posts using Vanish]
TWC: 1317
892 words into Lightning Release: Electromagnetic Murder (1500/1500)
425 words into 8 Inner Gates (425/1500)

While she greeted him, he shifted the weight of his items from one shoulder to the other. It was interesting that he physically carried his belongings as she herself held no items in her hands. All of her personal things she had brought with her were safely stored away in her storage dimension. Perhaps when they got back to Konoha she would offer to teach him the technique, it was a rather useful jutsu to have in one’s arsenal.

The pinkette’s response to her words was straightforward and right to the point, making her realize she could’ve worded her statements better to get her point across more so than it had. Of course they needed to leave through the docks, but they could’ve arrived at completely opposite times, missing the other by minutes or hours. Hikari wouldn’t voice her thoughts on it though, deciding it wasn’t worth the effort to try and explain for they had more important matters at hand.

She didn’t find his words to be strange, thinking only that they made logical sense because the boats to travel through the storm circle were at the docks not within the village center. Thus it made perfect sense why he had to be there to leave. Hikari was clueless to the true meaning behind his words or the reason he was unable to actually leave from within the village.

“You bring up a good point. I’m not sure why he wants us to leave so suddenly, but maybe once we get back to Konoha we might have a better understanding of why. Hopefully anyways.” Her voice had loosened from its usually rough tone as she was becoming at ease while speaking with one of her only allies. Kotsuzui was probably the only person in the entire Leaf Village that she felt she could trust, besides Lady Hokage of course. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to spend time together while we were here, but we should try to change that the next time we are here together.” There was a bit of wishfulness in her tone as she too thought it would’ve been nice to spend time together, and she wasn’t even aware of the mixed feelings growing ever bigger as his time in Kiri, and with Xyxer, continued on.

She smiled softly at his kind offer to travel back to Kiri with her if everything goes according to plan. “Thank you, I appreciate that and would like to travel back here with you if possible when the time comes.” Hikari hoped Lady Hokage would grant her permission once more to travel to Kiri after they had been in Konoha for a couple weeks. She had much to do still before she was strong enough to face Yensung Aburame, and she truly believed that being in Kiri would help her to accomplish everything she wanted and needed to.

Kotsuzui responded to her question with simplicity, saying that nothing had really taken place while he was there and that his purpose for being there was to get adjusted to living in Kirigakure. She couldn’t pick up on any cues to tell if he was lying, forcing her to believe he was telling the truth, or as much of the truth as Xyxer would allow him to say. Maybe he really hadn’t done any training with the Mizukage yet, after all there was the giant festival that had taken place upon their arrival so perhaps Xyxer wanted Kots to enjoy himself and to explore the new land upon him before throwing him right into vigorous and secretive training. Hikari couldn’t be sure and had no way to try and analyze the situation through the mind of the Mizukage for she had only briefly spoken with him. He didn’t seem to be nearly as bloodthirsty as people suggested, but he could’ve been holding himself back or was skilled in the art of masking his real intentions. Xyxer was still a large mystery to her...but she hoped with time to unravel the puzzle that formed the Mizukage and to delve into the thought process of someone as deadly as he.

He paused briefly, collecting his thoughts it seemed before he spoke them allowed, making Hikari believe that maybe he would divulge something of interest to her. Kots began by saying ‘he’s’, but abruptly stopped once more. She apparently still wasn’t allowed to know any details into the man’s experiences with Xyxer, and despite her knowing this would probably be the end result of her inquiry, Hikari still felt a little disappointed by it. She couldn’t do anything about it though so she kept her disdain to herself in hopes that maybe someday when they return she’ll be allowed to know the secrets that he kept locked away. Instead she decided to help him feel better about what was to come for him as he was trained under Xyxer, for neither of them knew what Kots might have to partake in when he returned. “He most likely will. I wish you luck with whatever he has in store for you, Kotsuzui.”

After a brief silence he spoke up again, asking her if she would like to travel with him since they were going to the same place. Of course she accepted his invitation, but was taken aback slightly when a small smirk appeared on his face. She couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy at the hintt of such a mischievous expression. He said he was ready whenever she was, perplexing the Hyuuga since they had not bought anything to use as transportation and he had not summoned any kind of creature for them. The only option they would have left, as far as she could think of anyways, was that he would use a technique of some kind to travel. Hikari had never known that he wielded this kind of jutsu and wasn’t sure what it would be like to accompany him with it, for he was most likely accustomed to him and she had never traveled this way before.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” Her reply was honest, as she couldn’t think of any possible way to prepare herself to instantly travel from one place to another. Once he heard her reply he lifted his free hand up and placed it softly on her shoulder, and she braced herself to be teleported, to see the greenery surround her as a familiar sign that they were back in Konoha already. 

However, what she had anticipated never happened. Instead, Kots explained that they would need to board a ship anyways to get far away enough for his jutsu to work. She wasn’t sure why they needed to be a certain distance away, but thought maybe it had to do with the rules of teleportation (something she knew very little about despite having a space-time technique herself).

Hikari nodded her head in acknowledgement of his comment, feeling it wasn’t necessary to voice her compliance, and followed Kots back to the now vacant ticket booth. They each purchased a ticket, luckily getting the last two for the ship that was about to sail off. They boarded the ship rather quickly since all of the other passengers had already gotten on it while they were still buying their tickets. Once everyone was settled the boat unhitched itself from the dock and took off towards the storm center, getting extremely close to it before the storm parted, allowing them safe travel out of the Kirigakure harbor. It still amazed the Hyuuga every time she saw the natural defense of Kiri for it was a perfect way to keep others out, but as she began to think more about it she realized it could also have been used to keep Kiri’s people in, preventing them from leaving and holding them hostage to the island. 

It was a sickening thought, one she didn’t want to linger on for a moment more. Fortunately by this time it seemed they were far away enough from the village to attempt the teleport jutsu again. “We shall.” Came her short response to his question, and once she agreed he placed his hand upon her shoulder for a second time. She hoped he would succeed this time, and wondered briefly what it would look like to the people aboard the ship, some of whom she figured were regular civilians. 

Before she could register the shocked expressions of those watching them, they were gone, no longer standing on the wooden flooring of the ship or getting sprayed by mists from the sea as it lashed out against the frame of the boat. The people who witnessed it dropped their jaws at the sudden disappearance of the two, their eyes full of disbelief at what they had just witnessed. Any shinobi on board would shake their head knowingly, laughing inwardly at the sight of the civilians and thinking about what a time it was to be a shinobi.

(Exit with Kotsuzui as he used Vanish)
(TWC: 2,706)
(Claims: 2706/4000 for Tai as 3rd spec & 21 ap, maxing me out for ap)

Approved for jutsu claims, Mr. Kot, did Xy give you the password so you could telleport back to konoha?

I was told I cant teleport from within the village. But we're not currently in the village. Hikari wrote we're at docks to leave Kiri.

I made edits boarding the ship and waiting until we past the Storm Wall before using Vanish.