Cool Nights in the Desert (Mizuki))

Night had finally settled upon the blazing sands of Sunagakure, and it was actually not too bad. Where it was once hot it was slowly replaced by the cool dulcet tones of night. Truth be told this was the kind of night he preferred where it wasn't too hot but a comfortable coolness to where he could sit outside and enjoy a nice drink or two. At the moment however he had been walking about the village trying to get a feel for his new home. After all he had given his answer to Kenshin and joined his cause, might as well know what he needed to about the village itself. Ibari had yet to find out much about the others that the Kage had trusted, but he knew at some point he would begin to meet them. Some of the villagers had taken a small curiosity to him as he walked around from a small place he found himself shacking in, the people of this place were a different breed than Konoha for sure. It was not hard to say that he preferred the people of Suna to Konoha on any given day and the weather here while humid at one point, was balanced on the other. Such things made it easier for him to be at ease and not grumpy. He had yet to get used to the new parts that had been within him and he could feel the power surging through his body, though he had done nothing with it. In time he would attempt to train it and nurture is so that he could call it his own. In the meantime however he wasn't worried about it. His steps slowly took him from the inner village working to an outer settlement he had only seen from some of the higher buildings.

Ibari didn't ask about it in the slightest, determined to find out for himself and make a little exploration of it. The usual stoic look on his face said it all as he made it toward the lingering gate that once sat upon some form of railing system. It looked like a compound of sorts, but whatever it had been was no longer here. As he pushed the gate out of his way and stepped into the area he could see the makings of a few houses or what looked to be establishments. The wares that had once been in there were no longer there and if some were there they had no form or had been rusted or abused by time. "I wonder how long this place has been out of commission...Seems like a group of people lived here or something," he mused to himself as he continued walking through it. As the cool desert wind whipped through his black locks, he wondered what this place could have looked like in its hayday. It took him only a moment to make it to what looked like a well of sorts, his odd eyes taking over its form before releasing a small sigh from his lips and looking around," I came in search of an adventure but this is pretty boring..." the compound looked interesting and yet it felt like the true gem of this place was no longer here.

546

Cool night air brushed the stray black locks of hair back from her face - hollowed out cheeks coming into view as her hair blew back - her gaze was set to the blank canvas of sand as she was perched on her usual spot up high on the gate; the suns departure from the sky signified her duty on the gate was near completion for the day. Almost as soon as she thought it the older man - Hans if she bothered to recall his name correctly - could be heard making his way toward her; his gait and walking pattern now memorized perfectly by the extremely vigilant and near paranoid Mizuki.

Her encounter with the Wraith had done its damage on her psyche - and even more visibly to her skin - now intermittently marked with perfectly circular scars that mared her once porcelain skin; the remnants of which still shewn on her face, but even that was stolen away by the nightmares which gave her face a lasting harrowing expression. Her attitude had changed as well, more apathetic and guarded than she’d ever been - his footsteps drew near, his breath catching as he made it to the top - rolling her eyes she stood and began brushing the sand from herself not bothering to turn to address him. She had changed even the way she dressed, covering herself from ankle to throat to wrist, pitch black regardless of the unforgiving sun - and her hair was always wild, flowing freely over her shoulders making her general appearance to a feral fox. 

“I’ll be back at Dawn.”, clipped and hurried in her speech, she made it a habit to leave his company as soon as possible… there was an underlying understanding and trusting nature about him that no longer sat well with Mizu; it reminded her of herself… before. She was unable to get away fast enough as he had a reply ready on the lips, probably because she would say the same thing every time they switched off so she presumed he had this one prepared - “Y’know, Dawn is a symbol of rebirth, awakening...resurrection. Read that somewhere a few years back if I recall…”, his tone was one of feigned pondering, anyone with trained ears could hear the pointed wording and deliberate pauses. Her expression hadn’t shifted a centimeter as he made his comment and as she began to walk her familiar path home she would call back to him, “I didn’t recall asking for a sermon.”, her tone was harsh and obviously mocking of his enlightening words of faith - turning around the bend of a cliff face she was out of view and earshot.

It wasn’t long before she was reaching the outlying settlement that she had discovered when she had first arrived in the remains of the village - set aside far enough that she had some levels of seclusion while still being nearest to the gates. It was a little community that had its own mid point like a main square which housed an old well in the center of it - as time had passed most of it had been damaged but slowly she had cleaned it up and made one of the dwellings her own. While it was no secret she lived here it was an almost unspoken rule that no one ventured too close unless given special permissions like Kenshin - so sensing an unfamiliar chakra immediately put her on alert. She came up short to the edge of one of the abandoned buildings, staying completely out of sight as she flashed through the hand signs for her Fox Fire jutsu - Snake → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Bird → Tiger - and producing a ring one meter in front of herself, all ten of them lighting up her location and her frame as she stepped agile around the corner to face the unfamiliar man. Though she was poised for attack she was very unwilling to strike first - mostly putting them up for her own protection hence keeping them close to her body like living flame shields. Her eyes looked severe in the harsh flickering lights of the jutsu while her hands held clasped in front of her chest - which was drawing uneven breath. “First you arrive uninvited to my home and then you insult the place…tch. Who are you.”, her tone started off sarcastic and morphed into a more direct flat tone, a question not an option. Her weight was leaned back on her right foot, she held herself at an angle so as to give as little of a target as possible while still leaving her poised to escape - she was on the defensive.

[WC 774]

The night had certainly held something in store for him. He didn't hear the person coming, his attention was as of this moment on the ruins of the compound itself. What he felt however was the introduction of chakra into the night air, and his odd eyes slowly did a turn to meet that in which summoned the chakra to life. He was having a hard time discerning whether or not he should have made a proper defense in case things had turned ugly, but who knew what would come of this interesting in counter. Slowly he would turn to face the person in question, finding out that it was in fact a woman. No smile honored his face and in fact he carried around his stoic and rather mutual look as he spoke to her," No one notified me that someone had been living among these ruins. Were one to take a closer look it would seem as if no one had lived here for ages. Tell me do you know the history of these ruins?," as he fully turned around the gleaming rays of the moolight would touch the metal upon the headband that Kenshin had given him only a day prior. The emblem would discern him as one of the ninja of this village, a fact he was solemnly proud of. He no longer carried the stigma of his old home and in fact was glad he was finally rid of it. He did however begin to take notice of the woman standing in front of him.

A quizzical look began to play upon his features as he tapped his chin and pondered upon something," You wouldn't happen to be one of the ninja close to the Kazekage now would you. I would told there had been a select few he had trusted, me now being added to that list, but i am wondering if you too are apart of it. If you are then this meeting under the pale moonlight is certainly fortuitous for the both of us would you not agree? I suppose introductions are in order yes? I am Ibari. Newly appointed Jounin of Sunagakure. Who might I have the sudden pleasure of speaking with," he wouldn't extend a hand to her for as long as her jutsu was active, instead he would stay lose, limber in case she took offense to him and attacked. While they were indeed allies under the same banner, she could easily look for a justification for attacking him, though he surmised she was not like that. If she was then she could have easily snuck him and he would be none the wiser. At the moment however he would await to see what her responses would be and if she would snuff the flames that were currently about her. The night could easily go in numerous ways and yet the new Jounin had a thought or two about it going down the path of non-aggression. As he stood there he felt something different about him, something that had probably been the result of the new transplant he had just received.

522 WC

She held herself poised, unmoving as the male turned fully to face her now, an unfamilair  face indeed... dark like her own and a calm demeanor that only made her own harsh one seem more concentrated. Her hands remained poised in front of her, but her eyes were alive as they took his appearance in - grading his behaviour as she would normally but this time she was a step ahead this time. He was approaching her level of threat with nobchalance which was the best course of action given her jumpy composure. 

His pondering confused her momentarily and if she hadn't noticed the headband he wore he would have had at least one fireball hurled at him for invading her area - but he was new and approved by Kenshin himself so she was no one to stand in the way of his decisions, this man was here now. "No. I am unaware of the history of these ruins... I originate from Hoshi." 

Before she had gotten further into her speech to get him to vacate her property he began mirroring a tone of voice she used to use, honest wonderment and outloud connecting of the dots... and more importantly the exact same scenario The Wraith had her in before he proved to her how being as trusting as she was was her worst mistake. Gritting her teeth she stared him down, the balls of fire still blazing around her casting dancing shadows everywhere the light began to fade into black. "It isn't wise to spout out information that sensitive to people you don't know. As someone who learned that lesson the hard way I'll honored my promise to never attack a fellow ally of the Kazekage's." She stared him down for a few tense seconds before conceding in approving his greeting, "Mizuki. You'll be changing your opinion on your choice of wording soon enough, I wouldn't describe me as pleasant even in my sleep." Her tone was blank as she addressed his oddly inquisitive nature.

While still semi-hostile the talks were moving in a pace far anticipated by the male, at least she was the talk first, incinerate later type. While she did not hold the answers of this ruin, she in fact revealed another question that the male could ask in order to get to know the comrade at arms better at least. Maybe it would ease the tension between the two or strain it," A soul far from home much like myself. I come from Konoha...though that probably holds no merit compared to your village I would assume. I do not know too mucb about the Village Hidden in the Stars than what I have heard from mere word of mouth. What is your old home like if you do not mind me asking to...ease our situation a bit. This usually is not how I would get to know someone...you know with the proverbial fire and all," a plastic like smile slowly found its way onto his face as he tried to his best to make a good first impression. He did not know exactly how the woman would react to him honestly as everyone has a...unique way of seeing him. Some might have found him weird while most...interesting at best.

When she reprimanded him, or at least to his own conclusion, he would look up toward the sky for just a moment before looking back to her," Well that would be true if you were someone unaffiliated within the village or its cause. Then again I have been a little on the careless side in my wording. Though as for your definition of "pleasant" I can assure you that most would not enjoy my company because i can come off as a little unsettling to some. So if you are unpleasant, at least in your own words, then I am unsettling no?," the flippant turn of words was something he was rather good at though it might just piss off his current company. Regardless of the fact, he turned his head slightly to the right to get a good look at the ruins before turning back to her," If this is your home, how much of it have you explored? I figured we could talk and look around in some of the areas you have not visited or if you have you could show me around?," it was a simple invitation for them to sort of get to know one another or if in another light gather information on one another. The night was very much young and in the end he was only looking for a friend, and if more a comrade to help advance the goals of their Kage and his interests. Another thing had been on his might since their very brief introduction. How long at the mysterious lady been in the village and what exactly is her role in everything. None of it was important to him , only the mention of how long she had been here. There were things about the village he wanted to know that many of the ordinary citizens would not speak on- namely the bloody decor.


523 wc

Her eyes narrowed slightly as he claimed his origins as Konoha, she had no known enemies from the village but she was never fond of the arrogant nature most she met held. He wondered about her village of origin, Hoshigakure and in this already fractured state her hand twitched with unease. The fleeting memories she had buried of her old home was so far deep in her mind - buried by countless years of thievery and murder that she had all but forgotten the faces of her siblings. She let out a short huff as the smile spread slowly over his face - Far too friendly for your own good aren’t you…

“Unsettling isn’t the word I would use to describe you - foolish and trusting would be the words I would use… and The Wraith would have much worse things in store for you-”, she closed her eyes abruptly, her eyebrows scrunching in a sudden wave of pain that swept up her body in the exact spots her scars were. This was all in her head, an illusion bred from the trauma of being on the brink of death by someone she should have understood to be a distant ally. Her body was completely healed with absolutely no issue other than the scars she kept covered by her clothing - but her mental landscape was shattered like a broken mirror. Taking a shaking breath she had to admit to herself he posed no threat to her, and her initial fear was little more than a knee jerk reaction that now held little reasoning. Though she could have dispelled the jutsu and let it fizzle out around her - plunging them in the darkness that had engrossed the two - she instead directed her gaze to a particularly destroyed building and sent all ten of the fireballs hurtling into the rubble - igniting the remains into a glorious bonfire. Her gaze returned lazily back to his, “It was getting dark.” 

Drawing a knife from inside her person, twirling it calmingly around her finger she nodded in consent to his offer, “We walk together, only if you are slightly in front of me, precaution you know.” She bowed her head slightly in the direction she intended them to set off, “I tend to keep to myself now so exploring isn’t high on my agenda.. But you are curious … and I haven’t experienced curiosity since…”, her voice had trailed off without intention to finish it, waiting for him to continue on ahead and begin his questioning.

[WC 418]
[TWC 1527]

A smile slowly crept upon his features as he slides his hands into his pockets and shrugs," I wouldn't say I trust you. Just because i've told you a few things doesn't mean i'm spilling my life story and other things. I give just the film of the frothing...and see what you do with that. Being foolish? I believe that in some sense as i've made some decisions that have bit me in the ass.. I know full well that the Ragdoll can do things to me that only normal people have nightmares of, but that isn't a fear that I need to worry about because it won't come to pass," he noticed how she was acting right now and while he wanted to do something, but he wasn't going to fully help someone that was so mistrusting...and she was right to. When it looked like she was better he would ask about it," Something the matter?," he stayed exactly where he was, not moving toward her but also not moving aggressively. Looking at the new fire he would cover his eyes for just a moment and look back to her," I don't blame you for that...warmth and light are both a good thing in the cool desert night," his eyes settled on the fire for a moment, a flicker of a flashback passing through his eyes as he signed and walked closer toward it before they departed to look around.

Looking back toward her he would smile though it wasn't a normal smile. He was amused by the fact that she was going through these lengths but he wasn't mad that she was doing it. Walking forward he would keep his hands in his pockets though as he looked around he couldn't help but ask," Do you think that knife would do much? Not asking as a threat but its been a minute since someone had pulled something so...trivial out on me so i was curious. Also what do you mean you haven't experienced curiosity?," That was something that caught the male off-guard as he continued to walk in the direction that she was leading them to.

The knife continued to twiddle in her hands, not for protection but more for a way to expel nervous energy without seeming consumed with nerves. She gave a small laugh as he address the very thing she was thinking of - the knife - by no means did she really expect such a basic weapon to really affect anyone anymore; you needed to be at a whole other level to affect the people who lived in this world now. Hmmm trivial indeed wasn’t it? Whats a knife to someone who can make you see things that aren’t even there .. with a thought. The irony of the thing really did make her smile as she shook her head in response.


“By no means did I think it would, sometimes you have to apply dramatics to your life, lest it gets stale.”, frowning down at the knife spinning between her fingers she grasped it suddenly, stopping its movement. She thought on his question for a few moments, their steps soft in the still night around them, she was still grasping the knife as she drew back her hair and slid the knife into the knot at the back - the wild hair now contained in a half up/half down sort of fashion and she deined him another look, this one more open than any she had given before. 

Drawing up her hair had more of an affect on how she carried herself - gaining a semblance of her old self back by taking control of her hair and also allowing the wild tangles to remain; finding balance in the torn version she had become after the encounter with the Wraith. She drew up to his side now and gave him a side glance - “I was attacked in the village not to long ago - emotionally scarred and pitted against my own ally without hesitation, all because I refused to give up the locations of my fellow shinobi in the village. Before that day I was highly inquisitive and more than curious… I was intrusive.”, she smiled to herself for a moment as her personal joke landed on unaware ears. Intrusive is how she would describe her approach to data collection, in a black book she kept hidden on her person every moment she had written down plans and tactics on how to subdue those she was sent to subdue. It was her personal collection of observations and tactics on people; not a hit list by any means, but it was a fail safe. Her last resort. Ibari here had just earned himself a 4 page section all to himself, curious people are always a little more dangerous. “How are you enjoying the village thus far? I’m sure the people here are colorful to say the least.”, the small jab at herself was meant to lighten the mood as the continued to wind their way through the buildings.

WC 481
TWC 2008

Her response caused him to smirk a bit. He wasn't expecting the answer she gave him, in fact he admired it. Walking forward he he would place his hands behind his head as he spoke," I have to admit that the answer you gave me was certainly....interesting. I've never heard someone respond to a question in such a way." Though he didn't see her putting the knife up, he could see that her hands were now unobstructed by the stabby object now that she was beside him.

He didn't meet her gaze directly as she spoke, but he did listen to her story as they continued on their nightstroll through the deserted place. He too knew what it was like to be betrayed and attacked by those he knew, however he didn't know what it was like to lose such an integral part of oneself. Her question lingered on his mind for a moment before he answered , his mind still thinking about what she had said just moments before.

Turning to look at her he tilted his head for a moment as he answered ," The people I've met so far have been colorful and interesting to say the least. Its been a long time since I've been somewhere I don't feel disgusted being in," it was also a place where he had a sense of belonging. Compared to Konoha this one felt like a home..like he truly was meant to be here. As he continued to walk with his new friend he pondered asking more but enjoyed their walk instead.

(260)

[Exiting]
TWC:2,129
Claims: using 1,246 words to complete Ganesha Previously at 1,254 completing it
Putting the remaining words (883) toward Verdandi

Claiming 21 AP