Path of Change

The scarlet haired vixen felt utterly ridiculous. . .

The soft sounds of glass chiming against surfaces could be heard throughout the ramen bar, as cups and bowls are exchanged to the visiting customers. The smell of broth was thick in the air, and for once, the thought of a bowl of ramen didn't sound appealing to the woman. The fragrance caused a frown to lay upon her soft lips. Her saliva was becoming thick within her mouth. Clinging uncomfortably as she swallowed.

She wasn’t feeling all too well.

Customers came and gone, she barely noticed when they passed her table. Her ember fox eyes gazed blankly at the wallpaper in front of where she was seated. Deeply in thought as the kunoichi unknowingly bit into the edge of her nail. Briefly gnawing against the surface, as the bartender gave her a questionable look. No doubt this silence she held was unexpected.

A faint tingle of pain appeared from around her finger. Akira’s gaze broke from the wall, to glance down at the nail. One of her canines had accidentally pierced against the flesh around her battered nail. Bringing her back to her surroundings.

What was this? This feeling of uncertainty that seemed to turn her stomach? Her throat felt tight, and she almost felt ill. Akira took a second to press the back of her hand against her forehead. She wasn’t hot.

Akira let out a helpless sigh. Was she feeling anxious?

How many days has it been? There was no telling what has happened within the time of her absence. She was becoming a slacker. Unreliable and unrealistic. She had been complaining about the absence of her teammates, yet now she was the one that was the dropout. She was not a figure that anyone would be able to rely on. It was finally dawning on the vixen, that she has become an obvious joke. So much time was wasted, and for what? What was she planning on to achieve with this childish behavior?

Nothing will be achieved if things were to continue like this. So it was time to announce some changes.

Akira would have to start small. Slowly move her way up to where she needed to be, but where exactly would that be? What was the real end goal here?

She couldn’t run back to her ex team like a coyote with it’s battered tail between shaking legs. Defeated by the means of life itself. The kunoichi can’t allow herself to depend on the strength of others. She was already overwhelmed with embarrassment. For once. . . the vixen had the desire to keep a low profile. She was already an inconvenience to this society.

Her fingers gripped tightly at the edge of her table. Her nails roughly bit into the hard wooden surface. Not being able to help the bubbling surge of frustration that grew within. The frustration was directly towards herself, and only her. The sharp canines she possessed, bit into the soft flesh of her bottom lip. The sudden taste of copper touched her tongue as her lip bled weakly.

The unexpected jolt of a glass landing upon the surface of her table, left her feeling surprised. Her hands relaxed from the table. The bartender from the ramen store stood beside the table with a kind smile. He had placed a cup of cinnamon tea for her, and left after giving a nod. “The tab is on me~”

A smile softly tugged at the corner of her lips. Taking the warm mug within her hands. She had no appetite, but a sip of spice wouldn’t hurt. She took a drink. First being worried that the single drink would send her stomach over the edge, but Akira was quickly reassured as the warm liquid eased her. The bartender had known exactly what she needed, and she appreciated his kind gesture.

One of her hands moved away from the cup of tea, and pressed against her shoulder. It was the spot where Snjor had placed some sort of communication seal. A sigh breathed from her lips. She wondered whether or not the seal still worked, or if it was somehow already disconnected. Either way. . . she didn’t have the desire to become a bother. Akira planned to keep her presence quiet for the time being. She wanted to. . . no that wasn’t the correct word for it. She NEEDED to work on herself first before approaching anyone. It was time for her to prove that she wasn’t going to be a liability.

What was the first step to begin this redemption of her ninja path?

Akira slowly swirled her cup in a circular motion. Watching as the cinnamon liquid slashed around, while once again being deep in thought.

Recovering training was an obvious must, but there were many ways to go about that, and training can only get you so far. She wouldn’t get the actual experience she needed. Maybe she should focus on learning more about her own heritage. Her own bloodline was still in hibernation. She still had yet to awaken the feral stage of her abilities.

The cup pressed against her lips as Akira took another sip.

It was beginning to grow late. She could tell by the type of customers that now was flooding the bar. The only people here now, were the ones that bathed themselves in the essence of liquor and intoxication.

Akira stood from her chair, leaving her cup of cinnamon tea that was half empty. Pyro, her dear companion, would be eager for her return home. Despite the bartender’s generous offer to be responsible for her tab, Akira still left behind her pay beside the drink. |Exit|
{TWC: 944}
{Claims:} Pending*