New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

Fri Dec 31, 2021 12:11 am

"I am doing great," the woman assured herself as she adjusted the packs she held. "Absolutely fantastic."

Saya grunted and exhaled heavily. The trek from Kumogakure to - she looked around - this seemingly remote and peaceful village area had been tiring. While she was still miles ahead of regular civilians in her declined physicality, there was still strength and stamina that set her apart from them. Now, however, it was clear to her that it was time to rest and take a look around for a few days. That was something she was looking forward to.

After all, the former Kumo citizen had no obligations or duty as she had when she still worked in the hospital. The day was hers to seize. Despite the humming energy beneath her skin there was still something missing that held back her excitement. Saya had been aware of it for quite some time but chose to push that particular feeling far back in her mind.

This was a new beginning, she had told herself several times on her way down from the mountains. It was good for her.

Scrunching her nose and wiggling it about (or as much it can for nasal cartilages), Saya resumed her walk through the narrow pathways of the rice paddy fields. She hoped to ask one of the people there if they had a nearby town or building she could rest in. The sun was already climbing the sky, traces of dawn disappearing on the horizon. As Saya was surveying on the sparse people milling about, their thick footwear crunching on a layer of snow, she spotted someone who looked relatively approachable.

"A-Ah, excuse me." Saya began to take a few steps in that person's direction, greeting them with a wave and a smile. "Good morning, I was - !"

Unfortunately, a chilly wind pushed against her, causing her to step on a slippery spot and flail her arms in an attempt to regain her balance.

Word Count: 325
Total Word Count: 325

Fri Dec 31, 2021 11:23 pm

I am not doing great, the man thought to himself as he worked to perfect the recently plowed field that Shichiro had probably messed up in some way. Absolutely horrid.

Komori was squatting down in the fields, the base of his gray tunic touching the surface of the water and growing steadily more wet. His hands grasped the silt loaded dirt and adjusted it beneath the flooded surface of the paddy, making small shifts and changes to which the average onlooker would see no difference. But to Komori, this had been his life for… years now. He pulled his hand out from beneath the water and wiped his forehead off upon completion of his task. Despite his earlier thoughts and unbeknownst to him, a faint smile adorned his face at the work he was doing that he had come to enjoy. Sure, he had more work to do now that he had agreed to that entitled kid’s plan, but it was work that was meaningful now. He would be providing for others. Just like he was meant to when he was… His small smile fell. Standing up, the water only came up to the lower portion of his shin as he glanced around. In the distance, he noticed the outline of a young woman holding some packs, but not much else and thought nothing of it. This area of the fields was rather out of the way for anyone living in Tanbo, which is how he preferred it.

When the grocer had come by, ‘Mori’ as he was known was only moderately prepared to plant a new batch. Luckily on his part, he had a few rows of pre germinated seeds in his shed, ideally to replace any seedlings that succumbed to pests and diseases. The chilly weather was only another factor that would go against him. The region in which Tanbo was in was luckily moderate enough that the winter months did not pose too dire a threat to this endeavor into which he had been dragged. The moisture from when he had wiped his forehead had coalesced into a bead of water, which dripped down the side of his face. He waded through the paddy some more, spotting a couple of weeds which prompted him to stoop down and pull them. Then, his hands froze. What is… That was when the call came to him.

Komori stood up as she continued speaking to his back, tipping his hat away from his face ever so slightly. The bead of water clung to his chin. He began to turn towards her just as she was cut off by the wind and knocked off balanced. And just like that, the farmer disappeared from his field, a lone drop of water falling onto the pool of water below and a small ripple the only sign something had just been there. He reappeared beside the girl, arms supporting her to make sure she didn’t fall. Komori was careful to not touch her in a manner that could be deemed inappropriate of course, ever the gentleman. His ninshu had triggered when he had caught her, giving her a vague glance of a tired and weary Komori, having abandoned Kumo, throwing the needle sword Nuibari into the ocean, before fading back to reality. His eye looked her over in surprise. The girl had changed, grown rather, but her chakra remained the same. It felt like a crisp forest in the dead of night, accompanied by the song of cicadas and the smell of holiday skewers. Saya? he began before realizing he did not feel like thinking internally. “Saya?” he said out loud this time. He would allow her to steady herself and withdraw his hands, still damp from the paddy field. Quickly wiping off his hands, he thought about the cool air that reminded him of the mountains. Or perhaps, it was the girl in front of him who hailed from those very mountains that had infiltrated his thoughts. “I thought you were dead.”

WC: 677
Jutsu Used: Mastered Vanish

Sat Jan 01, 2022 12:38 am

Arms slipped around her figure, steadying the woman and preventing her from face planting on the cold ground. In response Saya’s hands automatically placed themselves on his shoulder and clutched at the front of his tunic. Confident that her feet were firmly balanced on the damp terrain, Saya released a held breath. That had been close. While the medic wasn’t usually caring about how she was portrayed by others, she still liked to, at least, give good first impressions. And tripping over sleet was decidedly not in that category.

”Thank y- “ The gratitude died on her lips as she had found herself distracted by the color of this person’s eye and a scene that caused her to inhale sharply.

It was Komori. She would know his form - his eyes. But she didn’t know this Komori in her mind’s eye. He did not exude his smug grin, his overconfident aura. The bright light, the mischievous glint, was absent; replaced by dull blue and something heavy that she could not imagine to understand. Then he raised his arm, sword in hand (Nuibari, she recalled), and hurled it into the depths of the ocean. The dark waters swallowed the weapon easily, and left nothing but ripples.

Saya focused on his back, the vision quickly fading to the rice paddies and cool weather.

Unbeknownst to the dark haired woman just as she had a vision of Komori, he received one from her. The former Kumo jonin would be treated to Saya, dressed in casual civilian clothes, waving and smiling to a group of girls in the distance before entering a dark apartment. The moment the door closed behind her the facade dropped. Her body moved almost automatically to a shelf by a window, which held seemingly random items: a contacts case, a sheathed sword, and pictures of people gone from her life. She did not cry, but her eyes watered and a hand shook as she caressed one of the frames.

”Saya?” Winter trees. Snow and a frozen lake. Warmth. It was all so familiar that her lungs couldn’t seem to function properly. She needed to breathe. ”I thought you were dead.”

”Don’t leave…” Her words were soft - pleading - and almost in a trance until his latter statement shook her back to reality. ”Ah…”

Saya blinked and pushed herself away, putting distance between them. ”Komori?” There was no way it was him - that egoistic, narcissistic Hozuki of Kumogakure. He looked… not like Komori. This guy had an eye-patch and a scruffy look to him: long hair that did not suit him, a rough beard, and what seemed to be bedraggled commoner clothing. It was a far cry from his usual clean face and short messy-styled hair. But the color of his eye remained the electric blue from the past. She double-checked his chakra aura, only to bite down on her bottom lip. There was no doubt about it now.

”Me, dead? I thought you were dead!” She replied in almost indignation and took a step back. Perhaps this was not the best time and place to take a rest. ”What-What are you even doing here?”

WORD COUNT: 526
TOTAL WORD COUNT: 325 + 526 = 851

Sat Jan 01, 2022 5:20 am

The image of a lone apartment came to the forefront of Komori’s mind. Saya, living alone in a village that was once their home, without a true friend and no longer wearing the clothes of a shinobi. Back in the fields, she asked him not to leave. As if he would be able to now. He looked around upon her using his full given name. “Let’s get out of the cold.” With that said, he walked past his field into his humble abode, another far cry from the two story home he had held in Kumo. Assuming she followed him, he would slide the front door open for her to enter, closing it behind them.

“I was going to ask you the same,” he replied once they were out of the cold. “I’ve been here… for a few years now I think.” The main floor consisted of ten tatami mats with another opened sliding door leading to a bedroom that held eight mats. The bedroom was simple, a futon and a dresser with an unlit candle on it. The kotatsu in the central room was sunk into the floor and had room enough for four people, yet only one mat bore any signs of consistent use which was facing towards the front door. He gestured for her to sit at any of the other nearly untouched mats by the table, all the while he would light the candle sitting atop this table, similarly styled to the one in his bedroom. “Can I get you a glass of anything? Water? Gin? Sake?” He let the question linger for a bit, but would walk over towards the kitchenette, tucked away in the far corner of the room and grab two glasses. Water for himself, and another glass of whatever she had chosen. Knowing her, he would assume water but wanted to make sure all the same.

“I’m just called Mori around here,” he would say as he brought the glasses back to the table, placing one in front of wherever she presumably sat and one in front of his own. He dropped the ‘ko’ in order to avoid direct association with any reputation he might have had, but Saya was a smart gal and could figure at least that much out herself. The same could be said of his hairstyle and facial hair as well, even if they did make him look twenty years older than he was. He took a sip from the glass and set it back down again. “I suppose I should answer your question now. May I?” If he received her permission, he would extend his hand towards her forehead. What followed would be the expanded version of her earlier insight. Komori chasing adventures outside of the walls of Kumogakure and the city suffering for his absence, the rot infestation he had wanted to start clearing away remaining far after he was gone. Instead, she would see the world move on without him from his own perspective, his doubts at being able to protect those he cared about. She would see the faces of past friends, the same friends that had been in her own apartment’s picture frame, flash before her eyes and fade away just as fast.

She had already seen the fate of Nuibari, but what she had not known was the story of him getting it. Should she so wish, he would also share with her the details of the fight that had cost him an eye. She would have the option to carefully examine every moment of that fight, or get the cliffnotes: a warped serial killer who had wielded Nuibari against Komori, a fight had ensued, and the man vanished after stabbing the Kumo nin's right eye out with the very sword he had wielded. Eventually, the memories would end after showcasing an exhausted and worn Komori stumbling upon the village in which the pair now found themselves. Days, weeks, months, and years passed by in seconds, showing Komori hard at work in the field with the brutal trial and error of him learning to farm some time ago. If Saya so wished, she would also be able to use this moment to share memories with him as well. Otherwise, the ex-jounin she once knew would break the connection for the time being. Perhaps, at a later date when things were more settled, he would share with her the kage summit to which he had once been and other such matters as well. Giving enough space to allow her to share as well, he would respond upon the withdrawal of his hand.

“So, that’s that.” He took another sip from his glass of spring water before continuing once again. “I take it you left the shinobi forces? I suppose that after that happened, we fell out of touch and I assumed you had either been killed by some madman in the woods,” the masked visage of Nuibari’s original owner came to his mind once again, “or had been on an extended mission.” His voice was more uncertain than it once had been. “I’m sorry I left you behind.” Just like that, a faint tug appeared at the corner of his mouth, the beginning of a sly smile. “I’m sure you missed me terribly.” A small glimmer sparkled in his remaining eye once again. Maybe, just maybe, the old Komori was not gone for good.

WC: 909
TWC: 1585
Jutsu Used: Ninshu Commune

Sat Jan 01, 2022 8:39 am

He didn’t deign to give her a proper reply to her question and opted to change their surroundings. Komori began walking towards a small traditional house not far from the field that they were standing by. However, Saya remained rooted for a moment. This was her chance to leave and not bother herself with the past. That’s why she ultimately left Kumogakure, didn’t she? Memories filled with companionship and bonds of a makeshift family that was too bright for her to bear in a village that almost meant nothing now.

A new start. Leave everything behind.

Komori was a bit more than ten paces ahead of her now, seemingly assured that she would follow him. But she wouldn’t. Saya’s body half-turned away from his direction, determined to retreat and leave the area as fast as possible. Another push and turn of her heel, and the woman would have her back towards her former comrade. Regrettably, her own azure-purple eyes would not leave his fame, clad in clothes that did not match the him in her memories. Leave! Leave him first before he abandons you again! She mentally cried to herself, but her body would not budge. It would not listen.

While the distance between them was easy to close, Saya felt as if it was a chasm. It would separate them once more, maybe even forever. Because it wasn’t like Komori would bother to chase after her, right? He had been the first to leave Kumogakure between the two of them. Her presence shouldn’t make a difference, nor should her embarrassing plea from moments before either. Saya felt her lungs constrict again at that notion. In the end, people left her. But this time… it’ll be the other way around.

Quietly, silently. Her feet began to move in Komori’s direction, catching up to his pace and crossing the metaphorical rift between the two.

She was not that strong though.

Not when it came to people she grew attached to, despite the pain and anguish the woman felt from their absence. That was the thing about Saya - she clung to people and memories and emotions. Her conviction at disappearing from Komori’s life was shattered, mere dust in the face of simply spending time with a familiar person.

Just as the woman caught up to him and walked a few more yards, Komori held open the door for her. Somewhat hesitant, Saya bowed in thanks and softly announced her presence, respect and courtesy still strong in her blood. Looking around, everything seemed sparse and devoid of… Komori and his usual Komori-ness. It wasn’t him. This place… doesn’t suit him at all, Saya would think to herself as Komori entered after her and led her to the kotatsu in the center.

Before she followed him Saya pulled and shrugged off the multiple packs from her person and placed them against the wall by the door. Her gaze kept shifting around the room, noting the small kitchen and another door that, presumably, led to his personal room. ”Water is fine,” she replied as she processed the information he had given her just before his offer of beverage. Years? He had been for years. Saya could have laughed if she weren’t so devoid of emotion at the moment. Or maybe it wasn’t that, but rather she was too shocked to properly react.

While Komori went to get them their drinks, Saya took the seat that would place her back towards the kitchen. The woman needn’t see him as he approached her from behind and placed the glass of water in front of her and mentioned that he went by “Mori” in this small place. She snorted as she picked up the water and took a sip. What kind of undercover name was that? But who was she to judge - the former Kumo medic was flipping between Aya or Reiya, after the baby that Senshi had become attached to in their trip to Hoshigakure.

At his inquiry, Saya blinked in confusion at his direction but nodded in acquiescence. Her body tensed at his outstretched limb but she simply closed her eyes the moment his fingertips made contact with her forehead. Images and scenes passed through quickly behind her eyelids. Komori fighting and doing things outside of the village, which explained his absence somewhat. But what shook her the most was his fight with a serial killer, the Nuibari fluidly slashing towards Komori in his hand. The constant close calls and clones being impaled through the heart reminded Saya that Komori was a powerful shinobi despite his constant fangirls and flirty shenanigans. In the end, the jonin was the victor of the fight, having only lost his right eye in the process. From there Saya followed his figure travel and settle into the area they were in now, watching him live a simple life for years.

In exchange Komori would see into Saya’s monotonous life in Kumogakure, whose color dimmed gradually until it was all black and whites and grey. He would see her commitment in training and working at the hospital for several months, though there were times when Saya would drop by certain buildings and houses only to be turned away. While she had been dejected that no one in her circle of friends were free or even in the village, Saya threw herself into the Chunin Exams, which she did almost super well until the last stage, where she had been trounced on by her opponent.

From there, it only went downhill - the then sixteen year old kunoichi handing in her resignation from ninja duties and subsequently overworking herself in the hospital, doing surgery after surgery; hearing about Max and his current state of health; and then endlessly staring out the window or her shelf of memorabilia. All until she finally filed for permission to leave Kumogakure and live as some nameless, homeless wanderer.

Her eyes fluttered open as the connection receded between them. Saya’s hand occupied itself by wrapping around her glass whilst the other clenched hard on the tatami mat. She could only nod in response to his question about her loss in shinobi status. That was still a sore spot for her despite it being years since then. ”Yeah? Well, surprise, surprise. I’m still alive,” her words had a slight bite to them, but it wasn’t too harsh. It was more shameful than anything, really.

Saya tried to wave his apology off, even though there was a bubbling anger at the pit of her stomach every time she dwelled on his absence, his abandonment. However, his last comment softened her demeanor. ”Miss you? Hah!” Seeing a twinkle in his eye, her own blue-violet orbs flashed teasingly in return. ”Never!”

It seemed so easy to just… slip into old habits.

”I’d rather miss - ” It was a quick thought process, but Saya noticed that Komon, his twin, wasn’t in any of the memories he had shared with her. Did… something happen…? The two were inseparable as twins usually were. But it was obvious to the woman that it would be a topic to be broached upon later. ”... Miss all of your fangirls than you! Knowing them, I’m sure they would have tracked you down here. You with your…” She scrunched her nose and squinted her eyes at him. ”Uhm… Your…? Uh, rogue-ishly good looks? Okay, seriously. This… ” Her free hand moved from the floor to gesture to his entire figure, ”Whole thing? It’s a no for me. It’s not… you.”

The last sentence trailed off from the laughter in her tone to something slightly accusatory and betrayal. As if changing himself and living for himself was a sin.

WORD COUNT: 1,282
TOTAL WORD COUNT: 851 + 1,282 = 2,133

Sat Jan 01, 2022 11:50 pm

Though his feet trudged atop the frosty ground, the lack of her footsteps was not an immediate companion to his own. There was no blame that would be given, but he would be remiss to say he was not disappointed. This line of thought halted once the sound of her smaller shoes joined the sound of his, the shuffling serving as the only sound besides the biting wind. His assumption in her choice from his limited supply of beverages was correct. A familiar snort accompanied from the pig girl at his super secret identity, albeit one he chose in earnest. Yamato had once asked him if he had any desire to be a shinobi again and he had largely waved it aside, but it was true. Mori is close enough to not cause such a strong rift between anyone else in the event he did choose to step out of the shadows again. Mori Suki, as it was actually, also carried with it the meaning of ‘lover of the forest’, which was usually enough to make people accept the name without question.

The Cloud had always been far from colorful, aside from the beautiful sunsets. Yet when he thought of those as well, he recalled the stench of rot that permeated every aspect of his former home. It seemed to fade when compared to the sheer good that Saya had attempted to do in his absence, taking care of those who needed it most in the hospital. The details of Max had been the subject of rumors for some time now, but to truly see a friend’s perspective on the matter was a different story entirely. Max was another friend who had been abandoned and had suffered as a result of Komori’s selfishness.

Despite the venom in her voice, Komori was unphased. After all, he had dealt with it quite a bit beforehand. She never really meant the words and it was always a coping mechanism for the intense desire she held for him after all. Her spark at least seemed to come back a lot brighter than his own subtle one. Her exclamation withdrew a laugh he had not set free in quite some time. He allowed for her comments to come out uninterrupted, caught up in the speed of her delivery and the split second hesitation at the beginning. However, based on her own memories she had shared with him, he had done enough to her already, so he did not long to open any wounds that had closed. Before he could call out the response to the comment about his adoring fans, she had already gone back to her old self. She had always tried, to no avail, to dismantle his ego. At present, though, there was not much left.

“Oh, this?” He raised his arms, spreading out the black and somewhat dirty sleeves of his outfit. He had been sifting through the waters of his paddy and did not have much of an opportunity to clean up after all, before he was once again accosted outside his own home. “It’s not. That’s… that’s kind of the point.” He lowered his arms once again. “I didn’t want to risk recognition.” The go to excuse had already escaped his lips before the thought had even formed. Truly, he had been fleeing from who he had been, because he knew if he ever missed it, if he ever went back to it, he would be sucked back into an overseeing role where people would rely on him. More people that he would inevitably let down. With her laughter faded, he tried to offset the mood on instinct. “Roguish, devilishly handsome, whatever you want to call it has always been ‘me’.” He glanced down at his clothing. “I’ll be the first to admit the outfit is not the best, but it’s simple. It suits ‘this’ me.” A defense mechanism kicked in. “You with your-” he said, mimicking the same verbiage she had used. “-This.” He had intended to insult her, but decided against it. “It’s a yes from me,” he said with a genuine hint of approval. “You’ve grown into yourself.”

WC: 692
TWC: 2277

Mon Jan 03, 2022 9:54 pm

It was all too surreal. No matter how much the former kunoichi hammered it into her thoughts that she would leave the following day, Saya was enjoying herself even though there were still some things that riled her up.

This coincidence, wasn’t it a blessing? The moment she came down from Kumogakure it should be seen as such, right? Or was it a form of entertainment for those looking down from the skies - to bring her to someone that was long gone after recognizing how dismally she lived her life? It was as if some neglectful author suddenly remembered her, and decided to pick her up and drop her off in some random country so she could interact with an old face for some “character development.”

Despite her internal conflict Saya found herself leaning forward on the low table after making her comments against Komori, elbows and arms resting casually as the corner of her lips tugged up just a bit. This was dangerous, she knew. The control she had kept an iron hold on was slowly seeping out as the tension in her body were disappearing. As the unkempt man spread his arms to show his current state of clothing, Saya took his words and recognized the merit in his “disguise.” It was what she was going to do when travelling had left her too weary to go on, and her identity had all been gone and erased.

”That’s true…” Saya commented quietly before his following comments had her leaning back and rolling her eyes at him. Of course he wouldn’t let a chance to claim his status as the “most wanted and handsome man in Kumogakure” slip by. Though he was right about how he was now was the current “him.” The woman knew she was having a bit of a struggle in accepting that, and having to separate the Komori in her memories and the Komori that was now.

So, she supposed the best way to respond to that was to - ”Oh?” Saya’s lips slipped into a coy smile and her eyes sharpened. ”Was that an actual compliment from the Mori-san?” They were playing different people now, right? Shedding and running away from their pasts. Well, that applied more to Saya. The woman wasn’t sure if that’s how it was with Komori. ”If it was, can an old man take pity on a pretty lady and show her around town?”

While she had asked her questions, Saya had inched closer to his position. Her tone was playful, teasing. It was very unlike the genin he had left in Kumogakure, who had been straightlaced and all about being the most useful tool for the village. However, what hadn’t been shown to the farmer was the undertaking of Saya’s civilian friends to teach her to be more “womanly” - a class in the shinobi academy that Saya was kicked out of due to her sheer lack of “charm.” Komori would have had an absolute kick out of seeing Saya’s attempts to ensnare the opposite sex for years. Now, though, she would have passed that class with flying colors and more.

WORD COUNT: 523
TOTAL WORD COUNT: 2,133 + 523 = 2,656

OOC Note: This is her current outfit btw.

Fri Jan 07, 2022 1:33 am

The girl, at least, was at ease. Her body language made this apparent enough as the two reconnected after who knows how many years since they had last seen each other. “Mori sounds weird when you say it.” He continued, affirming her teasing, “But, yes, it was. Though tell anyone and I’ll deny ever saying it.” He mirrored her coy smile and sharpened eyes, challenging her to test him on the matter. Komori had a reputation to uphold after all- No wait, that was not quite right. His reputation was in Kumogakure and he had done all he could to halt that from meeting him here. His train of thought was interrupted by a followup question and the awareness of what she was doing to him. She really had grown up, and he had to stop his remaining eye from wandering down to confirm if it was in all the right places, lest his remaining sight be plucked out as well. He had lost more for less, he debated. However, chivalry- because that’s what we’re calling it- won out in the end, so he maintained eye contact, getting in closer himself. “I never could say no to a ‘pretty lady’.” He would gauge her response before moving again, seeing how committed she was to the part she had decided to play. In the back of his mind was the image of a younger girl, absolutely floored when anyone else had given him this same kind of attention back in Kumogakure. Komori would react differently depending on how much she chose to commit.

After the fact, however, he would agree, standing up at a leisurely speed. If she was still close to him, he would be sure to make her take notice of his physique in proximity to her, all the while acting like he himself was not paying attention as he grabbed a white overcoat. “I’ll let you know now, there isn’t much to see out here. It’s kind of one of the reasons I ended up settling down out here- most of what you see now has built up around me.” Successfully establishing himself well enough like the resident curmudgeon, Komori opened the front door and led her back into the cool morning air. It was a bit closer to midday now, so that should hopefully help her deal with the biting wind. He would walk past his fields back to the main road, the thought of teleporting to the locations for their sightseeing adventure crossing his mind. His earlier brush had made him miss it, but it was also an exception to how he was meant to act here. “Welcome to the rice fields.” He would be open to further conversation as he went, as there was not much else to look at right now aside from other fields of rice paddies.

Eventually, the pair would reach the true Tanbogakure, a relatively simple town with an old school castle overlooking the water from 110 meters up. The town itself is built on a slope, so as the pair entered, they would first come to the first tier which was occupied by buildings with thatched roofs, which Komori the tour guide sought to explain. “The town is divided into a few sections,” he would begin as they approached. “Interesting stuff, I remember when it was being built up. The residential district takes up tier one. Here we’ve got houses, shops, a few inns, and some restaurants.” He turned to make sure she was looking at him intently, soaking up as much information as he was willing to provide. There will be a quiz at the end. “The place to go is Taika’s. It’s run by this nice couple, Kaien and Nazumi. Sweet folks, know how to give a guy a drink and leave him be.” He cast his gaze down the street towards the building to give her an idea of where it was located. “It’s a tea shop, bathhouse, and bar all rolled into one. We can check it out in a bit.” In the meantime, he pointed out the proper village gates and wooden stockades that separated the “artfully stuccoed and fastidiously shingled” barracks and towers that dotted the skyline from the more run down residential area. “Tier two is the military district. Pretty strict on who’s allowed up there, so we can’t explore that fully right now.” Continuing on without missing a beat, his gaze called attention to a white plaster castle that rose above the back of the district. “And lastly, that’s Oka-” He scrunched his face and stumbled over the word he did not ever think he had to care to remember. “Okay. Okiedokie. O-k-a-d-a. Okada(!) Castle. It’s got the best view of the ocean that’s just beyond it.” He waved absentmindedly a couple of times to emphasize the distance past it. “Gaikotsu Bay,” he said, nailing the name on the first try, “is a pretty sheer drop- I’d say more than a hundred meters- from its other side.” He felt like he did a pretty clear job of explaining the small town, but he would be open to explaining anything further where needed. Unless she wanted to see anything else, or gods forbid they get suddenly interrupted, he would begin leading her to Taika's.

WC: 891
TWC: 3168

Tue Jan 11, 2022 1:27 pm

It was odd.

The distance between them closed almost naturally, seamlessly. Kumogakure’s biggest flirt versus the prudish genin who couldn’t think of anything else besides training. Saya let out a soft chuckle at his response. Saying his “new” name really was weird and it left her feeling out of place, but of course the part that really tickled her was that he would deny ever complimenting her. Because that’s how it has always been - their relationship, that is. Always snarking at each other.

Their gazes held. It was steady, not quite longing per say. Intense, maybe. It could be mistaken as either a challenge or romantic, depending on the inclination of third parties if there had been any. As it were though, there were none. While their vision was focused on each other’s eyes, Saya’s hand had been reaching over as if to cup Komori’s jaw.

”Komori…” This time she broke their fixed stare to flicker her violet orbs to his lips then back to his eye again. Their breaths mingled now, and that was when Saya stopped invading the farmer’s space. The hand that was moving finally made contact, her thumb gently rubbing against his whiskers. Her strong gaze softened and she smiled, ”Thanks for being alive.” It was a bit of a whisper and held all of the gratitude her voice could convey.

For half a second her comment lingered before the woman’s demeanor changed. The hand on his face surged up, intending to flick him on his forehead, whilst Saya pulled back from their close proximity. Her upturned lips turned into a grin, and her eyes were laughing. No matter how he responded, she would try to hide her amusement behind her other hand (the one that hadn’t just tried to tap his face with a slight force).

”That’s fine. Most agricultural areas are usually still in development or stay as is,” she replied easily, as she too moved to stand though there was no need for her to notice how his body was built considering Saya had retreated to her own personal space. As the pair exited the humble home the woman blinked and squinted at the brightened sky. Has time gone by that quickly? While she was surprised, it was nice to feel the warmth of the sun seeping through her layers of clothing.

Unlike before, Saya's steps held no hesitation as she followed Komori towards, to what she assumed, the actual village-town. They bypassed several fields as they neared their destination, and the woman had no inclination to make small talk just yet. And as Komori welcomed her to his current settlement, Saya could only hum in appreciation. Her eyes took in the simple beauty of the rice paddies and how serene and calm it felt. Soon, they reached the beginning of Tanbogakure, which didn’t seem to have huge, looming gates like the major villages had but rather modest wooden ones. The pair simply continued walking into town, where Komori began to explain how the village was set up.

Different sections for different purposes. Residential area in one part, military in another, and further up where it was obvious to see was Okada castle (Saya openly laughed at his difficulty in pronouncing the name). Her gaze trailed over every sector that he had pointed out, and tried to commit them to memory. It seemed a lot easier to figure out compared to Kumogakure, who had a somewhat similar structure but larger in size. Still, once she actually took her time to walk through each district, she was sure that the information and layout would be firmly cemented in her head.

”So much for ‘not a lot to see.’ Would I even be able to get past the second tier to see the ocean and Gai…Gaikotsu Bay?” Saya wasn’t entirely sure they’d let some random stranger near the seemingly all important castle, because those were usually a symbol of power and influence. She stared at the structure for a brief moment before turning her attention back to Komori to receive his answer as they walked towards the establishment owned by a couple (as previously mentioned). However, at that moment, her stomach let out a subtle whine for food.

”Uh… Taika’s, right?” Saya questioned, as she pointed to a building she thought would be their destination. While she had made a mental note earlier to ask about the inns, all she could think about was the delicious food. ”Seems pretty fancy if it has a tea shop, a bathhouse, and what was the last one?”

WORD COUNT: 760
TOTAL WORD COUNT: 2,656 + 760 = 3,416

Sat Jan 22, 2022 3:18 am

Before the pair had left the house, it appeared as though Saya was keen on pushing the envelope further. His remaining eye would have remained fixated on hers, but from the corner of his vision noticed the approaching hand. Surely, this was not the same girl that had thrown a tantrum in the woods. The ‘challenge’ aspect of it, however, came to a sudden halt as she was far more honest about the authentic feelings he was trying to sweep under the rug, as it were. Genuine warmth from another person. It caught him off guard well enough for her plan to carry through; it had been far too long since anyone had even been in his home, let alone this close to him. His demeanor here had been devised to push people away before they even had the chance to get to know him, yet here it was, crumbling at the seams. “Saya-” he would begin before the same hand that had held his jaw moved almost immediately to flick his forehead as she pulled away. He closed his eye and exhaled through his nose, the trademark of disappointment in her for ruining one of the nicest moments since he had arrived in this town. Additionally, she was lucky his Kumo training had not kicked in and severed her hand from her wrist. In spite of this, the corners of his mouth pulled into a smile as he exhaled. It can’t be helped.

Her amusement was of course easy to decipher, but his course of action would remain the same afterwards. The words as each of them spoke came a bit too easily, as before this moment, the only time he had really opened up or said even half as much was in a state of intoxication. Her laughter was a comfortable sound that reminded him of days past, so he chose not to berate her for it this time, even if she probably snorted again. “I’m not sure. I haven’t gotten too involved in the more militaristic operations of the village, so the rules for it are over my head.” He turned around and lowered his voice a notch or two as he whispered to her, “Let’s just say I used that same trick that let me catch you to see a sunset over the ocean now and again. What they don’t know won’t harm ‘em.” He quickly winked, although at this point his winking was also blinking and would stop him from being able to see. It was shortly after this when her stomach would cry out for nourishment. “Taika’s,” he confirmed. “A bar.” He gave a mischievous smile with this answer, as that was the aspect he most frequented. “Would you prefer that section or the teahouse? Food is good in both areas.” He would wait for her answer before leading her inside, opening the door to the chosen section for her out of habit from his Kumo days, unaware that he was acting even more like his past self. Yet, that could even be said of him just genuinely talking to someone like this in general.

WC: 523
TWC: 3691

New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

Re: New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

Re: New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

Re: New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

Re: New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

Re: New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

Re: New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

Re: New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

Re: New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]

Re: New Roads Lead To... [Open 1-2]