Sakura Muse Ick

Everything was so happy. With spring time came the warmer weather, the Sakura blossoms began to bloom again, farmers were back out in their fields beginning their yearly harvest, colors became more vibrant and vivid. It allowed for many people to be wandering outside, enjoying the niceties of the day, and just overall, having a great time!

Hiko hated it.

While everyone walked around with their smiles resting high upon their faces, they actually got to live their lives out of fear unlike him. There was no time for celebrations within his life; he had chaos to cause. People to steal from. Hearts to collect. Literally. Luckily for him, the shinobi was able to decently size up the ninja of Tanbo, and overall it was...alright for a village so small. It was no superpower that was gonna be taking over any other villages anytime soon, but too strong for Hiko to strike any of them really.

During one of his daily routines that he'd begun to start up with the local gang, there was a tenseness within the air while walking behind one of the alleys. All was still. Quiet. Too quiet, almost. Then, sakura flowers started to float down from what seemed to be the rooftops. Covering everywhere, the Tau started to become flustered a bit with being swarmed by the bright petals. Then after it had all washed away, he was standing somewhere else.

The area was much different from that of where he was, it seemed to be a densely wooded area, where spring was the epitome of everything. No matter where one's eye would land, if they were looking towards the tree, there would be at least one with Sakura flowers along it. These complimented the all green hooded cloak in which the teen wore. Looking around with the same color eyes, they also stumbled across someone else within this clearing. Another man. And the tattoos. Clearly this was someone that he could agree with at least, so he didn't open with hospitality.

"Why did you summon me here." He would say, his voice deeper than what would be expected from someone of his height. It also had a coarseness to it, very gritty almost. Peering upwards, Hiko would then make eye contact with the lad, his hood no longer covering the details of his face. It would show that there was a scar running down from his eye past his one cheek. Another visible one would be a stitched line along his neck.

WC: 413

There was a moment of silence between the pair of shinobi; tenseness surely so tight knit that it would snap at the mere semblance of pressure placed down upon it. During this exchange of eyes, Hiko would also scan up and down this fellow man, the wind blowing the leaves back and forth as they clung to their branches, almost as if in anticipation for what was about to happen. Remaining still and motionless as the man got up, so did the Shimadan's green eyes which tracked this other person's own, making sure that he didn't make any dumb moves.

Judging from the tone, and his hastiness, it was clear that both ninja were lost and confused as to why they had arrived here. Hiko took note of the other's lingering eyes which peered over the various scars which laced his body. To this, the boy didn't even bother to really answer what was initially said, merely a reaction from the prolonged gaze of the tattooed dude. "Do you like them? I have several more if you'd like to see." The tone, somewhat picked up and lightened a tad. Instead of it being like traveling down a long mountain path, it sounded more like that of gravel being occasionally moved; still coarse but less intense.

"But this one." A hand would reach up from beneath the robe, making it's way up to his face where a single index finger would land upon the scar on his cheek. "This one though...this one is my favorite. I got it when I started my...well we'll say journey and leave it at that." While the kid's voice may have no longer portrayed the true grit that embodied him, his eyes certainly were. Speaking this caused them to light up with a look a mania filled insanity. And all that was occurring within this moment was a stare. A cold stare. A stare that looked like it could kill with just the site of it. It was, madness incarnate. He was, madness reimagined.

But, before long, a third voice shot out, breaking this trance like daze that had washed over Hiko Shimada. Listening to his sob story, the lad was about to break when the guy who was originally here, the other shinobi, started to chime in about getting paid possibly. Which perked his ears right up. With no hesitation, yet begrudgingly due to the nature of the circumstances, he stepped over to the others, also adding "Don't go talking about money if you're not gonna include me. Just tell us," There was a moment for a dramatic effect. "Who needs to die." A wicked crocodile grin then beamed between the missing ninja's ears, as this, was about to be fun.

WC: 454
TWC: 867

It was clear to Hiko which of the two men truly appreciated his latter comment, and which had...hesitations to it, at the very least. Thankfully, that man wasn't the person he'd be actually taking on this task with, so in the end, it really didn't matter to the kid. Whatever happened in the moment, happened. Plus, if the guy was as bad as this stranger made him out to be, then they could just spin a tall tale to make him even worse. A cover story was necessary just in case.

The bars would go on a rather enthusiastic tangent though, the emotions pouring through this man. Clearly struck by love's filthy little tricks. Sooner or later he would see that this would all be for naught in the end. If she'd leave him once, she'd be more than likely to do it again. But Hiko didn't necessarily chime in on these qualms. The last thing that was wanted was this man to go back on his deal, so he just patiently kept his mouth shut while the guy spoke, eventually taking the parchment from his hands.

Seeing the man walk away, the Tau would remain quiet until that the gentleman was out of earshot. "Looks like he made the dumb mistake of paying us early." He started, for the first time, a vague hint of enthusiasm could be heard. It was still hidden deeply behind a pile of bitterness and sarcasm though. Unfurling the scroll which was handed, and gazing upon for it a moment, Hiko would then continue "Come. This map takes us into the forest itself, it would seem." This would make the implication with his previous comment more clear, the two would just simply let the bard have to deal with it himself. Take the money, and run.

WC: 300
TWC: 1167

Claims:
2000 Ryo
10 AP
Thread Exit
897 words to Hundred Fists of Fury, completing it from here
270 words to 360 Degree Shield Hand
Stats; 11
5 to Strength
2 to Speed
2 to Chakra
2 to Vigor

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