A Meeting Between Friends

Mission Attempted
Handyman & C°


Junko awoke the day after her run-in with Takehiko and slowly crawled out from the bed hoping not to bother him. After slipping on a black robe that the man staying with them had provided the night prior Junko left the room. Upon completion of her morning routine, she wandered out into the kitchen and found a note from the man saying to help themselves to anything in the fridge as a thank you for their assistance the day before. Unsure what to make Junko opened up the fridge and pulled out some eggs, bacon, and cheese. She then began making them some food, nothing complicated just some simple breakfast sandwiches. She knew that she was supposed to meet up with Azuki at the ruins to discuss their next mission, so she made an extra sandwich for him and wrapped it up in foil to ensure it remained warm. The last time they had met she could hear his stomach rumbling, so she was unsure if he was eating enough.

Regardless of whether Takehiko was awake or not, she would politely inform him that breakfast was ready if he wanted to eat. She then waited for him to come to the table to begin eating her food. After she finished eating and was beginning to clean up she began discussing the plan for the day.

"I'm supposed to be meeting with a friend of mine in the ruins today to discuss a potential mission, I know you said you were interested in exploring the area so I'd like it if you came along."

If he accepted Junko would finish cleaning up the mess she made from breakfast and finish getting dressed for the day. She then would leave the man's home making sure to grab the sandwich she prepared for Azuki, and began leading the way to the ruins. On the walk there she couldn't help but feel a bit of nostalgia from the dream they had shared, as they were taking the same path she had taken that night. While walking Junko tried to keep the conversation going. She informed him that like her, Azuki was also a vagabond looking for whatever work he could find.

Soon they came upon the gates of the ruins, the last time she had been here she was being attacked by nightmares. This is where she had told Azuki to meet her last so they waited patiently for him to arrive. While waiting Junko took a little while to observe her surroundings, attempting to find the differences between what she had seen in her dream and now.

If Azuki approached them, once coming into eyesight she'd wave happily and rush over towards him. She could hear her voice echoing through the empty ruins as she called out to him.

"Aazuuuuki!! I hope you don't mind, I brought a friend along with me. We met a little while back but recently reconnected so I thought I'd introduce you to each other. We did some missions around town yesterday, and they went great so I think we could all do some jobs together. Oh, also I brought breakfast for you!"

Now standing in front of Azuki she reached into her bag and pulled out a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich wrapped in some tin foil. She then held it out infront of her towards Azuki, prompting him to take it from her.

WC: 568

Denkiteki quietly waited for Junko to leave the room before doing some preparations, not wanting to be caught off guard as he went about his day. Once she left the blind man felt a burning sensation spread across his body as he activated the Berserk Sage Transformation, his skin growing darker and a black mark appearing on the bridge of his nose underneath his blindfold. Thankfully he was able to control himself, he wasn't going to go crazy like he had in the dream. Instead, he quickly performed hand seals while Junko was making breakfast, performing the tiger, boar, dog, and rat hand seals to activate Absolute Focus, followed by the rat, dragon, boar, monkey, and then horse hand seals to activate his Mind's Eye technique once more. His hands moved rather quickly, forming the seals at 150 speed as he tried to be as quiet as possible.

As he felt the Mind's Eye technique activate he allowed the transformation to end, his skin color changing back to normal and the marks on his face disappearing. Thanks to the amplification and enhancement he found his technique's potency to be somewhat increased compared to his use of it the previous day, the now nature-enhanced technique piercing through sensory abilities and detecting chakra with a power of 165. Satisfied with himself for now Den opted to get out of bed and get dressed to prepare for the day. It didn't take him long to get his clothes back on and tie his swords back to his hip, the Ronin's heightened senses on alert. As he got ready he found himself examining Junko's chakra as she prepared food in the other room. He found himself examining the fluffy cloud of lilac energy with more depth, gleaning more information about the woman as he became more familiar with the ebb and flow of her chakra.

So she possesses the water element, I figured that. Earth as well, it seems she's only developed two basic elements. I've not seen this other one her chakra seems to want to form however, some derived element of water mixed with the life force energy of yang release. And she seems uniquely in tune with the water and earth elements mixing. Not quite Wood Release, but something similar? Interesting.

Not only was he able to gleam her unique chakra nature, but Den was also able to gleam her capabilities as well. Her chakra was far more refined than it had been in the dream, her control of it only outmatched by the sheer amount of vigor she possessed. Though she didn't seem to be strong or fast Den sensed that she had far more chakra than he did currently. While Den reckoned that his chakra control outmatched hers he wasn't sure if he would be able to match her in a battle of sheer power.

Den was pretty much done getting ready when Junko asked him to join her for breakfast, and he happily made his way to the table and joined her for the meal. It didn't take them long to eat, and as they were finishing up Junko mentioned wanting to meet up with a friend for a job. Den was slightly concerned about the prospect of meeting another shinobi but believed that if things went sour he would have an opportunity to escape between his sensory and teleportation techniques.

Agreeing to travel with Junko, Den quickly cleaned up after himself and followed her out of the building. As he reached the doorway he would grab the painted wooden mask he carried and wear it over his face. The simple mask was painted white with two black marks where his eyes should be, giving the illusion that there might be eyeholes in the mask if one didn't look too carefully.

The two engaged in small talk as they walked down the road, but Den's effort was half-hearted. As they made their way closer to the village he found himself getting more and more distracted, the memories of the village coming back to him with each step. As they reached the gate Den suddenly tensed, remembering the first time he had ever been there. The vibrations he felt through the ground told him that much of the structure was destroyed but Den slightly recognized the place where Shinji Uzumaki had let him in as a refuge and given him a new home while he and the other Kirigakure survivors tried to figure out what to do with their homeland gone.

Walking through the streets Den remained within 2 meters of Junko, following her from behind as they made their way to the meeting area with Azuki. His right hand would rest on the hilt of his katana, perhaps giving the illusion that he was a swordsman.

WC:798

AP Costs
-40 for Berserk Sage Transformation (+60 Chakra/Speed)[1/2]
-30 for Absolute Focus (+30 power to Mind's Eye)
-34 for Mind's Eye(165 Power)[1/5 Posts)
+10 from Natural Berserker

AP/Nature Energy Tracker
748/842 AP
1/6 Nature Energy Stacks

Cooldowns
Berserk Sage 0/2
Absolute Focus 0/3

In the quiet solitude of the ruins, Azuki waits with a sense of hopeful anticipation, a feeling that's somewhat new and refreshing to him. His spear strapped to his back. He wore his usual black robed attire. The notion of meeting Junko and her friend to discuss forming a team is a significant shift from the usual solitary nature of his existence. For the first time in a long time, Azuki finds himself looking forward to building connections, rather than approaching them with his usual cynicism and distrust.

The ruins around him, with their time-worn stones and echoes of history, seem to resonate with his current state of mind – standing at the cusp of something new and potentially transformative. The idea of teaming up, of sharing the burden and camaraderie of missions, is a welcome change. It's an opportunity for Azuki to not only share his skills but also to learn from others, to grow in ways that solitude cannot afford.

As he thinks about the upcoming collaboration, Azuki allows himself to feel a sense of optimism. He reflects on the skills and perspectives that Junko and her friend might bring to the table. The prospect of working as a team, of strategizing and facing challenges together, is an exciting one. It’s a chance to be part of something bigger, a unit where each member complements the others.

In his previous encounters, Azuki has often had to rely solely on his own abilities, his decisions guided by necessity and survival. But this new venture holds the promise of mutual support, of shared goals and combined strengths. It’s a concept that Azuki, despite his usual self-reliance, finds appealing.

The potential of forming a team also opens up the possibility for Azuki to let his guard down a bit, to allow others to see the person behind the fighter. It's an opportunity to share not just the battles but also the moments in between – the planning, the discussions, the small victories along the way.

As Junko excitedly approaches him with her friend in tow, Azuki maintains his usual composure – a blend of guarded observation and quiet attentiveness. Standing to his feet he walks over to greet them. Her enthusiasm is a bright contrast to his more reserved nature, but there's a hint of warmth in his response, a subtle acknowledgement of the fledgling bond they've started to form.

"Thank you, Junko," Azuki replies as he takes the offered breakfast sandwich. His tone is appreciative, yet measured, reflecting his cautious approach to new relationships. "It's thoughtful of you to bring this." He unwraps the sandwich, the simple act a nod to the normalcy and camaraderie she represents.

Turning to Junko's friend, Azuki offers a brief nod, a silent gesture of greeting that carries a weight of consideration. "Good day," he says. His voice is steady, betraying none of the internal process he undergoes in sizing up a new acquaintance. His hand rested on his katana. A fellow weapon user perhaps he thought to himself.

Azuki takes a bite of the sandwich, allowing the flavors to momentarily distract him from the ruins' stark reminder of the transience of things. He listens more than he speaks, gauging the dynamics of this potential new team. His eyes, ever observant, flicker between Junko and her friend, looking for signs of their character and intentions.

In this meeting, amidst the ruins that whisper of times long past, Azuki is reminded of the value of forging connections, however tentative they may be. While he may not be one for many words or overt displays of emotion, his presence speaks of a willingness to consider this new venture, to perhaps let down his guard just enough to allow for the possibility of teamwork and mutual support.

WC:629

As Azuki ate his breakfast Junko would look between the two men before her trying to gauge how they were feeling. Unfortunately unable to see Takehiko's face, and her inability to read Azuki at all, she couldn't quite feel them out. She couldn't help but contemplate the pros and cons of the little group she was now forming. For the past few years, she had grown accustomed to solitude, however, this wasn't by choice. Due to her inability to stay in one place for long, she was unable to forge strong connections with others. She watched the quiet exchange between the two men and assumed that things were going well.

” You're quite welcome, it was no issue at all!” she said with a big smile as she waved her hand.” I wasn't sure if you had eaten, and I couldn't in good conscience let you work without eating. Regardless, I wanted to introduce you to my new friend Takehiko. He's a wanderer too so I figured we could all try to work together, at least for the time being.

Using her right hand she would gesture to Takehiko, and take a step beside him. She was excited to begin their mission but knew introductions were necessary. Junko wouldn’t interrupt them if they began exchanging words, and just would simply watch them. She couldn't help but feel slightly nervous, her father had told her tragic stories of companions he once had but she had some hope that the three of them would be alright.

After patiently waiting for them to finish either speaking or exchanging nods she would speak up once again.

” I was thinking we could find somewhere within the ruins to set up a permanent hideout. So that way we would all have a safe place to train, sleep, eat, and whatever else we may need. I've looked into how much it’ll cost and it seems very pricy, but if we all pooled our money together I think it would be worth it."

If uninterrupted she'd continue explaining what the pros of having a hideout would be, however primarily she talked about how she wanted it decorated. Part of her was excited to have a hideout, and the other part of her was excited to be able to fully decorate a base. She couldn't help but think immediately about the smallest details before even finding a suitable location.

WC:401
Total WC: 969

Denkiteki's enhanced senses allowed him to detect Azuki from a distance, his heightened hearing allowing him to detect the shinobi's breathing and the vibrations in the ground giving him an approximation of the man's position. Granted, none of this was impressive given that Azuki and Junko probably saw each other before Den detected all of this. As the duo approached Junko's friend Den would begin to pick up more details about the man. The vibrations moving through the ground as each of them walked carried information about density and positioning that Den slowly pieced together. An object was on the man's back...a spear.

Once they got within the range of Den's Mind's eye he was able to better discern the man's posture and gait, his heightened chakra senses able to inform him of the man's exact positioning as he moved. Once they got closer still Den was able to gain insight into the man by examining his chakra more closely.

The first thing Den was able to discern was the sense of foreboding that emanated from it. At first, Den didn't recognize it, this dark chakra that invoked fear in the one sensing it. But as the man drew closer his mind went back to his youth, back to Team 0 of Kirigakure. Within his squad had been a rather unusual fellow, a child who was immortal so long as he had provided offerings to his cruel god. The boy had possessed the same fear causing aura about him.

Despite the young man's chakra at first seeming indistinguishable from Bee's Den began to gather some distinct information about it as he got close to the man. He could tell that the chakra was younger than both Den's and Junko's. While Den's chakra control was superior to the young man's Den realized that the friend of Junko's had him beat in every other category. He had hoped not to meet a shinobi faster than him so soon, but he now realized that it had been a vain hope. Den was also able to discern that Azuki had an affinity for the wind element and that he seemed to specialize in using Space-Time techniques.

As they got close enough for Junko to give Azuki the sandwich Den decided to hang back slightly, going from 2 meters behind Junko to 3. As the two exchanged pleasantries Den sensed Azuki turn towards him and give a nod. The former Tenkage opted to do the same, nodding back to the young man and saying "Good day to you as well."

Den considered bringing up the dark energy emanating from the man's chakra but decided that was something that could be brought up later. Den didn't want to sour Azuki's first impression of him with strange questions or proclamations.

It also proved to be a good idea for a different reason Rather than potentially derailing Junko's conversation the woman instead would be able to reveal her plan to the two men, that she wanted to build a hideout with the two of them. Den couldn't help but be surprised, as he had only known the woman for a day now. It seemed that she really was naive and trusting, but he supposed that was something that worked out in his favor.

The idea of setting up a hideout in one of his former homes stirred mixed feelings within Den, but he was willing to put up with dealing with his memories of Tengakure if it allowed him another safehouse to stay at. Even if he didn't end up using this hideout permanently it would be nice to have access to another one. For a brief moment Den's mind would drift off to his brother's hideout and if he should check into that place, but then he quickly refocused on the moment at hand.

"So this mission you mentioned this morning, to help clean up an area within the ruins to make it liveable. You're the one who's issuing it?" Den's voice didn't sound accusatory, more like he was making an observation.

As the trio stood within the ruins Den's senses would be on alert, his heightened senses and Mind's eye on the lookout for any danger near or far. While Den felt that his Mind's eye technique wasn't weak he had the feeling that its perceptive abilities could be increased further, that enhancing it and amplifying it in the way he had wasn't the best solution to keep himself alert. It certainly wasn't the most efficient, Den was thankful that he had trained his chakra reserves otherwise he might have already started feeling drained from his use of the technique.

As Den stood with the other two shinobi his chakra would flow steadily from his body, the eggshell white energy lightly filling the area as it tried to detect every little thing within it. It didn't quite hug the area like Junko's fluffy lilac colored energy seemed to, not wanting its presence to be known but still just as detectable by chakra sensory.

WC:837
TWC:1,635

AP costs
-17 for Mind's Eye(2/5)
+10 from Nautral Berserker

AP/Nature Energy Totals
741/842
2/6 Nature Energy Stacks

Cooldowns
Berserk Sage 1/2
Absolute Focus 1/3

Revelant Skills
Chakra Sensory(To deduce Azuki is connected to Jashin by comparing his chakra to someone Den knew in the past)
Chakra Insight (To dicern Azuki's "Specialty Focus" "Chakra Nature" and "Physical Capacities")

As Azuki quietly enjoys the breakfast sandwich Junko has brought him, he listens attentively to her words. His expression remains stoic, the youthful features of his face, accentuated by his babyface and long eyelashes, giving him an almost serene appearance as he eats. The sandwich is held close to his lips, a small crumb lingering unnoticed as he slightly bobs his head in a thoughtful manner.When Junko finishes speaking and gestures towards Takehiko, introducing him as a fellow wanderer, Azuki takes a moment to acknowledge him with a small nod. His demeanor remains guarded, yet there's a subtle acknowledgment in his eyes, a recognition of the common ground they share as vagabonds.

After a brief pause, Azuki lowers his sandwich slightly, speaking in a straightforward manner, his voice calm and measured. "It's rare for vagabonds to trust one another, but I'm open to the idea of working together. Your plan for a hideout sounds practical. Having a fixed place for rest and planning could be beneficial," he says, his tone indicating a careful consideration of Junko's proposal.

He takes another bite of the sandwich, savoring the flavors as he contemplates the idea further. After a moment, he adds, "I should mention, I'm cursed. It's something you both should be aware of if we're going to collaborate.Oh by Jashin too" His delivery is matter-of-fact, a hint of the pragmatic approach he takes towards life and its complexities.

Azuki continues to eat, his expression still neutral yet open, indicating his willingness to engage in this new venture. The prospect of having a permanent base, a place where they can regroup and strategize, is a novel idea for him, one that brings a cautious sense of optimism.

WC:285

"Well you're in luck then, because I am of his chosen. I didn't know about this for the longest time, but my father at some point mentioned it to me. He had also warned me to be careful with the gifts bestowed upon me, so you could say I'm kind of cursed too. I sometimes hear the briefest of whispers from him, but thankfully it's manageable. If we just keep each other in check then I think we'll do alright. So look after me, and I'll look after you okay Azuki? For now, though we should start looking, please try to stay within 30 meters of each other... just in case."

If they agreed, Junko would begin walking down one of the many ruined streets that branched away from the main gate. She couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity, as she passed some buildings she had previously seen in her dreams. While they looked around the empty streets Junko attempted to keep some conversation going, mostly talking about her "vision" for the hideout.

As a child, she never really had a chance to decorate her own room, due to traveling with her mother, so she was very excited to finally have a place to genuinely call home and felt as if she could actually set up roots here. She often found herself looking to Takehiko and Azuki, watching them interact with the environment, and wondering what would become of this strange alliance she now found herself in. She felt strangely nostalgic, not because she had been in this situation before, but because she had always wanted friends like this growing up. She felt as if they were a bunch of kids rummaging around, looking for a "secret hideout" away from everything.

While searching around an abandoned home she heard the shattering of glass. Looking down at her feet curiously she found what the noise had come from. It looked to be a picture of a happy couple and their two adorable children. Using some spit and the edge of her dress she wiped away at the glass, removing a layer of caked-on grime, and stared at the image. It was hard to imagine the desolate home she now found herself in was once full of life. After the picture had been cleaned off, she placed it on an end table that hadn't fallen to pieces and continued to explore the home. Moving throughout the home she would find other personal belongings, toys, clothes, blankets, and much more.

With every new thing she found, she could feel herself becoming overwhelmed with emotion. In her dreams, she didn't have time to fully grasp the gravity of the situation, but here now in the real world, it was almost too much for her. She couldn't help but think of all the people who had lost their lives here, or of all the people that had been displaced because of whatever tragedy had occurred. While alone she couldn't help but allow her demeanor to change, she sobbed silently as she felt pain for those who had gone.

Stepping out of the home, she wiped her eyes in an attempt to hide her emotions from the others. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't that good at faking, and it would be easily noticed if her companions paid her any mind. Her chakra, still with the consistency of cotton candy was now a purple/gray color instead of its normal vibrant lilac. However, wanting to keep up the facade that everything was okay, she didn't voice her issues to the group and continued looking around.

She couldn't help but feel silly about her immense emotions, she was unsure of how the ruins impacted the others but figured they'd think her weak for her outburst. They both seemed to keep whatever emotion they were feeling to themselves and she didn't want to be the only one in the group who could so easily be emotionally impacted. She felt a hint of jealousy toward them in this moment, and couldn't help but wonder why they were like that. More tears welled in her eyes as she pondered about what her new companions had gone through in their lives, but she quickly tried to wipe them from her eyes.

As they searched she soon realized she wasn't too adept in finding a suitable location, everywhere she looked was collapsed in or nearly there. Being on the verge of crying at any semblance of now-faded memories didn't help either. She didn't think it would be too difficult to find a decent spot, but clearly she was wrong. Unfortunately out of the three of them, it wasn't going to be her that found their perfect spot, so she was going to rely on the other two.

WC:795
Total WC:1764

Den was surprised to find that both of the vagabonds he was accompanying were associated with Jashin. However, he was slightly confused by Junko's statement, as he didn't sense the same fear-inducing energy from her that exuded from Azuki. He wasn't sure what to make of her statement, that she occasionally heard whispers from the murderous god. Did Azuki as well? Den wished he had inquired Bee about his religion more as he stood next to the two Jashnists, he was starting to realize that outside of the benefits that their worship could provide he knew very little about their beliefs and how much of it was superstition versus strange chakra phenomena.

He'd save his questions for later, if they ended up working together and building a hideout then Den would have plenty of time to ask them questions about their beliefs. For the time being, they had a mission to complete, and he would follow Junko as they began to make their way through the fallen village.

As they walked Den's Mind's eye and enhanced senses would take in the surroundings as best they could. As he walked down the street following Junko, making sure to stay within the 30 meters she had mentioned, he started to get an understanding of how Tengakure had been destroyed. So he used that technique... Den started to notice the breaks in some of the buildings as if some spherical force had ripped through some of them and they had fallen without their support columns. Denkiteki remembered sensing similar damage occur within Hoshi, during his last confrontation with Takeo. He remembered his former student stepping out from an explosion and ripping through Den's Wood Release constructs, chakra pulsing outwards and away from him. The ground had been torn apart much in the same way the buildings had.

Den's enhanced senses perhaps offered him the best chance of finding a place for them to hide. As he walked he felt vibrations in the ground and was able to discern which buildings had intact basements and which didn't. For the time being he didn't speak up, however, wanting to allow the other members to find a location if they wanted to. As they continued through the streets den realized he was in a familiar location. It took him a moment to recognize the place with most of the skyscrapers destroyed but he eventually realized they were on the street that apartment had been on. It seemed that the building he had lived in had been destroyed but the foundation was intact.

As the group searched about Den noticed color start to fade from Junko's chakra. It seemed that seeing how much had to be abandoned here was causing her distress. Knowing he wasn't the best suited for this type of situation Den opted to try and console her, walking closer to her as the trio traveled. Falling in step next to her Den would say, feigning curiosity, "Strange that there aren't any bodies here. It looks like everyone escaped before whatever came through and destroyed this place. People might have had to leave some of their belongings behind but I suppose they're all still alive, somewhere."

Den wondered how the people of Tengakure were adjusting to Neo Kirigakure, it had been a few years now since Takeo and Xyxer had forced the villagers to move. He wondered if them and the people of Shima and Tenga had managed to unite as one people or if there was any division amongst them because of their past nationalities.

WC:591
TWC:2,226

AP costs
-17 for Mind's Eye(3/5)[165 Power]
+10 from Nautral Berserker

AP/Nature Energy Totals
734/842
3/6 Nature Energy Stacks

Cooldowns
Berserk Sage 2/2
Absolute Focus 2/3

Engrossed in his task, Azuki moves through the ruins with a purposeful agility, utilizing his speed and strength to navigate the debris-strewn landscape. He's in his element, his movements a blend of efficiency and precision, as he searches for anything that might be of use in establishing their new base.As he works, Azuki demonstrates a keen understanding of the environment, strategically clearing rubble and rearranging it to form natural barriers and walls. Each piece of debris is carefully considered, some set aside for potential use, others positioned to create defensible structures. His approach is methodical, a clear reflection of his pragmatic and resourceful nature.

Azuki's focus is entirely on the task at hand, so much so that he remains unaware of the emotional moment unfolding between Junko and Den. He moves swiftly, darting from one section of the ruins to another, his eyes scanning for materials and assessing the structural integrity of what remains.

The ruins, with their history of decay and resilience, resonate with Azuki's own experiences. In each broken stone and fallen beam, he sees potential – not just for building a hideout, but for creating something lasting and meaningful. This project, born from a newfound alliance, represents a new direction for Azuki, a path that, while uncertain, holds the promise of growth and camaraderie.

Azuki, perceptive in his own way despite his usual detachment, notices the distress in Junko's demeanor. The sight of the ruins and her reaction to them seems to have stirred something within her, and Azuki, in his own reserved manner, feels a twinge of empathy. Setting aside his work for a moment, he leaps gracefully, landing near her in a gesture that’s both a break from his labor and an unspoken offer of support.

Resting there, near Junko, he speaks up, his voice carrying a subtle, underlying warmth. "I've seen these people before on my travels. Some of them in this country, albeit a bit older." His words are chosen carefully, an attempt to provide comfort in his own way. Azuki isn't one for grand emotional displays, but he understands the power of reassurance, even if delivered indirectly.

His statement, suggesting the survival and continued lives of people he has encountered, is his way of offering solace. He wants to convey that despite the ruins and the memories they may hold, there is still life, still continuity. It's his way of gently reminding her that not all is lost, that amidst the decay and desolation, there's a thread of hope.

Azuki's approach, though somewhat aloof, is grounded in a genuine desire to protect and comfort. His life experiences have taught him to be cautious, to guard his emotions, yet deep down, there's a kindness that seeks expression, a protective instinct that drives him to offer support in his own unique way.

As he sits there, his expression still mostly unreadable but his presence a quiet reassurance, Azuki hopes his words might offer some measure of comfort to Junko. In this moment, he reveals a glimpse of the person behind the guarded exterior, a man who, despite his cynicism about the world, still harbors a desire to bring light into the lives of those around him.

WC:532 TWC:1,446

Feeling slightly better Junko wiped the small tears from her eyes. She could tell that both Azuki and Takehiko were attempting to make her feel better and that brought her some comfort. However, she still couldn't help but feel pity for those who had to evacuate as her gaze fell on the various decrepit buildings. As they spoke to her she stayed silent for a little while, really taking in their words and trying to compose herself.

After waiting for Azuki to finish his statement, she would speak up. Her voice unlike before was meek, and docile.
"Why would anyone do something like this? Yes, the people might be still alive, but... but they had to leave their homes behind. Think of all the turmoil and trouble people had to go through in order to get to some semblance of safety. I'm sorry, I guess I didn't think it would bother me this much"

As she spoke about her concerns she could feel her emotions beginning to overwhelm her once more. Now looking down at the ground she could see both men from the corners of her vision, Takehiko to her left and Azuki to her right. Without saying anything more Junko would attempt to wrap her left arm around Takehiko's, just above his elbow, and leaned on him slightly. Since they shared the same bed the previous night she didn't think he'd mind. Though she was unsure of how Azuki felt about physical contact, so instead she offered him her right arm and motioned for him to interlock his with hers if he wanted to.

Now feeling comforted by her companions, Junko had a look of determination on her face. If arm and arm with both Takehiko and Azuki Junko would give them a tight but comforting squeeze then look at each of them, her eyes were still a bit puffy and red but now she was smiling. Her chakra would slowly turn back to the vibrant lilac color it previously had been, she then would relax the grip on their arms allowing them to pull away if they wanted but not motioning for them to leave. She then would begin speaking once more.

"Did either of you find a spot that would be suitable. I was thinking of trying to find an intact basement that we could use, but the ones I found were completely collapsed. Any ideas?"

WC:400
Total WC: 2,164