May you thrive beside these ruins

What a pitiful sight," Powder whispered, her voice bleak as she stood amidst the ruins of Tengakure. Her blue eyes, reflecting the endless depths of the surrounding sea, shimmered with an intensity that held no sympathy for the destruction that lay before her. The fallen skyscraper, once a symbol of pride and prosperity for those who called this place home, now stood as a haunting reminder of everything that was lost. 

But Powder knew better. She understood that the collapse of Tengakure was not a mere accident or a twist of fate. No, it was a sign. A sign that whispered with cruel certainty that this towering structure, this monument of human ambition, did not belong in this world. And while there were many who mourned its demise, who wept for the memories it held, there were also many who believed that its fall was a necessary reckoning.

Powder treaded through the remnants of the once proud residence, her footsteps echoing through the decayed shambles that now lay forgotten. Nature had taken its course, as if desperately trying to bury the evidence of what did not belong. Vines and overgrown vegetation ensnared the debris, dragging it toward the earth, unwilling to let it tarnish the beauty that remained.

As she made her way toward her destination, a small glimmer caught Powder's eye. The branches of a young tree reached out towards her, its presence filling her with a mix of longing and nostalgia. A surge of emotions coursed through her veins, as memories of a different time flooded her mind. With each step she took, the weight of her past grew heavier, until finally, a clearing emerged, untouched by the devastation that surrounded it.

And there stood the young tree, no more than twelve feet high, a lone sentinel in this desolate landscape. Powder couldn't help but speak to it, her voice filled with a bittersweet tenderness. "Did you miss me?" she whispered, her voice carried away by the wind. A melancholic smile tugged at her lips, as she acknowledged the absence of any other presence. "It's been a few years, and you still haven't found me, brother." The ache in her chest intensified, but she swallowed it down, refusing to let the pain consume her.

With a deep breath, she allowed herself to truly see the tree before her. Its roots, like precious lifelines, snaked through the soil, embracing the remnants of what once was an underground sanctuary. The decaying wood of the hut's door intertwined with the tree's roots, an unbreakable bond that represented the shared history they had. It was their home, a place that had been their sanctuary, where they had sought refuge from the world that existed within Tengakure's bustling hold.

Her brother had been the guiding light in her life during those dark and uncertain times. It was his unwavering determination that had kept them going, as he ventured out into the world to provide for their survival. But then, everything changed around the time that the skyscraper collapsed. Not long after, the night arrived when he failed to return, leaving young Powder alone in the suffocating darkness, consumed by a fear that threatened to shatter her fragile existence.

While others mourned the loss of towering structures, Powder had mourned the loss of her beloved brother, refusing to accept his absence as permanent. That refusal, however, only fed the darkness and fear within her. Days blurred together, and time lost its meaning, as she yearned to find her brother but was crippled by the terror that kept her locked within the confines of their sanctuary.

When she eventually emerged from that cave, she was discovered by those who had witnessed the destruction of Tengakure. They were islanders who had always kept their distance from the skyscraper, knowing that its grandeur held a hidden danger. They took her in, rescuing Powder from the oppressive darkness she had known and bringing her into a world much larger than the hut in which she lived. 

But even after a year had passed, her brother remained lost to her. And so, Powder planted a seed in their once cherished hut, a symbol of their connection.

Aizen's journey had been a long and arduous one, filled with trials and tribulations that tested his resolve to its limits. He had spent years wandering the vast lands, offering assistance to settlements along the way. Along the path, Aizen stumbles upon an old scroll buried beneath a tangle of roots. Intrigued, he unrolled the parchment and read the faded text, his eyes widening in astonishment at the words that leapt off the page. The scroll spoke of a legendary place, a place of unparalleled beauty and power hidden deep within the heart of the land. It was said that only those with a pure heart and unwavering determination could find their way to such a place, where they would be welcomed as honored guests and granted the chance to prove their worth.

Filled with a newfound purpose, Aizen set out to find this legend, following the clues laid out in the scroll with determination and perseverance. He navigated through treacherous terrain, overcoming obstacles that tested his every skill and pushing him to his limits. As he ventured deeper into the forest, the air grew cooler and the light took on a silvery hue, guiding him towards his destination. But just when he thought he had drawn near to the legend, a powerful storm descended upon the land, obscuring his path and forcing him to seek shelter in a nearby grotto. For days, Aizen waited out the storm, the howling winds and pounding rain echoing through the cavernous walls of the grotto. His determination wavered, doubts creeping into his mind as he wondered if he would ever find the place he sought. But deep within his heart, he knew that he could not give up, not after coming so far. Finally, as the storm subsided and the skies cleared, Aizen emerged from the grotto and resumed his journey back into the dark forest. He can tell that something is off. The forest seemed to come alive with an otherworldly energy, guiding him towards a hidden path that he had not noticed before. interested, he followed the winding trail deeper into the heart of the forest, the whispering of the leaves and the rustling of the wind guiding his way.

And then, as he rounded a bend in the path, he saw it: The scroll’s legend, bathed in the soft glow of the moonlight. The sight took his breath away, filling him with sorrow, and yet a hint of awe, that he had never experienced before. This building seemed to shimmer in the moonlight, though the building, turned to ruins, lay scattered, Aizen can still sense memories and purpose emitting from the remains. Aizen suddenly feels a sense of peace wash over him, the air humming with an otherworldly energy that seemed to beckon to him. The Tengakure ruins  and the land around it had welcomed him with open arms, embracing him. Aizen knew that his journey had led him to exactly where he was meant to be.

After a brief moment had passed, Power gently placed her hand against the surface of the tree, a symbol of her past and a poignant reminder of her brother. The bark felt cool beneath her palm as she reflected on the stories her brother had shared about their clan's tradition of planting trees to honor the departed or those who had gone missing. Despite her repeated inquiries about trees for their parents, her brother always evaded the question.

It was through the kindness of an islander who had taken her in that Power obtained a seed to commemorate the one she had lost. Removing her hand from the tree, she clasped tightly onto the totem hanging from her neck, a precious gift from her brother who once wore it constantly.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Power gazed at the moonlit sky, enveloping her in its luminous glow. The moonlight illuminated the metal remnants scattered in the ruins, creating an eerie spectacle reminiscent of haunted mirrors. Turning away from the tree, she prepared to return to her settlement, only to freeze in her tracks at the sight of a man's silhouette amidst the ruins. Like a deer, suddenly pausing in its tracks. 

With the man's long hair gleaming under the moonlight, Power hesitated, unsure of his intentions. While retreating into the shadows to avoid any potential conflict seemed prudent, her curiosity drove her to understand his presence and purpose in the ruins. 

With a deep intake of breath, she decided to venture closer, while keeping her stance alert and ready to react. 

"Some individuals may view these ruins with a sorrowful disposition, as if haunted by the specters that traverse this land," Powder articulated, voicing her observations of others. "But I am curious, how do you personally experience this place? What do you feel?” 

Aizen turned towards the sound of the soft voice. A woman with long blue braids emerges from the shadows.Her figure, small, but she stands with authority. his eyes meet hers in the dim moonlight that filtered through the ruins.

He felt a sense of recognition stir within him, as if the ruins themselves had whispered her name in the echoes of their shared past. The sorrow that permeated the air seemed to deepen as their gazes locked, as if the very land mourned the losses they both carried in their hearts.

As Powder's question hung between them, Aizen considered his response carefully, his words tinged with a quiet reverence for the place they stood. "I feel the weight of history here, the echoes of lives once lived and dreams once cherished” he began, his voice gentle yet filled with a depth of emotion. "I can tell these ruins hold more than just memories; they hold the essence of those who came before us, their stories etched into the very stones that crumble beneath our feet."

He took a step closer to Powder, the moonlight casting a gentle glow upon his features, highlighting the weariness that lined his face yet also the strength that lay within his eyes. "I sense a purpose in these ruins, a purpose that transcends time and space," he continued, his gaze unwavering. "And though the path to understanding it may be fraught with sorrow and longing, I believe that it is a journey worth taking, for it leads me to truths that have long been hidden in the shadows. When I finally understand it, I’ll know what a real home is supposed to feel like.”

Aizen's words hung in the air, a silent acknowledgment of the bond that had formed between them in this fleeting moment amidst the ruins. And as the moon cast its silvery light upon the earth, illuminating the path that lay ahead, he knew that their meeting was not a coincidence but a convergence of destinies intertwined with the threads of the past.

As the man in front of her responded, his words infused with emotion, Powder's soft voice carried a hint of control. She spoke unwaveringly, her tone confident and tinged with a coolness in attitude. "In your quest to uncover the stories hidden within these scattered fragments at our feet, allow me to also emphasize that there is more than meets the eye." Powder's gaze lifted as the man drew nearer, her blue eyes carefully observing the nuances of his expression. Despite their slight difference in height, maintaining eye contact was effortless for her, as the moonlight embraced the details beneath its hollow gaze.

The two were mere phantoms beneath the massive moon above. Standing before a deserted graveyard of shattered stories, written in the very metal that was half buried within the earth at their feet.

“The falling of Tengakure may have been a loss to some, but as you can see, the island is ready to take back control.” Powder gestured towards the vines that seemed to pull the ruins into the very earth. The grass that grew over the fragments as if to hide what once was. “There are even stories that whispered amongst this land before Tengakure had risen so high within these skies. The building dared to challenge to moon itself, and was brought back down to nothing but shambles.” Powder’s words dove into the past, as she thought of the Spirits that once shown themselves around the island.

She pondered the origins of the man before her and the extent of his knowledge. Though she had numerous inquiries, the young woman refrained from vocalizing them all at once. Instead; Powder would focus on the question that she deemed more important, “For someone who is doing all this searching, you look to be lost in my perspective. Am I wrong?” She would decide on that question. Anticipating his response while contemplating the potential outcomes of their encounter.

The moon's gentle light bathed the ruins of Tengakure, casting elongated shadows that danced across the broken remnants of a once-mighty civilization. As her words echoed through the air, he felt a sense of intrigue stir within him, mingling with the weight of history that hung heavy around them. Her voice, soft yet commanding, held a depth of knowingness that beckoned him to listen, to unravel the mysteries that lay hidden within the layers of time.

There’s no doubt this woman has a bond with the rubble and tree alike. A bond that Aizen will never understand, yet has often chased. Aizen wants to ask about her relation to the rubble, but there’s more important matters at the moment. He is faced with someone who isn’t afraid to act, it’s best to answer each question carefully.  

Aizen took a step closer to Powder, his movements deliberate as he studied the ruins around them. Each fragment told a story, each vine that crept over the stone whispered of resilience and rebirth. The island of Tengakure, once a beacon of power and ambition, now lay in ruins, a testament to the ebb and flow of history.

Her gesture towards the encroaching vines and the lush grass that sought to reclaim the shattered fragments spoke of a cycle of destruction and renewal, a reminder that even in the face of devastation, life persisted. Aizen's eyes followed her movements, his gaze flickering with a mix of contemplation and understanding.

As she delved into the whispers of the past, of the legends that had woven themselves into the fabric of the island long before its rise to prominence, Aizen found himself drawn deeper into the narrative she painted. The Spirits that had once roamed these lands, their presence a ghostly echo of a time long past, added a layer of mystique to the already enigmatic history of Tengakure.

Her question, poised with a subtle challenge, hung in the air like a delicate thread waiting to be unraveled. Aizen met the woman’s gaze, his expression lowerers. "You may not be wrong in your perception," he began, his words measured yet filled with a quiet resolve. "But in order to be lost, one must belong to someone… Something…. Some place.". A brief moment of silence is abruptly ended by a slight sign. Recollecting himself, he continues.

"The fall of Tengakure was indeed a loss to many, but as you rightly point out, the island seems poised to reclaim its place in the tapestry of time," Aizen responded, his voice carrying a tone of respect for the resilience of the land beneath their feet."The stories that echo through these ruins are not just of loss, but of defiance and the unyielding spirit of those who once called this place home. That is exactly what I seek, a place to call home.." pausing for a second, he asks her the question that has been burning in his skull, "Tell me, why do these ruins.. This tree…. And the stones that surround them cry your name? What is this place to you?".

The moon above seemed to listen intently, its silvery glow casting a surreal aura over the ruins as they stood amidst the remnants of a bygone era. The weight of history bore down on him, a silent witness to the convergence of his path in this fleeting moment of time. A sense of anticipation hummed in the air, the promise of discovery and revelation lingering on the cusp of the night.

Awaiting her response, he felt a surge of determination welling within him. The ruins of Tengakure held secrets untold, stories waiting to be unearthed from the depths of time. And in the company of this enigmatic woman who stood before him, he sensed a kinship, a shared journey that beckoned them both to unravel the mysteries that lay hidden within the moonlit shadows of their pasts.

Powder contemplated the response provided by the man, however, she could not suppress her own divergent belief.

She pondered quietly to herself, considering whether belonging would ultimately eliminate feelings of being lost. She envisioned how being attached to someone or something would alleviate the desire to roam aimlessly. Similar to a spirit finding peace or a being discovering a sense of connection.

Glancing at the totem adorning her neck, Powder listened as the dark-haired man delved into the topic of finding a place to call home. The concept of a home, a place of belonging, resonated deeply with many individuals. While there were those who opted to remain unrooted, embracing their freedom without the burden of attachment.

For some, a home could be a potential loss. A burden when imagining what may happen to that said sanctuary. The fear that could easily wither a being to submission to preserve what is dear to them.

Or maybe it could be the fire that would demolish anything that dared to take that safe place away

Powder redirected her attention towards the man, shifting her gaze away from the totem securely fastened to the leather string around her neck, intricately braided with a unique design. The question he posed to the Kunoichi caught her off guard, prompting a brief moment of contemplation as memories from her past resurfaced.

There was a somber expression that briefly clouded her face at the mention of the tree and its associated history, evoking a sense of melancholy within her. However, she quickly composed herself, suppressing the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her, while softening her expression. The brief exchange between the two individuals brought them closer, two strangers brought together by chance, their meeting not a confrontation but rather driven by a shared purpose. It appeared that their paths may align for the time being, until circumstances dictated otherwise.

“I lost someone very important to me, around the time that this place fell to its demise. That very person was my home, in the dark crevice in which the tree grows from.” Powder would pause as her eyes turned towards the direction of the tree, the shack that harbored its roots was where she used to nestle in darkness. “Whether his disappearance and the collapse of Tengakure is connected, is unknown to me. But I can't help but feel like there is some sort of thread that ties these incidents together.”  

Powder averted her gaze, turning herself towards the direction of the small village in which she currently stayed. “I can't offer you what you seek, but I can provide a temporary solution until you find yourself. I have a safe place, and there is plenty of work.” Her head tilted towards him as she gave the proposal. “By the way, my name is Powder~” -exit-

Powder Iburi wrote:

Claims:

Approved

“And I, Aizen”. He takes a moment as Powder’s words struck Aizen’s ears but hurt his heart. His eyes fixed on the tree, feeling a sense of empathy for her loss and the mysteries that surrounded her past. With the flourishing tree and her strong words, he too believes the unfortunate events are not coincidences.

The mysteries of Tengakure beckoned to him, promising revelations and perhaps a sense of belonging that had eluded him for so long. With a silent vow to uncover the secrets that lay buried within the crumbling stones, Aizen followed Powder towards the village, ready to embark on a new chapter of his journey.

As they stood side by side, the echoes of the past whispered through the night, carrying with them the weight of history and the promise of a future yet to be written. For Aizen, the ruins of Tengakure were not just a collection of broken fragments found from the scroll, but a canvas upon which the stories of the past were waiting to be unveiled, painting a path for his future. And in the company of Powder, a woman whose strength and resilience mirrored the spirit of the land itself, he knew that their shared quest would lead them to truths that had long been shrouded in darkness.

Her offer of temporary refuge and work intrigued him, a chance to delve deeper into the enigmatic history of Tengakure and perhaps uncover the truths that lay hidden within the ruins. As the moonlight continued to bathe the ruins in its ethereal glow,  Aizen turned his gaze along with powder, a sense of purpose and possibilities stirring within him. With a respectful nod, Aizen acknowledged her offer before speaking, "Thank you, Powder. Your kindness is greatly appreciated, and I believe that our paths crossing is no mere accident.". Together, they stare into the village’s direction. Aizen and Powder stood as guardians of the night, their souls alight with the promise of a future filled with wonder and discovery. -exit-