┎┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ к α ι ℓ є є r • c є ι η ' ℓ у s α ɢ є :: 1 5 ▌ɢ є η ∂ є r :: ♂ ▌נ σ υ η ι η ▌к υ м σ ɢ α к υ r є вυкιנυтsυ ▌вℓσσ∂ℓιηє ▌нαкємσтσ cℓαη ▌ ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┚
-----тhe situation I'd found myself in quickly devolved from frustrating to awkward as Samuru had a mental breakdown in front of me. Well, across the room in front of me. "I'm...sorry?" Rubbing the back of my neck, I looked around the room uncomfortably. Should I just leave? That didn't seem right, not after being the cause of his panic attack. Samuru was an ally, and to me that was enough to consider him a friend, sort of. But it wasn't like I knew him. At all really. I'd partnered with him during the attack in Kumo, and then we'd parted ways. So all I could do really is wait for the attack to end, and the jounin to pull himself back together. At the very least, maybe I could clean up the mess he made before he hurt himself. I made my way across the room to pick up the shards of glass from the floor.
«ωιтнσυтғ є α rтнєrє ιs ησtc σ υ r α ɢ є»
┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
r y σ :: 両 5 3 0 0 α c :: 2 0 9 0 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ c н α к r α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 5 0 5 / 5 0 5 ѕ т α м ι η α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 4 8 5 / 4 8 5 т r α η c є • ρ σ ι η т s :: 2 0 / 2 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
• Improved reflexes [Stage Five; Kiss of Flesh and Steel Mastery] • Improved reflexes [Stage Three; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved agility [Stage Five; Basai Bagua Mastery] • Improved mobility [Basai Bagua: Move as Water - A Rank] • Improved strength [Stage Two; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved perception [Shunkan no Hagane: Sensory Information - B Rank]
• +140 Chakra/ +140 Stamina [Training] • 5 chakra or stamina refunded from bloodline techniques, +20 Chakra/ +20 Stamina [Thoroughbred Discipline] • B-rank Ninjutsu require no hand seals [Mystic Hero Discipline]
• 2 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Personal Attribute] • 3 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Class Reduction] • 2 post reduction to Bloodline [Class Reduction]
[✠]Kaileer's sudden movement, moving to clean up the glass, shocked Samuru and he jerked away. Like a wounded animal, he skittered away from the other, finally finding a focus "...leave it." he said, his voice low and broken by the harsh breathing. He closed his eyes and let his head drop, forcing himself to take a single breath and release it. The panic attack had done a number on his mental state and his emotional control but, for the moment, he wouldn't let it control him or allow himself to fall even more prey to it "Just leave it." he adjusted himself so that he fell back onto his rear, leaning against the wall with one knee bent. So. Jae was in Kumo. He still felt numb and his expression reflected it as he stared at the air in front of him "...can you describe her to me?" he wanted to make sure....but he already knew. No one would dare impersonate Jae, not if they didn't have a death wish.[✠]
[An endless circle of fighting, death and living.] [I aim to end this circle, this hellish ouroboros.] [Watch...watch this fiery rebirth of our world.] [✠]
┎┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ к α ι ℓ є є r • c є ι η ' ℓ у s α ɢ є :: 1 5 ▌ɢ є η ∂ є r :: ♂ ▌נ σ υ η ι η ▌к υ м σ ɢ α к υ r є вυкιנυтsυ ▌вℓσσ∂ℓιηє ▌нαкємσтσ cℓαη ▌ ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┚
-----мy hand froze about halfway to one of the larger shard when Samuru suddenly jerked away from me. I stood up straight again, watching the older jounin as he fought to recover from his bout. When he did, it was hardly considered a recovery. Like Jae had, he pulled off the blank, emotionless look to hide the wreck I'd evidently just turned him into. But, unlike her, even if his words felt cold he still asked a question. What did she look like? Well, she wasn't exactly easy to miss. "Um... She has pink hair and...blue eyes?" I hadn't exactly paid much attention but apparently that was the color that came to mind. "Stands about this high." I held my hand about level with my eyes, which reminded me both that I'd somehow grown half a foot after going into that labyrinth dimension and that I hadn't gotten my father's genes when it came to height. The men in my family were all six feet or taller. So far, I was five and a half, and doubted that would change much, given I was now, physically, about fifteen."Not particularly talkative." Actually, as far as I'd seen, she and Samuru had the same personalities. I doubted that was actually the case, but I knew neither well enough. Scratching my cheek, I looked to the side. "Other than being from Konoha, that's all I have."
«ωιтнσυтғ є α rтнєrє ιs ησtc σ υ r α ɢ є»
┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
r y σ :: 両 5 3 0 0 α c :: 2 0 9 0 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ c н α к r α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 5 0 5 / 5 0 5 ѕ т α м ι η α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 4 8 5 / 4 8 5 т r α η c є • ρ σ ι η т s :: 2 0 / 2 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
• Improved reflexes [Stage Five; Kiss of Flesh and Steel Mastery] • Improved reflexes [Stage Three; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved agility [Stage Five; Basai Bagua Mastery] • Improved mobility [Basai Bagua: Move as Water - A Rank] • Improved strength [Stage Two; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved perception [Shunkan no Hagane: Sensory Information - B Rank]
• +140 Chakra/ +140 Stamina [Training] • 5 chakra or stamina refunded from bloodline techniques, +20 Chakra/ +20 Stamina [Thoroughbred Discipline] • B-rank Ninjutsu require no hand seals [Mystic Hero Discipline]
• 2 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Personal Attribute] • 3 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Class Reduction] • 2 post reduction to Bloodline [Class Reduction]
[✠]Samuru listened with a detached expression, continuing to control his breathing. Pink hair...blue eyes...right height...He closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair "That's her..." he let his hand drop down to his lips, pressing his fingers to them. He held that position for several minutes, the expressionless mask melting away to a pensive one. He glanced at Kaileer, his eyes hard to read but...sympathetic "...I apologize. Jae is....complicated. Most of my past is but she is the most important part." he gave a ghostly flicker of a smile, one that said he still remembered how to smile but hadn't in a long time "It was a shock to me, hearing her name. Its been a long time." he looked at his hands and then at the mess he'd made "Lucky I didn't cut myself, huh?" he turned and carefully picked up the pieces of glass. Taking each piece individually and holding it in his palm, Samuru quickly cleaned up the large and medium pieces. Standing, he dumped them into the sink, wiping his hand on his pants as he debated what to do next "Why was she in Kiri...do you know?" he took a towel from the counter and knelt to wipe up the water and the rest of the glass.[✠]
[An endless circle of fighting, death and living.] [I aim to end this circle, this hellish ouroboros.] [Watch...watch this fiery rebirth of our world.] [✠]
┎┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ к α ι ℓ є є r • c є ι η ' ℓ у s α ɢ є :: 1 5 ▌ɢ є η ∂ є r :: ♂ ▌נ σ υ η ι η ▌к υ м σ ɢ α к υ r є вυкιנυтsυ ▌вℓσσ∂ℓιηє ▌нαкємσтσ cℓαη ▌ ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┚
-----уeah... right. That didn't look like shock to me. More like a full blown heart attack. I was actually worried he might attack me. I had faith I could protect myself; that wasn't the issue. I'd been more concerned that he could snap so easily. Now I definitely didn't want to see the two of them meet, but after the violent reaction, I wasn't going to let them meet without accompaniment at the very least, if at all. Not that that was really under my power to do. -----I smoothed these thoughts over with a frown. I wasn't as good at hiding my feelings as these two evidently were, but I was beyond caring. At least, until he opened up a bit, and I felt I could relax again. He was lucky he hadn't cut himself. I had all confidence he had the strength to shatter glass like that, but that didn't exactly protect him from it. I crossed my arms, tucking my hands under them, and considered what little information I had on her. "She's...gathering information on the UHV, but since they were only a minor part of what happened in Kirigakure, there wasn't much information to be found there, and she was directed here." -----My gaze lowered as I thought of what else to say, and I leaned against the wall. "I think she was originally going to hunt them down, because she had lost someone to them--" I glanced back up at Samuru, indicating my guess it was him, "But I think she heard a rumor, or something, about you being alive. Because she mentioned you when asking about Kumo. Supposedly she came here for information on the UHV, but now I'm pretty sure she was after the rumor more than anything."
«ωιтнσυтғ є α rтнєrє ιs ησtc σ υ r α ɢ є»
┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
r y σ :: 両 5 3 0 0 α c :: 2 0 9 0 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ c н α к r α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 5 0 5 / 5 0 5 ѕ т α м ι η α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 4 8 5 / 4 8 5 т r α η c є • ρ σ ι η т s :: 2 0 / 2 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
• Improved reflexes [Stage Five; Kiss of Flesh and Steel Mastery] • Improved reflexes [Stage Three; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved agility [Stage Five; Basai Bagua Mastery] • Improved mobility [Basai Bagua: Move as Water - A Rank] • Improved strength [Stage Two; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved perception [Shunkan no Hagane: Sensory Information - B Rank]
• +140 Chakra/ +140 Stamina [Training] • 5 chakra or stamina refunded from bloodline techniques, +20 Chakra/ +20 Stamina [Thoroughbred Discipline] • B-rank Ninjutsu require no hand seals [Mystic Hero Discipline]
• 2 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Personal Attribute] • 3 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Class Reduction] • 2 post reduction to Bloodline [Class Reduction]
[✠]That figures. The UHV had been major players in the attacks on Konoha...it was understandable that Jae would go after them at some point. She was a determine one that way...and she never let insults stand. "..." Samuru leaned against the counter, pressing his hands onto the surface. He easily caught the look Kaileer sent him "..." he looked away a bit, feeling the stare and responding with a frown "She was....is important to me. I thought I meant as much to her..." It was clearly not a subject to talk about at this moment, not if Kaileer wanted to avoid a recurrence of a few moments ago. But that last bit bother him...Rumors? Of him? Samuru looked up from the cleaning, narrowing his eyes "What rumors?" he finished gathering the shards and dumped the whole thing into the sink, again wiping his hands on his pants. How could there be rumors about him? No one knew him here. He'd been careful to never be involved with anyone..."I'm dead to that village. I was careful..."[✠]
[An endless circle of fighting, death and living.] [I aim to end this circle, this hellish ouroboros.] [Watch...watch this fiery rebirth of our world.] [✠]
┎┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ к α ι ℓ є є r • c є ι η ' ℓ у s α ɢ є :: 1 5 ▌ɢ є η ∂ є r :: ♂ ▌נ σ υ η ι η ▌к υ м σ ɢ α к υ r є вυкιנυтsυ ▌вℓσσ∂ℓιηє ▌нαкємσтσ cℓαη ▌ ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┚
-----I shrugged, deciding it best not to pry into the emotionally compromised jounin's past. It wasn't my business to know anyway. "That's all I know. But she mentioned that you had helped out during the attack here, which means someone knows you're here." I crossed one leg over the other to make myself more comfortable. "You've been here quite some time now. And you used your original name as far as I can tell. If she was ever here, or someone who knew you was in Konoha, all it takes is your name being mentioned." I looked him over for a moment, trying to make a judgment on what he might say to my following question. I wasn't sure how much hold my words might have over his decisions, but we were equals here. The most I could do was try. "So what will you do now?"
«ωιтнσυтғ є α rтнєrє ιs ησtc σ υ r α ɢ є»
┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
r y σ :: 両 5 3 0 0 α c :: 2 0 9 0 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ c н α к r α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 5 0 5 / 5 0 5 ѕ т α м ι η α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 4 8 5 / 4 8 5 т r α η c є • ρ σ ι η т s :: 2 0 / 2 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
• Improved reflexes [Stage Five; Kiss of Flesh and Steel Mastery] • Improved reflexes [Stage Three; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved agility [Stage Five; Basai Bagua Mastery] • Improved mobility [Basai Bagua: Move as Water - A Rank] • Improved strength [Stage Two; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved perception [Shunkan no Hagane: Sensory Information - B Rank]
• +140 Chakra/ +140 Stamina [Training] • 5 chakra or stamina refunded from bloodline techniques, +20 Chakra/ +20 Stamina [Thoroughbred Discipline] • B-rank Ninjutsu require no hand seals [Mystic Hero Discipline]
• 2 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Personal Attribute] • 3 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Class Reduction] • 2 post reduction to Bloodline [Class Reduction]
[✠]"But there is no one here to care about who I am." Samuru's words were blunt and...true? Samuru had been careful to keep everyone here at the longest distance possible, making no friends, making enemies who wouldn't know his name and generally avoiding everyone. He leaned heavily into the counter, feeling less and less sure of his decisions "My name is not uncommon...and I came to this village because it is an enemy of Konoha. No shinobi from there would come here." at Kaileer's question, he hesitated. What would he do? He turned away and walked across the hall, moving to take the bag he'd never unpacked from its resting place. Putting it on the table, he opened it and stared at the contents: Clothing, weapons, bits of his original puppets...this was his life. His new puppets were in another case but....this is what he had. Not even anything from his siblings to remind him of them "I don't know. Everything I did....to get here, to get away from Konoha...it was all to eventually go back and get her. To get her and our families, to save them from Konoha's influences." he looked up from the bag and his expression was full of emotion this time. Full of loss "If she's here...I don't know what to do." he sank onto the couch, his hands resting on the bag "I don't know what she wants, coming here to find me...she told me to leave."[✠]
[An endless circle of fighting, death and living.] [I aim to end this circle, this hellish ouroboros.] [Watch...watch this fiery rebirth of our world.] [✠]
┎┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ к α ι ℓ є є r • c є ι η ' ℓ у s α ɢ є :: 1 5 ▌ɢ є η ∂ є r :: ♂ ▌נ σ υ η ι η ▌к υ м σ ɢ α к υ r є вυкιנυтsυ ▌вℓσσ∂ℓιηє ▌нαкємσтσ cℓαη ▌ ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┚
-----Again a shrug. I had no idea what happened in Konoha a year ago, or why it affected him so bad, other than a UHV attack. Jae had, as far as I could tell, assumed he was dead. "I mean, you could run. I'm sure Kinpaku wouldn't be too happy, but you're not technically a member of Kumogakure, right? I don't think she can hold you here." Leaning my head back briefly, I sighed and stood up straight."Or you could talk to her. She did come here looking for you, to see if the rumor was true, so why not confront her?"
«ωιтнσυтғ є α rтнєrє ιs ησtc σ υ r α ɢ є»
┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
r y σ :: 両 5 3 0 0 α c :: 2 0 9 0 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ c н α к r α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 5 0 5 / 5 0 5 ѕ т α м ι η α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 4 8 5 / 4 8 5 т r α η c є • ρ σ ι η т s :: 2 0 / 2 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
• Improved reflexes [Stage Five; Kiss of Flesh and Steel Mastery] • Improved reflexes [Stage Three; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved agility [Stage Five; Basai Bagua Mastery] • Improved mobility [Basai Bagua: Move as Water - A Rank] • Improved strength [Stage Two; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved perception [Shunkan no Hagane: Sensory Information - B Rank]
• +140 Chakra/ +140 Stamina [Training] • 5 chakra or stamina refunded from bloodline techniques, +20 Chakra/ +20 Stamina [Thoroughbred Discipline] • B-rank Ninjutsu require no hand seals [Mystic Hero Discipline]
• 2 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Personal Attribute] • 3 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Class Reduction] • 2 post reduction to Bloodline [Class Reduction]
[✠]Samuru looked at Kaileer for a moment and realized...he didn't know. His head tilted back "I can't run..." he said, leaning back "As for talking to her..." would it be that easy? To simply go talk to her? But...what if it was what he feared, that she had played him for that year they were together. If it had all been fake...what if she was here to take him back to Konoha? The very thought...he chuckled. Jae's hatred of Konoha was real. Her feelings for him might not have been but..."Kaileer...have you ever been hurt by someone you loved?" he looked at him plainly, waiting for an answer "Would you be able to confront someone who...who said they loved you and then did something that made you question everything that you believed?" this was the longest conversation he'd had since coming to this village. The most words he'd spoken to anyone in months. If Kaileer doubted that Samuru considered him an ally....well, he doubted needlessly.[✠]
[An endless circle of fighting, death and living.] [I aim to end this circle, this hellish ouroboros.] [Watch...watch this fiery rebirth of our world.] [✠]
┎┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ к α ι ℓ є є r • c є ι η ' ℓ у s α ɢ є :: 1 5 ▌ɢ є η ∂ є r :: ♂ ▌נ σ υ η ι η ▌к υ м σ ɢ α к υ r є вυкιנυтsυ ▌вℓσσ∂ℓιηє ▌нαкємσтσ cℓαη ▌ ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┚
-----ι opened my mouth to respond, but I didn't know what to say. I hadn't been hurt by anyone, really, emotionally. Not significantly enough to affect my life, anyway. I'd always been indifferent toward my family, and pretty much everyone before coming to Kumo. It wasn't until I'd received my headband and been named a genin of the village that I'd made any friends, and two of the four of them were killed during the UHV attack. All that was left was Wan here, and Inka in Kirigakure, with Wan being the closer of the two. Even then... I guess the closest thing I could compare to is if he were to betray me. That wasn't something I could really imagine. Finally I shook my head. "I'm afraid I have nothing. I'm sorry." -----The fact that Samuru was telling me all this was proof enough that there was at least someone here he trusted. Probably because I was the only one who wasn't a complete a*****e... Usually. I hadn't gotten riled up enough in a long time. It felt... good to be trusted, because he was the only one besides Wan in Kumo that seemed to. Not even the Raikage seemed to have enough trust in me to send me on anything but genin errands. Like what happened with Damien. I looked away briefly, and then returned my gaze to the jounin. "I don't mean to intrude, and I understand if you don't want to... But do you mind explaining what happened?"
«ωιтнσυтғ є α rтнєrє ιs ησtc σ υ r α ɢ є»
┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
r y σ :: 両 5 3 0 0 α c :: 2 0 9 0 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ c н α к r α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 5 0 5 / 5 0 5 ѕ т α м ι η α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 4 8 5 / 4 8 5 т r α η c є • ρ σ ι η т s :: 2 0 / 2 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
• Improved reflexes [Stage Five; Kiss of Flesh and Steel Mastery] • Improved reflexes [Stage Three; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved agility [Stage Five; Basai Bagua Mastery] • Improved mobility [Basai Bagua: Move as Water - A Rank] • Improved strength [Stage Two; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved perception [Shunkan no Hagane: Sensory Information - B Rank]
• +140 Chakra/ +140 Stamina [Training] • 5 chakra or stamina refunded from bloodline techniques, +20 Chakra/ +20 Stamina [Thoroughbred Discipline] • B-rank Ninjutsu require no hand seals [Mystic Hero Discipline]
• 2 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Personal Attribute] • 3 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Class Reduction] • 2 post reduction to Bloodline [Class Reduction]
[✠]Samuru seemed relieved at Kaileer's reply "Don't apologize..." losing loved ones and having them betray you were two different things. And despite his reasoning to not get involved, he was glad Kaileer hadn't had to experience the latter. He sat for a while, just thinking, until Kaileer asked...and then he didn't know how to reply "...Its hard to explain..." he started but then stopped. Maybe....eyes closing, Samuru tried to explain "Jae...was the first friend I had. The only friend. Before that, I only had my...well, I guess I should explain them first." he motioned to himself "I'm the eldest of triplets. Two boys and one girl, my brother and sister. We grew up on our own and they were all I had until Jae." he dropped his hand with a small, unhappy grimace. He had never been a social person and it had only been exasperated by the events in Konoha "Jae...she..." he looked at Kaileer and his eyes appeared...wet? Emotions heavy, he tried again "Jae was my world. She centered me, kept me from...well....to me, she became everything. I love her...still, despite what happened." Samuru rubbed his hands through his hair, pulling at the tips. How do to explain something like this? How can a person understand the absolute loss of self that comes when the main part component leaves? "Truly, I thought she loved me as much as I loved her. But then...like here, Konoha was attacked by a tailed beast. I went to the gates to fight there, defend my family...we were mobbed by fanatics, thousands." his body ached at the memories, the beating and broken bones...he'd barely made it out after..."Jae and I, hours before, had planned to get away from Konoha. Take our families and run. Then, in the middle of the battle...she came and told me to leave. To get away from the village." he pressed a fist to his stomach, feeling that sharp stab of betrayal "But she wasn't going with me. After all of this...everything she said...she was telling me to leave." Even now, it confused him "It was...it was like everything she'd told me was an attempt to trap me. My family...our parents were murdered by jounin. We were constantly under watch, untrusted in Konoha...and Jae...Jae had been the former lover of the Kage at the time." he pushed the fist from his stomach into his forehead, a shaky smile coming to his features. He was...so damn confused. The entire events, all of it, confused him. What had she wanted, when she told him to leave? "I didn't understand. I still don't, Kaileer. But it hurt like nothing I'd felt since my mother had said..." that was not meant for anyone but Jae "Anyway...I faked my death. I dropped to the ground, allowed myself to be overrun and violently beaten while I made my way to a fallen shinobi. I substituted myself for him and then...I lit the body on fire and hid among the mob. When they dispersed, so did I. And I died." Samuru stared at the table now, feeling a slight relief. At least, now, someone knew the truth. It had been a year since he'd been declared dead in Konoha. There was nothing left and never had been. He'd covered his tracks too well to be found or traced by anyone...even the best tracker couldn't find him now. Except "I don't get it though...why would Jae tell me to leave then come looking for me? It doesn't make any sense."[✠]
[An endless circle of fighting, death and living.] [I aim to end this circle, this hellish ouroboros.] [Watch...watch this fiery rebirth of our world.] [✠]
┎┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ к α ι ℓ є є r • c є ι η ' ℓ у s α ɢ є :: 1 5 ▌ɢ є η ∂ є r :: ♂ ▌נ σ υ η ι η ▌к υ м σ ɢ α к υ r є вυкιנυтsυ ▌вℓσσ∂ℓιηє ▌нαкємσтσ cℓαη ▌ ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┚
-----тhere was nothing I could say to Samuru. He had been through so much compared to me. He was definitely much more experienced, but then he was also about five years older than me, or at least that was my judgment. My true age, not my apparent age. "That's insane..." That was the first thing I could say. And it was true. Because Samuru had believed he was betrayed, he had let himself 'die' and escaped Konoha alone. Or at least that was what I gathered. I shook my head slowly in thought. "I hadn't realized you'd been through so much. But..." I spoke carefully, trying to think of what was best to say. "There had to be some reason for it, otherwise why would she follow a rumor that you were alive?" My hand moved unconsciously to my chin, and I stared blankly at the floor between us. "If she didn't care, why would she bother confirming it?" I shifted my gaze back to Samuru, both arms dropping to my sides. "The only way you're going to get any answers is if you talk to her. She asked to see you."
«ωιтнσυтғ є α rтнєrє ιs ησtc σ υ r α ɢ є»
┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
r y σ :: 両 5 3 0 0 α c :: 2 0 9 0 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ c н α к r α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 5 0 5 / 5 0 5 ѕ т α м ι η α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 4 8 5 / 4 8 5 т r α η c є • ρ σ ι η т s :: 2 0 / 2 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
• Improved reflexes [Stage Five; Kiss of Flesh and Steel Mastery] • Improved reflexes [Stage Three; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved agility [Stage Five; Basai Bagua Mastery] • Improved mobility [Basai Bagua: Move as Water - A Rank] • Improved strength [Stage Two; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved perception [Shunkan no Hagane: Sensory Information - B Rank]
• +140 Chakra/ +140 Stamina [Training] • 5 chakra or stamina refunded from bloodline techniques, +20 Chakra/ +20 Stamina [Thoroughbred Discipline] • B-rank Ninjutsu require no hand seals [Mystic Hero Discipline]
• 2 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Personal Attribute] • 3 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Class Reduction] • 2 post reduction to Bloodline [Class Reduction]
[✠]Kaileer didn't know that half of it...why his father had died, what his mother had become, the agony he'd gone through, the growing up in poverty on the whim of others. And he didn't need to "Maybe." he replied, his confusion hardening as he spoke "Or she could have heard this rumor and decided to come take my head as a rogue. To take me back to Konoha to be killed." still....that hardly fit with the Jae he knew or thought he knew "She wants to see me..." that hurt more than Kaileer knew. She wanted to see him now. He closed his eyes "...I'm sorry you became caught up in this. I...this was never my intention." he said quietly "This could go very badly, Kaileer." he had no clue how Jae would react or even if she would react. He didn't understand her anymore and he barely knew himself "I miss her so much..." he whispered to himself, almost impossible to hear, suddenly unsure of his choices. At the time, everything had seemed necessary, like doing what he'd done was the only option. Now...now everything seemed wrong "I want to see her too." Samuru confirmed but...it still felt like something wasn't right with this decision. What if...his eyes closed again and he dropped his head back "I don't understand anything anymore."[✠]
[An endless circle of fighting, death and living.] [I aim to end this circle, this hellish ouroboros.] [Watch...watch this fiery rebirth of our world.] [✠]
┎┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ к α ι ℓ є є r • c є ι η ' ℓ у s α ɢ є :: 1 5 ▌ɢ є η ∂ є r :: ♂ ▌נ σ υ η ι η ▌к υ м σ ɢ α к υ r є вυкιנυтsυ ▌вℓσσ∂ℓιηє ▌нαкємσтσ cℓαη ▌ ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┚
-----silence hung between us as I yet again considered what to do with the situation I'd gotten myself into. If Jae did decide to attack him, she wouldn't make it out of the village alive, not if I could help it. I wasn't going to let him meet her by himself, but how could I express that without intruding? My gaze returned to staring blankly at the ground in front of me. The first step was to calm him down. Jae was probably still at the office at this point, and would probably have tight restraints on where she could go on her own if Kinpaku gave her the go ahead to move about the village. Konoha was an enemy of Kumogakure, and if the Raikage was as cautious with her trust as I had seen so far, she would have ANBU following the pink-haired jounin. At least, that's what I hoped. Then again, she didn't know of the situation like I did, in which case, I had to try to stick close to Samuru in case they met. "Why don't we get something to eat to start with?" I glanced back up at him, and nodded toward him. I'd noticed how thin he was. I could judge the difference because I hadn't seen him since before leaving for Kiri. "When was the last time you ate anything?"
«ωιтнσυтғ є α rтнєrє ιs ησtc σ υ r α ɢ є»
┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
r y σ :: 両 5 3 0 0 α c :: 2 0 9 0 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄ c н α к r α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 5 0 5 / 5 0 5 ѕ т α м ι η α • ρ σ σ ℓ :: 4 8 5 / 4 8 5 т r α η c є • ρ σ ι η т s :: 2 0 / 2 0 ┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄
• Improved reflexes [Stage Five; Kiss of Flesh and Steel Mastery] • Improved reflexes [Stage Three; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved agility [Stage Five; Basai Bagua Mastery] • Improved mobility [Basai Bagua: Move as Water - A Rank] • Improved strength [Stage Two; Tame Za Kyokudo Mastery] • Improved perception [Shunkan no Hagane: Sensory Information - B Rank]
• +140 Chakra/ +140 Stamina [Training] • 5 chakra or stamina refunded from bloodline techniques, +20 Chakra/ +20 Stamina [Thoroughbred Discipline] • B-rank Ninjutsu require no hand seals [Mystic Hero Discipline]
• 2 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Personal Attribute] • 3 post reduction to Bukijutsu [Class Reduction] • 2 post reduction to Bloodline [Class Reduction]
