Yuujakumi [Solitude]

[The God Damn Otokage]

Yuujakumi

After months of searching Mayu was finally able to find a home that did not bring up any bad memories. Soon after purchasing the house she named it 'Yuujakumi'. A word that meant solitude. Off the beaten path, within a forest clearing, is the red house. The simple rectangular building seems understated which is exactly how Mayu likes it. Vines and plants surround the outside of the building. Leaves from nearby trees litter the property.

The inside is filled with bright colors and natural wood. A decorating scheme Mayu has hatched in order to try and improve her mood. Creature comforts are key to her home. The bedroom itself is equipped with a sink and hot plate so tea can be made in the comfort of her room. High windows and mirrors help make the space seem larger than it is. An attached bathroom is equipped with a shower containing multiple jets as well as a bathtub for soaking. Her small kitchen is well stocked with all the necessary equipment, and a drawer full of take out menus as per her usual.

This residence is private and may be entered with permission only.

[The God Damn Otokage]

[/i]

She made a beeline for the bedroom. As she passed the small table, surrounded by the recliners she pulled her glasses out of her pocket and set them down before collapsing on the bed. Tears followed her fall. Unadulterated emotion poured from her mind and her eyes in the form of tears. Everything was just too much. How was she supposed to keep up being Kage? Everyone knew her as hard, emotionless. Well, they knew she had emotion but it usually only displayed in the form of anger.

But I'm only human. And I bleed when I fall down.

She couldn't even guess how long she had been there, crying and letting everything pour out. She couldn't stay like this forever though. She had work to do. Her. With responsibilities. What a cruel twist of irony. She pulled herself from the bed, fingers wiping the moisture from beneath her stormy eyes. Her fingers laced through her wavy hair, putting it back into some some sort of order before stepping through into the bathroom.

I can turn it on. Be a good machine. I can hold the weight of worlds. If that's what you need.

Soon she was showered and dressed, ready for her mission of diplomacy. A bag was packed with the essentials she would need, as well as the stupid Kage garb. She hated the formal wear of a Kage but for this sort of mission she would need something. The robe and hat went into her bag. Her gear was all upon her. She would do this for her village. It was her duty now wasn't it? To serve her village and make it great, never taking the time to worry about what she needed to do for herself.

I can take so much. 'Til I've had enough. Cause I'm only human.


[/ul][/font]

[The God Damn Otokage]

Observation
Rank: "E" (5 TP at all times)
Skill: Skill
Effect: This skill focuses certain powers of observation - sight, smell, hearing, and touch.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A failed check indicates that the character is oblivious until the thing is pointed out to him. This skill is important for ferreting out advancing enemies or ambushes, generally real-time events and actions occurring, versus scrutiny, which covers static objects or areas. A Game Master may roll an Observation skill check for a Character any time there is an NPC, monster, event or happening that a character might notice, even if he did not specifically state that he is monitoring his surroundings. Characters are capable of noticing any event within their perception. Observation reveals only facts, not motivation. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill. If you are Schooled in Anthropology you gain a +10% synergy bonus with Observation checks that involve noticing disguise checks.
Limit: ---

[Zetsumei]

+5

12|125

narutoforumrp.proboards.com/thread/103073/skill-training-rolls?page=5&scrollTo=916221

[The God Damn Otokage]

Observation
Rank: "E" (5 TP at all times)
Skill: Skill
Effect: This skill focuses certain powers of observation - sight, smell, hearing, and touch.
Special: ---
Drawback: ---
Description: A failed check indicates that the character is oblivious until the thing is pointed out to him. This skill is important for ferreting out advancing enemies or ambushes, generally real-time events and actions occurring, versus scrutiny, which covers static objects or areas. A Game Master may roll an Observation skill check for a Character any time there is an NPC, monster, event or happening that a character might notice, even if he did not specifically state that he is monitoring his surroundings. Characters are capable of noticing any event within their perception. Observation reveals only facts, not motivation. Each time learned user gets 1 die roll to increase the skill. If you are Schooled in Anthropology you gain a +10% synergy bonus with Observation checks that involve noticing disguise checks.
Limit: ---

[/i]

She had spent the morning looking over the house for key details, now it was time to see what the inside had to hold. She had looked it over before of course but not closely. She started in the kitchen. Small rings on the floor told her where a table and chairs sat previously. They had done a good job cleaning but the wood was cleaner in small circles where the furniture obviously sat before. The paint near the curtain rod was fresh, obviously covering over where a rod had been screwed in previously. Small dimples in the wall showed the holes where screws used to rest.

Shaking her head she moved into the living room. No amount of vacuuming could hide the bits of carpet dimpled by previous furniture. It would take quite some time for that to look normal again. The rectangular marks in the carpet must have been where a book case stood. With the weight of the books it would take quite some time for the carpet to be revitalized. Small nicks in the wall were poorly hidden by paint. Some were obviously holes created by nails that held pictures or shelves depending on their pairings. She shook her head and moved into the bedroom.

The bedroom had been heavily overhauled by her designs but it still held traces of the previous tenants. A worn spot on the wall painted a clear picture of where they had kept a device to open the ceiling window, a tricky one to reach by normal means. There were two worn spots on the wall behind the bed as well, the signs of a headboard that rubbed against the walls when it moved. A small piece of blue fabric was caught upon the wicker of one of her chairs. That had to be left behind by the person who brought the chair in. It was amazing all the little details a place held.

[/ul][/font]

[~Emi~]

5/5 TP

You increased your observation from 12/125 to 15/125 SP

[Umehara]

-- Enter.


The blanket of leaves was almost silently crushed beneath the weight of his feet as the forest granted him entrance. Coaxed onward by the gentle winds that forced his attire into motion, there was a certain allure to the atmosphere as Anotsu moved deeper into its recesses. Slow, calculated footsteps were all that he could manage as the exhaustion from his travels shown somewhat visibly. He'd even lost a bit of his posture, shoulders slumped to a degree beneath the cloak that sat bunched over his frame. When had he last slept more than a few hours into the nights when he'd managed to find proper lodging?

Ah...

Right..

...When he'd managed to force the Curse Seal's power into its fortified cage within his mind. The mark beneath his right eye was brushed for a moment by his fingertips as his head lowered to the earth before him, the focal point of his attention span now overwhelmed by the diversity of colors that the leaves held. He began to count them absentmindedly, numbering at least twenty before his gaze lifted and he realized that he'd lost track of just where he was ambling. Quickly gathering his bearings, he dragged a hand down his visage and allowed it to drop to his side. "No rest for the wicked, hmm..?" he murmured to himself. It had been a chant that he'd heard once before in his lifetime, though the place and the time were little more than blurred lines to him. Allowing his tongue to slide forward and lick his lips slightly, Atsuhiro resumed a quickened pace. At least, until the clearing had given him due pause.

A red house?

Curiously, Anotsu slowed until he'd come to a completely stop at least fifteen meters from the secluded set of walls and roof. It was most likely uninhabited in its current state. Still, there was little sense in intruding on property that he had not been familiar with. Without closing his eyes - a gift from the Sensor - Anotsu reached out and began to feel for signs of life. Through the forest did his mental tendrils sift and flow, most importantly surrounding and invading the seemingly vacant house with the scarlet exterior. When he discovered what appeared to be a similar presence, the very coincidence of his discovery moved him to action once more. Anotsu began to approach the house, straightening his attire and brushing stray leaves and the like from his person.

"....This is either dumb luck or misfortune waiting to happen. Oh, the irony.." he muttered as his index finger and thumb adjusted his headband beneath his mane.

[The God Damn Otokage]

[Umehara]

That's it?

Out of the multitude of questions that she could have asked, "Why are you on my property?" was all that she could manage? Anotsu's eyebrows furrowed slightly in response, the lack of intensity almost surprising. Still, this was the Otokage that was addressing him. It hardly took Sharingan Eyes to become familiar with the indifference of her character. Past meetings and personal words seemed to float to the surface of his memory as he stepped to the side, allowing her due space as he stepped back a few feet. He'd already decided to chalk her question up to her consistency; if nothing else was certain, one need not introduce feelings and emotions to a woman who had ultimately forgotten how to have them.

Casually, Anotsu lifted his hands and dropped them into his pockets. "It's been a little while. I just happened upon this place. Though from your response, perhaps my finding you was inconvenient. Should I leave?" he asked. She looked no worse than when he'd last encountered her. Momentarily, his eyes shifted and remembered the tattoo that he'd received when she had invited him into the Sound Five. It was apparent that she had no intention of lingering here long; the bag spoke of going, though he wouldn't inquire just yet. Far be it from Anotsu to believe that he was entitled in a village he'd had to leave behind for its greater good. Another irony, it seemed.

"How fares the village?"

A simple question, but a question nonetheless.

[The God Damn Otokage]

[Umehara]

It was her usual "take it or leave it" answer.

It was a relief to know that some things hadn't changed. Slated orbs matched her gaze as she asked the question he'd been anticipating the most. Hardly one to hide the truth from those he trusted - albeit a trust he didn't fully comprehend - he answered with a soft clearing of his throat. "Nowhere in particular, to be honest. The Land of Earth. The Land of Rain. Anywhere that didn't remind me of what I'd done to get this permanent mark underneath my eye.." he trailed off. Flashes of Abaddon and Juliet pilfered his attention for the faintest of moments, giving him pause as his gaze shifted to the side. There were certain circles in Hell that awaited such sinister deeds. He had not so easily forgotten what they had called him. Bane. Destroyer. "King". A momentary scowl fell across his countenance before he heard her answer.

"How is that possible? Our alliance with Kumogakure and Kusagakure are all but secured. We're sitting on our hands while the Gale Empire recovers its forces and prepares an offensive?" He meant no offense to those that belonged to the village. He hadn't encountered a single shinobi with a headband different from his own since he'd returned. Either they were unwilling to meet them at their doorsteps, or they were vastly unprepared for the inevitability of confrontation. Anotsu absentmindedly adjusted the fingerless gloves on his hands, shifting his weight to the side. His gaze returned to Mayu's blue pools, regarding her with expectant eyes. "....So what do we do?"

[The God Damn Otokage]

[Umehara]

"At least I'm consistent."

She couldn't ignore that fact, he surmised. It was becoming evident that they were more similar than he'd initially thought. Words and actions were on entirely different spectrum. Life was less about what happened and more about what WOULD if they didn't keep moving. They were more than ants beneath a magnifying glass. And if they could help it, they'd do far more than just "be". Such a realization coaxed Anotsu to turn toward the distance, offering a hand toward the road that he had traveled to come here. "Lead the way. If they won't make use of us, then who are we not to seize the opportunity?" His tone was remorseless. Why was this generation of shinobi so feeble? He hadn't seen true combat in ages. Weapons that he'd polished and placed in their holsters months ago were still as clean as the day he'd plucked them from the general store. A myriad of techniques at his disposal, and not a single ounce of his chakra had been used to take what was rightfully theirs: control. Population. Ambition.

Vividly, Atsuhiro remembered his encountered with the shinobi of Grass so long ago. To have done combat with at least three assailants at the same time. It was a vigor that only came on the battlefield. And, perhaps to the dismay of Mayu's preferred method of settling a score, he was becoming thoroughly finished with words as a whole. There needed to be cause and effect. If the villages were unwilling to recognize this, then he would assist the Otokage in lighting a scarlet fire beneath their ranks. "Allow me some time to prepare. I want to go with you."

Motivation? From one so indifferent? Maybe there was more to his return than even he had thought. Regardless, the AnBu Wolf of the Sound was ready and willing.

[The God Damn Otokage]

[Umehara]

And just like that, the gears had begun to turn. He had requested a certain update to his inventory. He could only hope that his contact had followed through.

[. Exit]