Tidings of an Akumu (Travel/Training)

[Runeska]

[Enter]

It was dark, as Neoku had been on his boat for many long hours now. The shores of kirigakure had long since fade from view, leaving the open expanse of the great ocean. His travel to the akumu village would take a while. He’d snacked lightly on some of the food he’d brought with him. The motor to his boat was turned off. In the dead of night, he didn’t need, now want to drift aimlessly in the wrong direction. His compass was pointing the right way, and for the moment, he was relying on the strength of his arms to carry him as far as he could go. He was lucky to, for there were no clouds on this night. Everything would go fine for him. So, he continued to row his boat, occasionally stopping to look at his compass to steer and turn. Many more hours passed, but it was still dark. Nothing seemed to going wrong, so the young akumu warrior closed the red eyes which gleamed like fresh blood in the night. This left his boat drifting further and further as he himself, drifted into a fitfull slumber.



When he awoke, it was morning. The sun was bright over his head, casting down a slight bit of heat, though the ocean itself emitted a long line of cool breezes to counter it. It would be a good time to let down his sail. Looking over the ocean’s surface was breath taking. The greenish blue water lit up miraculously, casting a faint glow beneath the light. The scene was astonishing. Something with such beauty could house such treacherous fury. He was family with the ocean, and it’s wraith that was rivaled by very few. A few seagull appeared from the sky, their graceful flight taking them far away from him, on their own adventures and business. That’s when it occurred to him. He shouldn’t have been having these thoughts. They were reminiscent of Tai, he weak side. He couldn’t have such thoughts, or even notice the aesthetics. Him, Neoku, he that embraced the violence he was born to. He whom was born to a clan that was almost universally feared for their strength and tenacity. He tried to wash the thought’s from is mind. They were weakening and quite disturbing. On many different occasions, he felt this happening. His mind was slowly becoming slightly like Tai’s. He couldn’t stand it. Tai was a child he would no crimes, no evil, barely even fight. He was a disgrace to the clan, and the body they shared. But what was important was him, right now. He had to navigate the boat. Following his compass, he spent the better half of two days moving his boat, mostly by sail and rowing. Soon, a small blip would show before him. It was the village, or rather the island. He was beginning to get close.

[Runeska]

A few hours later, Neoku finally got tired of doing all the rowing with his arms. Quickly, he picked up the gas he had in his contained and refilled the tank for his motor. After about five minutes, he’d refilled it and started it up, hearing the cranking and clicking of the gears inside the motor. In a second the motor sprung to life and the boat jetted forward. Initially, Neoku had been standing on his feet looking at the view of the ocean that he’d begun to loathe. It was taking too long to reach his chosen distination. When the boat lurched forward, he fell suddenly, hitting his ribs against the floor. It hurt a bit, being that they were still sore. He had however, healed up quite well so far. He thoughts continued to wonder as he sat himself up straight. That’s when he saw it, the whirlpools that surrounded the island. They’d destroy his boat if he wasn’t careful. As he approached it, the pool of the tides got dangerously stronger. But, he opened the sail of his boat, then cranked the motor up to it’s maximum strength. He had to careful. The added speed from the winded sail allowed him to stay just out of range of the sucking whirlpools as his slowed boat passed by. His navigating was hindered, but more careful and precise in his steering of the boat. After about an hour of this harsh navigating, he passed them, and began to approach the island. He turned off his motor, which needed the rest by this time, and rowed the rest of the way. Silently, he tied down against the shore line and proceeded toward the village.

[//Talo//]

.Moved

[Runeska]

After a long walk from the shoreline, Neoku began to approach the village. As always, it was guarded by a squad of the akumu warriors. As he got closer to the gate, one of the guards immediately confronted him

"Who are you? State your business here" Before he'd even had the chance to say anything, the warrior's dark ki activated. He was about to attack.

Seeing this, Neoku thought 'Oh how good it feels to be home.' yet, he didn't have the time. Perhaps he could play around later, but he come for something. He wasn't quite sure what it was yet. Immediately, he surged his dark aura around himself. Bending into a fighting stance, he said, "Neoku Akumu of mist. Is this how you greet your own kin? It has been a while, but can you really not recognize me? I'm visiting my uncle. I shall not be long."

As he said that, another man appeared from the gate. His tall figure was one of power. His red eyes were sharpened like daggers. However, when he glared down at Neoku, the eyes softened somewhat. It was the familiar face on his uncle. "Settle down," he said the other guards. "This my nephew, Neoku. I have him under my custody."

After that, Neoku was allowed entrance. Immediately, they began to move toward the dwelling that they'd lived in together when he stayed with the clan. As he walked, he observed every detail of the village. Everything was the same. Nothing had changed besides the seasons. He continued to walk, observing all the detail. It would take some time before he reached his uncle's humble abode.

[Runeska]

Nearly an hour of walking had brought Neoku to the house of his uncle. It was quite small, due to the fact that he lived alone. Tai had stayed here for years before Neoku had ever surfaced. But alter ego that he was had all the tender memories here. The tender memories were very violent ones though. He had countless fights in his youth. Many of them sent them here to be punished for his behavior. His punishments consisted of harsh beating and violent sparrs that had toughened him and made him stronger. Because of his uncle, he was able to fight on through pain that would normally be crippling. But his uncle got straight to the point.


"Neoku, I know why you've come. Honestly, it's about time." Walking over to a closet, he pulled an old sword from it. The sheath was garnished with markings and odd coloring. Instanly, he came to the table and pulled it an inch out the sheath, revealing some the tarnished steel that the sword appeared to be made of. It had a dull sheen to it and didn't appear to be average. Neoku instantly recognized the sword. It was the one his mother wore until the day she was killed. That was far before he ever surfaced from Tai's subconscious mind.


"That sword..." was this really what he'd come for? It was just his mom's old sword, right? What could it be? His face reflected his confusion, as one of his hands instinctively reached toward the handle, but he stopped abruptly.


"Go ahead. It is yours by right. It was your mothers, now your inheritance. I figure you capable of controlling it now. But this sword has many powers, powers that you must master."


"But how?" he was intrigued with how and why and had to know. So from there, his uncle recounted all he knew about the sword, with dated back to Taichero, who slew the rougue who owned it previously. He was told how it was brought back to the Akumu, and eventually came to his mother after long years. The power he was told of was astounding. He couldn't believe Tai had been as careless as to simply hand this over without finding out any of this. To think, they'd had the sword after prying it from their mothers cold lifeless body. Tai had even used it to attack one of the murderers when he was younger. But, he supposed it was expected. Tai didn't have the heart of an Akumu, in his opinion. He, the alter ego, wasn't around yet.


"Take it, and keep it safe. It is your memento and birth right. Make the Akumu proud of the power you shall weild. Serve your country with unparraled layalty. In this time, I hear mist needs it's members such as your kind."

Listening intently, Neoku absorbed every detail of his uncle's words. Solemnly, he gripped the handle of the sword and pulled it free. It was heavy, for a katana that was meant to used one handed. Quickly, he resheathed the sword and attached the sheath to his side beneath his standard katana. "Thank you, this is, just what I've been waiting for."


"Yes, yes, of course. Now, you must rest here today. You may leave in the morning." His uncle had the last say in that matter. Bedding was prepared for him, and he rested.


[Recieved Rakoudoshido and kamenosad]

[Runeska]

The next day came rather fast. Neoku bade his uncle farewell and departed from the village. As he passed the gates, he nodded to the guards appropriately. he then proceeded back towards his boat. Once there, Neoku quickly started the engine and opened his saile. He was careful as he advoided the whirlpools again. They were annoying, but served a purpous. After about an hour of navigating his small boat, he had passed the whirlpools. Using his compass, he began to navigate towards mist. Unfortunately, as nightfall approached again, the engine, leaving him to row himself, occassionally catching breazes of wind with his sail.


He continued to row his boat the whole night and the next day. Before long, he could he could see a small dot on the horizon of the deep sea. It was the great mist continent. It would take him another day rowing like this to get home. He didn't envy it, but home would nice.

[Elgar]

~Moved~

[Runeska]

Neoku finally rested for a few hours, his arms shaking in length from the rowing he'd endured. His mind wandered untill he felt something wet on his head. Slowly, his eyes opened to reaveal the darkened sky filled with heavy black clouds. A storm was starting, a big one. Within minutes, a heavy diluge began to fill his boat. The clouds overhead cackled loudly with vengefull lightning. Something was amiss. The clouds were unfathomably dark and forbodding. There was a plot somewhere. He knew not where, but a plot, one of great consequences was taking place.


Neoku continued to row amongst the storm, trying to reach the docks as quickly as possible. The sea however wouldn't aid him in a descent way. Many large waves crashed against his small boat, rocking nad shoving around the ocean current. Suddenly, a colossal wave crashed against the boat, carrying it and him high into the air. Neoku was helpless as it then threw him and his boat into the sea, the boat on top of him. It cracked down hard on his still recovering ribs. He gasped once, but other than that, showed no sign of his pain.


He was drowning for a second, until he landed back onboard his boat, still overturned. But wasn't over. Another colossal wave crashed down, breacking the boat in two. Neoku was smashed and knocked around for about an hour in the tossing current. He even blacked out for a bit. But while he was unconscious, the tide carried him toward the docks


[exit]