Homeward Bound [Travel]

[Emiko]

It was well past mid-day, I had more or less blanked out. I-I don't even know what's happened to me. I just woke up within the carriage, tears streaming down my cheek. There several spotches of it on my top and I couldn't explain why. My trusty steed was better though, so I eased myself to the front. Taking the reigns within my hands I looked on ahead. For some reason everyone I was traveling with was gone, I'm not sure where. I felt it best to return to grass... at the very least I could figure things out in safety.

Raising the straps and slamming them down as gently as I could, my horse proceeded to gallop. Marching into the distance the first destination on my list was the claw country. The land was neutral to the shinobi nations and the world at large. Despite this, I felt my consciousness waivering. Sudden visions played before my minds eye. I saw a hooded figure, slaying a young man. A sword piercing into his throat, I nearly steered us towards a river as a result.

"Easy boy, guide me to grass okay?"

He neighed lightly, seemingly pleased at least. His powerful legs took off once more as I passed the border of Claw. The dense vegetation in this land was startling. On my trip to Kaminari I didn't recall it being this way. I guess I was lost in my own world during that time. It caused me to sigh, I needed to focus as I adjusted my route. If I could make a steady path through Hi no Kuni, I'd be able to get to Kusa no Kuni in no time.

{Move to Claw}

[Masakuni]

Mov'd.

[Emiko]

Galloping through the land of clawn, I felt sleep's grip threatening to hold onto me. I blinked once to see if I could shake the feeling. I then blinked once more and found some energy left to pursue my goal. The forests that I moved through were scarce in terms of greenery. Many of the vegetation was dead, resulting in charred bark. I began to estimate how this land gained it's name. The bark that passed my perhiperal (SP) gaze was jagged in nature. Many of the branches looked like decrepit claws and not sturdy structures to house rich leaves. I didn't want to say this land was a wasteland but it felt more like an unlawful land. Given this nations history with it's rival fang, one shouldn't be surprised.

There were some rather large bodies of water across my route. They were aquamarine in nature and lacked lifeforms. How could anyone do any fishing in this land I had to wonder. Then I looked deeper into the water, past my own reflection. The shadow of a fish moved through the waters right there and then. I certainly felt surprised but my attention soon left the waters and back to the path ahead.

It was easy to tell the border of claw due to the landscapes along either side. There was the dense yet fertile vegetation of kaminari, then there was the lush vegetation of Hi no Kuni. For my own route I was happy to see the thick bark of tree's reaching high into the sky. Hi no Kuni awaited and so I'd ride through the distance. My headband was carefully tucked away into my pouch, it was better to keep it hidden until I reached Kusa no Kuni.

{Move to Fire}

[Masakuni]

Mov'd to Firez.

[Emiko]

OOC: Masa for Best Mod lolz thank you.

IC

Fire despite being a nation in conflict with Kusa was probably the safest passage I had in awhile. Avoiding civilians by taking some of the more hidden routes, I was able to ride along in peace. It was difficult to to maneuver through the amount of trees within these routes but I'd manage. The carriage on the other hand was a different story. For that I often stood atop my seat, slashing down the branches as they came in order to make more room. My blade looked magnificent in motion. It danced through the very sky seemingly creating after images in it's wake. Though I probably should have taken my time with these strikes. I began to feel lightheaded, dizzy even.

The landscape was very much a blur now, I found myself using my free hand to cusp my brow. I was wracking my mind to come up with some sort of diagonosis for my condition. Unfortunately there was a growing feeling bubbling within me. A darkness that I couldn't understand as if my memory was locked away. I confess that my medical knowledge is supposed to be really good, yet when I try to recall it...I fail. Thus my manager really was right in hiring body guards to protect me.

Perhaps I didn't want to admit how useless I felt lately. My body and even mindset had regressed to that of a Yakuza princess. Between family life and the life of a famous singer, was there really any room for the way of shinobi? When I thought about such, especially with my memory all but blank in certain areas, I ask this: "Why do I bother...?"

Yet just as I asked I saw stray strands of grass kick up into the air. I had been so lost in thought that I didn't even realize I was in Kusa now. When had I even passed the border to this lush landscape. The heat and unusual vegetation was what made grass an interesting place. The "Forests" were more like jungles, especially with the animals. I'd have to proceed through such in order to reach home. I could only hope for the best!

{Move to Grass}

[hotaru]

To Kusa

[Hana~Kyo]

Morale contradictions shuffled back and forth with in the complicated mind of Hiro as he maintained a steady pace through the grounds of Kusa no Kuni. The natural air of heat that the country displayed on most occasions tended to bother the Masamune, though he would never show it. The majority of his most recent years had been spent far to the north in the frozen lands where the temperatures were quite opposite to what he experienced here; but that was not the only difference, in fact nothing was really the same. The more he walked the more he compared the land to places he had once lives, it was a good way to take his mind from the complications of his actions.

The question he was trying to answer still, was what hope had he of finding that one girl whom he had seen but only once in a country far from his current location. The real curiosity he had was more a long the lines of who she actually was... walking in to a run down crime infested tavern like that surrounded by uniformed guards was not necessarily your every day occurrence to say the least. More well placed steps, as to avoid the fallen foliage, would be taken to carry him deeper in to the heart of the nation in search of answers. To be honest he was really just using this woman as an excuse to carry out his true purpose, the purpose that had been bestowed up on him by the flow of fate~ To bring judgement to all those lowly scum who soil this worlds existence with their selfish ways.

Lost in the midst of his thoughts he almost missed the something that threw him for one hell of a loop. There in the distance toward the horizon was a figure riding a creature in his direction. Immediately the man would slide behind a tree he was passing at the time and gaze out with careful precision at the figure atop the beast. Beneath the hood that hung down over his face, jaded eyes would widen as he finally caught a glimpse at a face... the woman?! Behind the tree he would wait, closing his ears he would listen carefully for the sounds of the horses hooves against the soil as it approached.

When he was sure the creature and its rider were relatively close to his position he pulled the hood further down over his head so that its shadow fully masked his face before walking out from behind the tree and stopping dead in the horses path with arms hanging loosely at this sides. Surely she would not recognize the garb he had adorned in his travels as it was a different color than that which he had been in during his visit to Kaminari no Kuni, but the shear size of him may give some indication to his identity as it was so rare to see some one of his stature. Carefully calculated and mysterious words would emerge from the lips hidden in shadow.

"I have been looking for you my dear."

For a moment he would let the words linger in the air, gaining in their mysteriousness so that she could think back on her recent events and recall any possibilities to who he might be. Maybe she already knew who he was... Maybe she would not remember at all... it was these factors that were what interested Hiro about the situation so much, testing the limits of a persons skills and humanity is what he took pleasure in. Once the air had been cleared of his words he would speak once more. These words how ever would cause much more speculation than his others, perhaps she would realized the truth behind why he was asking. That it was indeed odd that some one trying to be an ordinary defenseless little girl would have such proficiency in weapons... why was she trying to hide who she really was... what did she gain from it.

"Tell me, why exactly did you killed that man the other day..."

[Emiko]

My condition was getting worse I'm afraid. I'm uncertain why this was the case for I recall being in good spirits on my venture to Kaminari no Kuni. Perhaps there was some ailment in the atmosphere that was causing this? If so...I should be able to rid myself of it. Oh but that was if I could remember my medical knowledge. If I was in better spirits I'd let out an audible sigh. Instead I leaned back against the carriage in an attempt to gain some form of comfort. Unfortunately the position wasn't that comfortable at all. Then there was the on and off visions that kept occuring. Every so often I would see myself dosing off, caught within a scene I didn't understand. Were these genjutsu or were they my own memories?


No longer guised in my transformation, I wondered if anyone would be reporting back to Kusakage-sama that I returned? Was Fina-sama still ruling as my leader...? These were things I had to question. It'd been so long since I was away that I wondered if I was even remembered by those in my "village". I was more likely popular from in my city; Moyoushi. In fact, now that I think about it, why did I return to Kusa instead of River. My mother and those I care about would be better suited to help me. Actually, I really missed my mother right now. The thought had me shivering yet I been focused on the path ahead. A path which would end up being blocked by a stranger. The horse would buckle as my steed raised it's front legs high.

Once it calmed down, careful to avoid the tall stranger I'd gently tug the reigns. "Who are...y-you?" the chattering in my teeth interfered with my last statement. I wrapped my arms around my torso as my teeth continued to chatter. Why was I feeling so cold, so...very cold. Surely Kusa's heat should be warming me up. With my breathing coming to a crawl I simply paused. My form was hunched over somewhat. What the man infront of her didn't realize was the difficulty of jogging her memory. When he spoke next she stared at him with utter confusion.

"I haven't killed anyone...at all."

Yet at that moment her vision was obscured with a vision of a cloaked figure from Thunder. He held a white sword within his hands. Stabbing a young man from Cloud was the end action before the path infront of me returned.

"I-I didn't kill anyone, YOU did! I remember seeing you kill a young man."

Naturally I was shaking in fear, my clasp on the reigns tightened. I made the motion for my steed to backup.

"Please...don't hurt me."

[Hana~Kyo]

Fear had given the young woman quite a nice appearance, there was no better judges of character than fear and anger. A small grin would began to crawl across the face of the former Chuunin, not that the girl would be able to see this aesthetic change from beneath the hood of his cloak but he was deriving a great deal of pleasure from this little encounter. Fate was truly shining down upon him today, it had told him that he must go and leave behind his nation to seek answers to his great many questions and to carry out the process of judgement which had been self-righteously bestowed up on him; and because of this trip he had been convinced to take, he had met up with the very person that had been lingering with in the recesses of his mind ever since that day.

However... there was something off about this girl. Hiroshi had seen enough people come begging for their lives in fear of death and making up all kinds of ridiculous excuses to avoid his final judgement but something was different about this one... her voice did not show any sign of true panic, there was a distinct difference between panic and fear and to his well trained ear, he heard nothing but fear. Had she really forgotten what had happened, and how in the hell did she come to believe he was the one who did it? At least the fact that she remembered him to some degree or another had been confirmed but what the hell was going through her mind... All these questions did was further his sense of intrigue on the matter, he had to pry further... he had to know more. For now... he would see what would happens with his next choice words.

"Maybe I did?... Do you fear me child?"

Though he had addressed her as child, she could not have been much different in age than he himself it was simply the factors of his clan that made him sound and appear more aged than he should be given his years of life. He figured for now he might as well play along with her ruse, he KNEW that she was a fighter on some level or another whether she wanted to admit... or even knew... or not. Maybe if she felt some fear for him, he could bring out the part of her that was a fighter; if she was afraid to lose her life, would this apparently hidden other side of her surface? He had to know. Drawing a few steps closer to the creature which was backing up under her command, he would continue on in the same voice as previous.

"If I am truly the man who killed them... Would it not be strange that you still draw breath? I mean... you were there as well, leaving witnesses to one's crimes are never a good idea, dont you think?."

The words spoken were true enough, whether she chose to believe them was up to her. Had Hiro really been the one to kill those shinobi, she would not be here discussing the matter with him today. He wondered what her reply would be, the many possibilities were exactly why he was so fascinated with the true nature of people, one could never truly know what another would do, it is always a surprise. The Masamune clansmen stood in waiting, formulating a long list of responses she could come up with in her head, and what exactly he might say to them. With every foot the horse stepped back from him, Hiro too would move that much more forward never to allow the distance between them to be altered.[/i]

[Emiko]

He was toying with me! This monster, how could he play with my mind like this? I didn't like his tone, nor did I like how coy he was. Why...? My eyes moved up and down as I examined him. He towered above me, which only added to my fear. I didn't even have any of my body guards on me, what could I do. Tears were beginning to well up in my sockets, not only was he taunting me...I couldn't find the strength to do anything. Confidence was displaye in his body langauge as he proceeded to close the gap towards me. "Please...please just...leave me alone." I hated the fact that I had to plead. Did men have no conscious, no desire to protect the innocent? Where was my hero?

That was when his words took a turn...for the interesting. "Yes...yes I Was there, I...I stood helpless." His words seemed to affect me in ways I couldn't begin to describe to you. Little visions surfaced into my mind as I recalled a shady establishment. Suddenly it was as if I could smell the scent of alcohol all over again. My bodyguards had engaged a drunken warrior. He was extremely angry with how they acted...with how I acted. I could feel my cheeks flush, though it could have perhaps been myself coming down with a fever. What I experienced, if I wasn't shaking already... The brutal killing of my men right before my own eyes was unbearable.

"No...stop, I...I don't want to talk about that. J-just let the dead be."

I'm not sure what caused me to lash out the way I did. I wanted to just forget, there was nothing I could do about the death's of my body guards. I was helpless and they were charged to defend me. At the same time, I was unsure why this mysterious enigma would accuse me of killing them. That just wasn't possible. I knew better than that, I couldn't even use my medical ninjutsu to save them, yet alone kill a warrior like K...? "K...Ku...I can't recall that murderer's name. B-but, y-you were there, weren't you. Y-you saw him...kill those men, my men. I couldn't do anything... just...leave it alone."

[Hana~Kyo]

The Masamune's attention hung carefully on every word she spoke, his excitement swayed back and forth as if he were standing on the edge of a knife. The grin had spread accordingly, now wide as he had ever known himself to smile that twisted smile of his. She really had forgotten... this was turning out to be much more fun than he had anticipated it would be- correction, this was more fun than he could have even hoped it to be. Maybe it was time to reveal his identity... no, not quite yet there was still more to pry in to before he did that; but where to start, so many ways he could carry on the conversation, so many different paths that he could take to fool with this young woman's mind... what ever would he do.

"It's never a good thing to lie... You don't really want me to leave you alone do you? If I did... You would never get the answers you want."

His words came as naturally as ever; he could not count the number of people he had toyed with using nothing but his words. Over the many years of his life he had developed a sense of self satisfaction derived solely from seeing people break, knowing that he was inside their head and every word they spoke was carefully planned to try and fight back against his strangely powerful words. There was no doubt that speech when use properly was far sharper a weapon than a sword could ever be... sword wounds heal, words can inflict far deeper wounds that forever linger in ones heart and mind.

Now would be the time for him to reveal some insight in to his identity to the young woman, his next step would require her to see more than just a hooded figure taunting her with twisted words. Hiro brought his hands up and titled his head down so that he could lower the hood back off his head to reveal a long mess of black hair that fell gracefully down his back. His tanned skin was visible from the next up and his yellow-green hues were focused on the girl with an eerie sense of confidence in them, the look on his face would be one of gentle confidence as if he knew far more than he was letting on, but his face wold reveal none of it. His orbs moved to hers and he locked her gaze while maintaining the same look and tone al the same.

"No, I do not remember anyone killing your men... What I remember is the man YOU killed, the man that met his death there in that bar by YOUR hand... It pains me to think of those he must have left behind the people who were given such tragedy... the people YOU gave such tragedy."

The former Amegakure shinobi made careful to place special attention on any words that linked her to the actions in what he said. He had stopped walking closer to her, any steps back she took would simply increase the distance between them... but could she? could she really step back from this conversation now and not look back at it in the future only to wish she had went deeper and found some answers she so obviously needed. Some where inside her there was a fighter, and even if it meant taking more drastic measure, he was determined to bring it out of her to see what she really wanted, what her real motives were.

[Emiko]

The nerve of this man to stop me on my return to grass. I was downright frustrated which only amused him more. I carefully watched the expression on his face. It wasn't hard to tell that I was putting on a good show for him. His grin had spread resulting in a wide and eerie expression. His eyes seemed lost in thought, thoughts that I wish he didn't have. Whatever he was planning, I didn't want to have any---then he spoke. What irked me the most about him was his speech pattern. He only revealed just enough to perk my interst or to rattle me, the rest was agonizing suspense. Why couldn't be straight with his answers. Perhaps he was already being straight with me...his words vibrated certain chords from within. Thus I closed my eyes, there was a darkness that had been lingering within my heart, one that I wished to dispel forever.

"C-can...he, get me the answers I seek. Am I so frightened that I don't want to be alone?" such thoughts raced through my head that my breath was nearly lost entirely. Inhaling as much oxygen as I could, I'd attempt to control my breathing and slow my heart-rate. If I didn't it felt as if it would plunge from my chest to the terrain below. In fact if my imagination wasn't soaring to the blue, blue sky above, I'd have sworn it did. His new statements send chills down my spine. I was trying to gasp for air, to gain motor function but I felt frozen in place. The only thing that was moving were my lips, but no sound came from them. I voiced to him that very moment despite the lack of audio: "I didn't...I didn't...i-it's not possible. NO!" that was when the world around me began to lose colour.

I could see the wonderful shades of green desaturating before my very eyes. If only I could see the state of my light blue hues at that moment. Many of my fans have said my occuli change colour with my emotions. So to see what sort of blue it took when I felt devoid of all emotions, that'd... be a plot twist unlike any other. The world was slipping away and all I could do was look into his own yellow-green hues, locked onto his confident gaze. "Why does he know so much...?" was all I could muse about for no sooner did my head tilt. There was a possibility that I had simply went into shock alas, I can't...tell...you...any...more
_________________________________________________

Thus Emiko seemed to pass out from the shocking words that were revealed to her. Her body felt limp, falling down towards the body of her steed. The darkness that she experienced before seemed to be seeping back and with a vengance. It covered her whole form with it's tendrils and when the girl awoke, she was barraged with memories of that very moment in time. Yes, I refer to when Emiko tapped into her own killer instincts. Cunning was the grass diva, ruthless, yes of course. Strong and capable, the list goes on. The Warrior's mind was something that she felt she could no longer grasp. Once upon a time she was driven by only the desire to seek greater opponents, to do more challenging missions, to kill! Thus she was confine to her own mind's eye, face to face with impending gates.

Behind it was a shadowy village, a world painted red and shaded with a the finest onyx. She was certainly afraid, yet in the real world her limp body would soon fall from the horse and towards the knee-high grass below least anyhing impede her fall. The darkness that built up within was threatening to invite her back into it's folds. It represented power, ambiguity, dominance! Even if common sense screamed within her ear, the invitation had finally become too strong. Soon she'd stand before the gates, her right palm clasping the steel bar. With a powerful thrust, the gate would be pushed open and she'd march inside. Curiosity had a way of providing strength to individuals whom needed it.

To throw off the world, there were several ice pillars jutting from the shadowy terrain. Each pillar was within major intersections, displaying the memory of great battles. She needed to see the truth for herself. How she easily slain her targets. Her hands were tained long ago, ever since she was a child. How could she think that she was capable of running away from fate.

[Hana~Kyo]

Ever since his ominous words had been spoke, the air felt as though it was much heavier. The weight of everything that this conversation entailed pressed hard against the two of them, everything that was stood to gain, everything that could be lost; all of it simply add to the sheer suspense of that very moment. It filled him with a feeling he had not yet had the privilege to experience something he whole heart regretted at this point because to be quite honest with himself, this was pure ecstasy. Unexplainable at best was the strange feeling of elation he gained from this very moment as he watched the woman struggle to find the effort to produce the words she so obviously wanted to speak.

What happened next was of slight surprise but understandable none the less, Hiro watched as the young woman fell to the bridle of her steed in what appeared to be a loss of consciousness. As much as it was his wish to explore further in to the depths of her mind, he knew that now he had to wait. How she reacted to this next part was what would decide how her life's course would change from his day forth... would she break down and allow her mind to be lost to the sad delusions of a young girl who only wished to live a life of peace... or would he truth of her nature become a reality, would she finally realize who she really is and what her ties to the strands of fate are.

"Very Well..."

Though he was slightly disappointed that he would have to postpone the remained of their talk; for now he would have to wait and let her battle it out on her own. Hiro moved his large body from the path of her steed and simply prop himself against the dry bark of a tree not to far to his left. While returning the hood to its place covering the majority of his face, he watched the young woman with a side-ways glance as she struggled with her own self conscious. All the while he would some what lost in his own thoughts, yet not so much that his awareness was down, he had his own share of morality issues he was forced to deal with in the past so he fully understood how hard this may be for her. All he could do now was wait and see how she truly turned out... worst case scenario he would have to kill her, though he highly wished to avoid such things.[/font]

[Emiko]

My inner world, my sanctuary where music and lies melt away...

Placing my left palm upon one of the many crystal pillars, I simply gazed into the depths of the images it portrayed. What startled me the most was the lack of human emotion in my actions. What was I thinking back then? What was I thinking even now? "A warrior lives by the blade and dies by the blade, that is their fate." A booming voice filled my eardrums, the voice of truth was echoing within me. Why did such an inescapable fate exist for those gifted in the ways of a warrior?

"Where there is conflict, there will always be battle!"

Although the words uttered were true I still felt myself frown. I didn't need to see these images anymore. I just wanted to put these incidents behind me, to become free of this cycle of life which kept it's claws on many. Moving away from the crystal pillar I continued to move along the barren streets. At first I walked but a nagging feeling was building up, paranoia was getting to me. Thus I broke out into a jog, then an all out sprint. I didn't know where I was going, the world that was inside my heart and soul was foriegn to me. In fact, if this was how I was on the inside...

"Destroy it, go ahead...destroy this world and all the darkness within."

How could I not comply to such an order? I found myself forming handseals, something I thought I had forgotten. Soon my chakra network surged with a power I hadn't felt in so long. I focused on the clashing waves within harness the water style to a degree no normal shinobi could. Soon the very air around me produced a large quantity of water. It floated around me like a possed spirit, awaiting my orders. Turning around on my heel, I'd instantly direct my arms in the direction of that omnious presence. The water soon formed into a crashing wave, seeking to push through anything in it's path. Forming some more handseals, that very water would then turn to ice.

"Look at all that power, do you remember...?"

My eyes averted to the ground below. My mind was lost in thought after I heard the question. "Yes, yes I do remember." my voice lacked confidence, it was a rather meek reply. I felt my head pounding as I was assaulted with images of all my victims. It would end in the most recent lives: Koji and Gren. I was uncertain why these men went to the lengths they did to harm me, to harm my men. Where we so wrong, so foolish that we were meant to die? Retribution truly held no bias. Neither did Justice, one day I would be slain just as my victims were. Then and only then could I pay for my sins in full.

"Until then..."

I turned my head now to face forward, there was a looming darkness. Whispy tendrils began to waiver through the air. It was a rather hypnotic dance that they performed. "What is within the darkness? Is it really as bad as the tales of my youth?" Curiosity finally kicked in, begging me to discover a truth that had been plauging my very soul. Perhaps there was more to the world than I thought. I was but a fifteen year old teenage girl, there was still much I didn't know.

"Seek power my Queen, the empathy within your soul cannot rest until JUSTICE is attained. Let me be your sword, your shield, and your trusty horse."

Thus I walked into the darkness.
______________________________________________________

Upon awaking, I found myself sprawled upon the grassy plains of Kusa no Kuni. "I...killed him, killed them...all on my own." Even before light returned to my occuli, the voice of truth filled me. I began to cough now, my cheeks were flushed, tainted with a wonderful pink. Yet the rest of epidermis felt cold. The tone lacked any color or vitality entirely. That didn't mean I wouldn't try to get up. Nothing would stop me from figuring out the answers yet I hadn't completely been honest with myself.

"I killed them in cold blood, I knew what the man did was wrong. I knew he was fighting selfishly. I was foolish to believe that he would not kill my men. Innocent men that only wished to protect me, a foolish little princess who ran away from herself. Tell me, what happens when your sword continues to point in a direction that you refuse? When your horse continues to ride even when you tell it to stop? The very scle that measures balance and fairness lopsides so that only one sides remains elevated...?"

Despite my speech, the remaining strength that I had was diminishing.

"Where is my sword? I will not have..."

[Hana~Kyo]

For what it was worth, the girl had a strange allure about her while she lay sprawled across the grassy terrain. He would not move to aid her in to a more appropriate position, that was not his job, rather he would do no more than wait... he knew what was happening as he had seen it so many times before. Minutes passed before any sign of life could be read from the woman. Finally she would stir, the first words to come out of her mouth only served to prove Hiro's train of thought correct; she had forgotten who she was... no perhaps that was not the case, she knew who she was it was more that she had forgotten what she really wanted. No fighter of that level could truly say that they no longer lusted for the battle, even Hiro a pacifist my nature had his urges. To have trained so long in search of power, how could one not want to use it.

It was not until she tried to raise herself to her feet and continue her revelations that the large man pushed himself away from the tree and made his way across the gap to her. He had known that compared to him she was rather short, but only now that he stood over her did he truly realize the difference in their stature. Standing over her would only serve to further the intimidation she may receive from him so lowered himself down to one knee and removed the hood from his head. This was the first time he had approached her so closely since he saw her in Kaminari no Kuni- his eyes were focused on her own sapphire hues and despite the fact that he still maintained the arrogantly confident look on his face, he made sure it was not a look of hostility.

"You have done well child, there are few who have the resolve to stand strong after facing the truths of their inner world where one is shown all that they truly are. A truth that many may spend their entire lives running from..."

Whether or not she was full conscious enough to understand what he was telling her was another story but that did not speak him from talking any less, the former chuunin could not help but continue on. It was an inexplicable feeling that was up on him right now, it was different than all the other people he had 'sent' to their inner world and subsequently judged; for the first time he had found a part of himself hoping that she would come out well, that he fate would not deem her unworthy. Once more fate had prevailed in his favor, he was it's messenger, and so it was good to him. Joints cracked as he pushed himself up from the ground and began to walk away from her a few steps before stopping and looking off in to the distance, opposite the direction the alluring young beauty was located.

"Fate is an interesting thing, and it is often feared because people do not understand it. Fate does not decide what shall happen to use in our lives, a scary notion that would be indeed... rather it defines who we really are, what actually happens to us is dependent solely on ourselves. I am a messenger who brings punishment down up on those who wish to run from this fate, I am the judge, the jury, and the executioner of Fate..."

He did not expect her to understand these complicated words, and perhaps she never would... but he felt that he had to tell her this, most people either believed in fate and feared it, or considered it to be a load of bull that something other than themselves decided anything for their lives. He told her this to find out which she was... which side of the spectrum would she be on... or would his hypothesizing be correct... Was she like him? did she have the strong sense of justice like him that would stand for no betrayal? He rarely thought on this fact, but it was not a very well-kept secret that his clans-men were doomed to death at an early age.

Twice had he called her by the term of 'child' but despite his appearance, the reality of the fact was that based on her appearance she was no more than a year or two different in age. He who had matured much quicker than any other normal male would, he who was but only the ripe age of sixteen yet held the tanned appearance of a full grown male. Perhaps this was why fate led him as it did, perhaps it was leading him in search of some one like this girl who fits his morals, who would understand the situation he has been placed up on by his heritage. .. heritage... the one thing he despised about fate's plan. He despised the fact that he had to endure such atrocities because of who he was born to, he was punished for faults not his own. Hiro closed his eyes and took a deep brief to shake these ridiculous thoughts before turning back to the girl and extending a hand.

"If it is answers you seek... I may very well have them, but it is not right for me to simply tell you what it is you wish to know. Rather you need to find them for yourself and I can guide you in doing so..."

This was it, the story had been told and the offer had been made. All that was left to see was how she would react to his words. Even Hiro understood who ridiculous these words must seem to some one who has no prior experience with Fate's plan but whether or not she accepted these facts was the true judge of her character that he sought. As much as he wished to not think about it, were she to deny Fate right here and now it would fall to him to bring its wrath down on her in this weakened state. Perhaps he was just being foolish, it was a bad idea to grow attached to something like this; it would only be that much harder when he had to kill her.

[Emiko]

He spoke about truth, something that I experienced first hand within my Ineer World. Even though he said that many ran from such a truth for their whole lives, the fact that I ran at all disturbed me. No, scratch that please. Was I running away from being a murderer? No, I accepted that I would have to do that when I became a kunoichi. Perhaps I didn't handle death well or handled it better than I expected. For either scenario I'm uncertain. When I lost my teammates and best friends respectively in the exams; I didn't mourn for them. Instead, I sought revenge. I sought more power, the power that I'd need to accomplish my vengenance. To think of myself as a power crazed... well I won't use such profane langauge to describe myself, you can fill in the blank there. "Is this really me." was all I could say in my mind. What startled me more was my speech and thoughts were so disconnected. I only realized such when my own words trailed off. In fact these thoughts made me feel even more disconnected from the situation at hand. At the very least, I owed the man who stared into my eyes a response.

"This truth...I accept it but I'm confused. I, I'm sure I wasn't running from it, from myself because I was a murderer. I feel like there's something else, a darkness that I can't identify that's hidden within me."

Thus my consciousness seemed to remain intact for now. Yet I could only wonder what I had rambled about previously. It stuck out in the back of my mind, I asked for my sword. "I will not have...? Not have what, my sword taken away?" I mused to myself as I felt my gaze avert from this strangers. No sooner did he seperate himself from me, taking several steps to distance himself. His attention seemed to be lost with whatever he was looking at on the horizon. As for myself, I needed to get up. Using my left palm as support I slowly eased myself up. It was as if I was doing one handed push ups. It helped as soon I could use my right hand for support. Then I would slide my leg so I could use my left knee to prop myself up further. In no time I would be kneeling and likewise panting from the struggle. My right hand moved to clasp my forehead, the burning sensation that ensued was proof that I had a fever. Thus I began to take emergency procedures in order to take care of myself. With each dance of the astral zodiac, I felt my chakra molded to my desire. Soon my right palm would become a cooling hand. The sensation that occured was wonderful.

Of course this didn't cause me to lose focus. My ears were attentively listening to the stranger's words. He spoke of fate and it's role within ones lives. The arrogance in his voice was almost stifling. Yet his words rang true, as I was lost within my own world a powerful voice called out to me. Educated me about the way of the warrior. It urged me to continue, seeking more battles. If I did not continue to seek battles, to hone my raw instinct, then this man who proclaimed himself as a judge, jury, and executioner of Fate... would take my life away. This very situation proved that I had to continue on, to move forward in my life. All of the countless victims along this path, they received eternal rest for fate seemed to have something in mind for them. In the case of Koji, it was to show me to never show mercy or compassion for those who sought to harm me. For Gren it was to remind me that there will always be those who come after my life; be thy intentions of noble causes or for selfish reasons alike. Even then there was still much that I needed to grasp about my own fate, my own destiny.

Inside my inner world, the guiding voice told me to continue to seek power for the empathy in my soul would not rest until JUSTICE was attained. It proclaimed to be my sword, my shield, and my own steed. Did that make me Queen and it my best horse? If so... why would it be willing to carry a weak and pathetic Queen such as myself. Despite the fact that I killed Koji, I didn't do it within the right mental state of mind. Not that I want to use that as an excuse, rather I accept that it wasn't my victory but rather... a victory for darkness. Had my intentions not been somewhat noble, what would that make me? "It'd make you a villain, Emiko..." The question was so obvious and rhetorical that I found myself answering it. I also realized that now I became too cold, thus I released the jutsu.

"Then answer me one question, what happens when one's power becomes the King of the innerworld and it's owner, the horse...?"

Though it was largely meant to be rhetorical, I decided to ask anyway. Hopefully it would provide him with some insight on what I was experiencing. Yet it also revealed my hidden fears. I was essentially running away from myself, from everything that life gave to me. I didn't want to be Kaishin, I didn't want to be a skilled puppeteer, nor did I want to be an skilled Chuunin. There was a whole different world outside of this animalistic one. A world filled with hopes, a world filled with dreams. That world needed to be protected, needed to be made important to all those who existed in this world. Wars only bread more wars, increasing the amount of work needed to be done by Justice.

Hmm Justice...it made me wonder if the mighty executioner of fate had just saved me...or did he just loose Justice's potential best ally. If I was only driven by instinct, used like a tool for war then my body could have embodied the true meaning of justice. As of now I was rational, conscious and potentially a liability. I could continue to grow in strength and ultimately stray from the path of good. Would he be able to come after me then, would he be able to live up to his role? What if I silenced him for good...? Oh my, was it possible that me; a sweet and innocent girl was really this selfish. I found myself subconsiously removing the white yaiba from it's sheathe. Stabing it into the grassy terrain, I'd prop myself up so that I could stand and face him. Once I found my legging, I'd withdraw the blade from the earth and swing it around by the very blade itself.

Honestly I was in a giggling fit as I realized the thought, I wasn't impervious to such simple desires. Stopping the sudden spin of the sword I held it to my neck. My eyelids narrowed as a devious smile crept upon my visage.

"There are those within this world that I cannot let down. I will not submit myself to any enemy, including myself. There's a world that I've seen and experienced with my own eyes. A world that desires to be left alone but time and time again it continues to receive injustice. I won't stand for it, perhaps my own hands were too soiled to permanently reside in such a world but it's worth fighting for. For now though...I just want...freedom. No one will ever thraten my freedom!"

Thus I chose a decision that suited myself, I had always fought for others, sung for others, drew for others, entertained others. I tasted a bit of my own desires today and it felt great.

[Hana~Kyo]

"Freedom... huh?"

The first words he had spoken during this conversation that lacked his usual sense of arrogance and confidence. Rather they were more reminiscent than anything, it was a term that until only a few years ago he had known nothing about. It was something he himself could understand, it too was his reason to fight. How long had it been since his people were able to enjoy their lives free from the control of those corrupt lords; the fact that Hiroshi had managed to escape this torturous life was at the same time a blessing and a curse. He was thankful to fate for having allowed him the chance to live his life of his own accord and not to the whim of another... but was it really right for him to enjoy such unchained freedom while his people continued to suffer back in his birth place? no it was not.

People who sought freedom only for one self were exactly the kind of people he was striving to erase from this world. Never would he cease his crusade until the world was a place where none were forced in to labor like his people are, even it mean his death sooner than nature had already planned for him he would continue to fight... perhaps this girl now somewhat understood the meaning in his 'quest', not necessarily for the same reasons as he, but that was okay. To push his own reasons on her as a reason to fight was just pure self-centered selfishness, what she needed was her own sense of morales to accomplish this and from her words now he could tell that fate was right to bring them together.

Though he knew in part that the question she was asking had some rhetorical sense to it, he had an answer none the less. Before speaking Hiro took a brief moment to himself in order to clear his mind of the thoughts her statements had brought about, it was not good for him to lose his composure at such a moment as important as the current. When the Masamune was sure that he had regained his sense he would allow himself a single deep breath before replying to the complicated question.

"Well... to be rather honest with you, on some level or another we are all slaves to our power. Even those who strive their whole lives to get strong are this way, think about it for a moment. We devote ourselves whole-heartedly, we work ourselves to the bone, and we endure pains that we would never normally even dare to stand against.. and for what exactly? The answer... is our power. It is not wrong to be in 'service' of your own power, what is wrong is to think of it as you have. What happens when the people get displeased with their king? They revolt. Even if what the king has been doing was for their own good, if they can not see it they will become more and more unhappy until finally the last straw falls. Do not view yourself as the horse... no that would be incorrect, you are the humble servant who strives only to fulfill your kings needs and in return... it shall protect you."

[/b]True as the words were, it surely was not as simple as he had made it sound. Following life merely at the whim of one's power was a dangerous notion. Times will come when following power means doing things that defy all standards to the moral code one lives their life by. The true deciding factors of conviction are made here at these points. Can one throw aside their morals only for that very moment and then take them back? Would one lose themselves forever in that conceited moment? Or would they find a different route all together to slake their lusting power. This girl was no less interesting than he had thought she would be, in fact she had proven herself even more so than his hopes had allowed. Even though her mind fought to stay away from the world that was so frightening in her eyes, her instinct still continued to pull her back... she was truly strong.

He did not fear the woman in front of him holding her sword, if she killed him or herself than that would be the way it happened. If his death could help her realize her true mission than that would be okay because he knew there would be some one to carry on his mission after he had passed. However, the blade did not pierce flesh at all it was merely a symbol for her solemn pledge. The words she spoke brought a small bit of solace to his heart; though he had told himself so many times before that it was bad to grow attached to the target in case they failed, and as much as he had told himself not to hold hope for this girl he still found himself doing just that. The fact that she had not been crushed beneath the impossible weight of the truth was what he found so relieving at that moment in time.

All this time he had been testing her, trying to see the full extent of her loyalty to Fate's plan and how well she could handle the hardships it entailed. This was nothing more than a mere pea sized taste of that which she would have to endure were she to step in to the world of hatred and suffering, but she had passed thus far. Now it was time for Hiro to answer a question of his own... what would he do with her? It was safe to see that she had been judged worthy in his eyes, and so death was not in her future; not for today at least. Many ideas ran through his mind as his piercing gazed continued to survey her up and down. Despite its difference from his thought process, he could not help but think that she was truly an alluring young woman. Had he been an ordinary person, perhaps he would have been swayed by the aesthetic pleasures that she provided.

"Powerful words you have there, but since you have asked me a question. Allow me to do the same of you... Do you honestly and truly believe that you have the strength of will to fight for freedom? I will tell you now that the hardship it entails is far beyond that which you have yet known and if you fail it will not be just yourself who you have failed. Even knowing this can you still hold true to those words?"

For the second time since their meeting, the messenger of Fate would extend his hand out in offering to the woman. Were she to take his hand, the unspoken pact would be made and she would become a new disciple of Fate whether she wished to or not. At this time she may not understand the true gravity of what she was implying with her declaration, but all would become clear in time and if she could not stand strong in the face of this new adversity, than Fate would take its toll and her death would not be far behind... Those who choose the path of fate do not have the option to turn back, they are forever pledge to walk in service of their ethereal and omnipresent guide.[/i][/font]

[Emiko]

I could feel my eyes narrow as I listened to this stranger's words. I was surprised to see he had an answer to my somewhat rhetorical question. Unfortunately the answer did not jive well with me at all. To be in service to one's power was te equivalent of becoming the horse. The only difference between the horse and the kinsman was that one had sentinence and emotions. Emotions that could spark the courage needed to rebel against the master. No, my thoughts are somewhat flawed here I must confess. The horse has instincts, it knows when it's rider is afraid and the situation is grim. During these incidents, the horse will dismount it's rider for it's own desires. Though to become the horse meant to lose dignity and humanity all in one fell swoop. To become a simple kinsman meant to follow with conscious. Was that really enough to continue seeking power, to please my own inner demons.

This very inner demon certainly sounded powerful, confident, and supportive. I was uncertain as to why it supported me when I was there. I began to wonder if this was a rouse, a simple guise so that it could continue to please itself. To have such a being within my inner world, I was uncertain of how to handle such an enemy. To fight myself was the greatest task of all. A task so great that even this man or at least I assume him to be male; would ask me that very question. Thus I sighed, closing my eyes to visualize the task at hand. Such intent, such actions, those were the words not of a hero but that of a selfish boy. Proclaiming to seek freedom for others in order to right a wrong that had been done to them. No, when I speak of freedom, I speak of the ability to seek my hearts desires. When I think of freedom, I see a world that flourishes through companionship and assistance. Yes in order to truly be free, we had to serve each other as equals.

To reflect upon true sincerity, true empathy; values which can serve as the ultimate weapon... Power was not what I needed to continue seeking. Such a path would in time turn me into a villain for absolute power corrupts completely. A power that I myself did not wish for, no matter how much my inner demons pleaded. Mmm, I could tell just by the flow of my thoughts that my resolution was evident. Thus I would answer his question in stride. My conviction would not waiver, for the answer was made clear.

"I won't be letting others down in my quest. The power that I seek is absolute, the task that I seek is righteous. So long as I'm willing, so long as my willpower keeps me up and I have the discipline to follow through. There is nothing that I can't achieve."

Thus I withdrew the blade from my neck, twas spun in a display of confidence before it was sheathed. Was my words correct? Of course they were, though I'm sure he wouldn't understand it with such a simple vow. No there was something I needed to tell him. He had just rescued me from running away from myself, now I had to share some knowledge with him. Thus I decided to approach him indicating no hostilities in my movement, closing the gap so that I could speak in a softer voice.

"Your answer to my question was interesting, yet it was also flawed. You do not work in service of your power, you let it work for you. When it comes to yourself and control of yourself, you are the King. Earlier you proclaimed to work on behalf of fate. I see that you've subjected yourself to the world and the outcomes present. How did you come to be this way? Becoming subservient to a force is equivalent to becoming subservient to an entity in this world. It controls you, casting darkness over your eyes. If you believe in freedom it should be for something more sincere. Such as the benefit for your fellow man and woman, to see them smile each day. To be with people and to share good times and bad. That is the type of freedom that I want to see, for everyone around me and for myself. If you don't see what I mean then I'll show you the meaning of selfless first hand."

With that I raised my own right hand, flashing the warmest smile that I could. If I wanted to help anyone, if I wanted to fight for freedom. I knew that I needed to start by freeing the man infront of me. I didn't know all the facts about him just yet. For that matter I didn't even know his name but something told me to help him. A voice that was unlike the one I heard in my innerworld. It felt distant in pitch, but as warm and friendly as you could imagine. I'm not a religious girl by any means but if Kami-sama existed, did I just hear his voice? That was something I needed to find out. Though it wasn't something that I would find out today, no... I could tell that my life was changing because I found the path I wanted to be on.

Were he to accept my help then there was something I wanted to do, I wanted to take him home.

[Hana~Kyo]

It was of no contestation that this woman had the resolve to carry out the will of his 'master'. One might even say that in her own strange way, she had a strength of heart that rivaled his own. Never would they let anyone dissuade them from the course they have chosen, and though their minds may wander to far off places where questions begin to pick away at the perception of reality, never would their hearts be wavered. That is what it took to carry out this never-ending quest, the strength to follow through with the heart's desire even when the mind has taken a path all of its own. Though her words were not exactly what he had been hoping for, it was indeed a start.

He could not expect to win her over that easily, nor did he really want to; things would be far too boring if she simply gave in to him as easy as that. What he really wanted to know more than anything, was where her heart would take her from this day forward. He could not force her in to a path that she did not wish to take, doing so would be defying the very thing he punished people for... as much as it pained him to think of it this way, he would simply have to hope that she took a path that he himself could believe in. Perhaps if she did, it would answer a great many questions that had lingered in his head for so long and yet he feared them more than anything. What would happen if the answer to these questions proved everything he had been doing to be a lie... no, this was a train of thought he could not afford to pursue. The off-green hues of the former-shinobi closed only for a brief moment to clear his mind before he spoke.

"I admire your strength... If only there were more with the resolve that you and I share, then the world would be such a better place. This however is not the case, and that is why I work. I strive to cleanse this foul and corrupt existence of these who lack that which is needed to claim their own 'freedom'. It is a mission I have undertaken of my own free will, and will die before I abandon it."

Already he had probed in to the mind of this young woman, he already had answered many questions that he had and he was sure that she too had found answers to a number of questions she may have held... but thus far he had told nothing himself. How could some one trust a person who kept to such secrecy? They couldn't it, the world did not work that way. If ever there was a person so trusting that they could blindly follow the words of a man they had just met who maintained a shroud of secrecy, Hiro would like to meet them. Trust was a word that Hiroshi had little taste for in the past; though he developed a sense of the word since, it was not one of his best points to say the least. The conversation had slowly began to drift his mind closer and closer to those questions that lingered there but it was not until she spoke again that he was visibly shaken.

Luckily the shadow of his hood hid the change in his facial expression as the words rang through out his head. What hit him as not the words themselves, but the memories they provoked... memories that had held him back for the longest time and only recently had he truly managed to conquer them; or so he believed. As much as his heart wanted to let go of the things he remembered, his mind would not be so accommodating... he was so sure that he had long since dispatched of these accursed memories... A past was not necessary for those who walked the path that he had chosen, only a clear conscious and the will to continue. The questions brought forth by the girl had spurred the 'lost' memories and forced him to come to the realization that he had not yet abandon his past. With as much composure as he could muster in his current state, which didn't turn out to be much he would speak his response.

"How did i become this way? Hmmm... a question that is perhaps better left unanswered. Though even if I were to bestow upon you the knowledge that answers that question... now is not the time for it."

Despite his every attempt to maintain a well-composed response, his words seemed to drift away in a strange sense of recollection. Perhaps she was not so different from Hiro; was the first thought that came to his mind. Though their methods and mentality were altered in their own unique ways... the ends that they both strived for were the same. They both wanted a world were they could live free of the people who want to harm them or force them in to things... all they wanted was a simple life where they could enjoy themselves with those they held dear... Even if Hiro did not have any to consider as such. He refused to allow himself get attached to anyone until his quest was completed. If he were to follow his mission to his death, then grief would be brought to his loved ones and that was far from his desires.

Even with his conviction, he could not help but feel himself but toyed around with in the presence of this girl. It was not something she was exactly trying to do, nor did he even suspect her to be conscious of it... but he could not help his mind linger on the 'what ifs' that involved this strangely alluring young woman. Was it really okay for him to shut out every one until he could complete his mission?... No perhaps not, maybe just this once he could make an exception. With a hand outstretched, he grasped the young woman's palm being sure to use a particular sense of ease to portray the control he had over the strength bestowed upon him by his massive body, but still to convey the resolve contained with in his grip. His other hand would rise to the brim of his hood and pull it down to reveal the tanned skin and grinning face of the Masamune.

"I am Masamune Hiroshi, Messenger of Fate and Captive to your resolve... Show me this selflessness you speak of."

[Emiko]

Upon stating my resolve to the man before me, I looked into his emerald green hues. They seemed hazy to me, lost in some thought. Wether or not he was weighing the weight of my convictin was unclear, though he no sooner gave me a response. I gained some more insight on how he saw things. He even explained his goal to me, which only puzzled me further. My mind felt as if it was an open book, waiting to be read by a prying individual. Perhaps an individual who was so trusting did indeed exist. After all, I certainly was rather trusting. I'm not sure why I'm like this, in my line of work, especially as an ANBU Black Op, trust was a fickle word and shouldn't have existed. Yet I found myself becoming such an individual when I left that world and the constant bloodshed behind. You might be wondering to yourself why such a high class Chuunin was away from Kusagakure. The answer to that was simple; I'm on leave of absence. A somewhat excused absence allowed by Yondaime Kusakage Fina Sasori himself.

Trust, it was something showed to her by the various authoritative figures in my life. From my Kusakage, to the Daimyo, and even my sensei back in Mizu no Kuni. Even now, here I found myself trusting the words of a mysterious stranger. His secracy and air of mystery didn't escape my logical side but I was still thinking with my emotions, a trait often nailed to girls, especially ones my age. Perhaps he would have an emotional side as well? His response to my next question certainly indicated so. He lacked the usual stifling arrogance this time, it actually felt good to know he wasn't so omnipotent after all. Still he decided to hide an important detail about himself away from me. You can imagine the facial expression I portratyed at that moment. My left eyebrow raised and I had a look of curiosity painted onto my visage. With each word he seemed to become distant, which had filled me with a bit more confidence I must admit. Though a sudden thought crossed my mind right there and then. "Am I really similar to him? How could a complete stranger have such similar ideals? Well, he's not exactly like me or anything that would be...awkward." I found myself musing.

My own blue optics must have strayed for a moment, thus I quickly flashed an apologetic look before resuming my smile. Soon he would take my hand as I did his own. I transformed my smile into a reassuring expression. I was hoping to confirm with him that it was okay to do this, it was okay to trust me... to open up to me. Yet I didn't even know why I was opening up to a total stranger. Part of me was used to this as a result of the various fans I had but this was a level beyond fanboyism... or so I rationalized. His grasp was strong but not to to the point where my own small and slender hands would break. Rather it was more so a grasp filled with confidence and resolve alike. His next action through me off all together. With his free hand he would pull down the hood to reveal himself once and for all. I wanted to say he was nothing like I expected but in a way, he did look the part he portrayed. A mysterious enigma dubbing himself the Messenger of Fate.

With his title he also introduced himself formally. He was a Masamune which got me thinking for a moment. I had only heard of Masamune in my days of ANBU. They were a clan of slaves, forced to do the bidding of feudal lords within the Rice Field Country. They weren't meant to be shinobi of any sort yet why was this man, a walking target so confident? I found myself confused for my knowledge told me that this man was a slave. "Did he escape captivity? Perhaps he earned his freedom? What if he was a deadly escapee?" Logic had finally caught up with my emotional side and I felt very inquisitive. Before I could ask any questions, I'd need to get him into a comfort zone. I could only hope that he was getting comfortable with me for he proclaimed that he was a captive of my resolve. I hope he wasn't attempting to mystify me with poetic words...though I found myself attracted to him. It was just fortunate for me that I already had a pink blush as a result of...hmm I never did make a diagnosis of myself. Other than the initial fever I felt, I'd need to go indoors and settle down. The fact my cheeks were burning once more was proof enough.

Even then, I'm sure I gave myself away with my stilled breath. My very breathing pattern indicating the mix bag of emotions I was feeling. Then again, maybe he'd just think I was sick, I was sick...no I'm not talking about being love sick. I don't fall in love so easily, in fact I don't think I've fallen in love at--- weeeeeeeeell I'll save that discussion for another time. For now, I'm sure he was expecting an answer from me. My lips parted to say something but I ended up saying jiberish for the first bit. I needed to calm down and keep rational levels of thought, least I pass out or say something I shouldn't. "...I guess we're travel companions now. I need to contact my home village and let them know I'm back. Although..." I couldn't help but hunch over somewhat. All the built up excitment and portrayal of resolve had weakened my form and health respectively.

"...Maybe I should get some rest, ne?"

I almost broke into a bit of a coughing fit. Removing a handkerchief from my pouch I began to cough into it. It'd subside quickly thankfully but I couldn't help but want to apologize. There was the possibility that he could catch whatever ailment I had. I also didn't appear to be my best at the moment.

"I'm sorry about my condition, I'm not sure what's gotten over me. Oh! I haven't introduced myself to you. Yamano-Kikkawa Emiko is my name. Though I'd like for you to promise not to give out my family name to anyone. So um, with that out of the way. Aokusa shouldn't be too far...I can hold out until then. Once I get there I can take it easy...for awhile."

Already I could feel myself getting lightheaded or was I just dizzy it was hard to say. I was just trying to appear as strong as I could despite the obvious fatigue. Turning to look over my left shoulder, I cooed for my horse to come over to me. Once he did I'd slump over the saddle, happy to have some sort of support to lean on. With a bit of potential rest in store, I felt my spirits lifted. Just needed to make it up to the saddle or so I kept telling myself. With each attempt I felt myself getting closer to mounting the steed. Eventually I did though and patted my horse to show my appreciation.

"Would you like a ride? It's much faster up here."

The last part I added because I didn't know how long he'd even been traveling. No doubt he did such on foot unless he had some jutsu which allowed him to fly. "No chance he can do that." I noted, hearing the sound of my own laughter internally.