The Whispering Bridge [Team | P]

[Aedemi]

❁ ❁ ❁

In the midst of this flooded marsh there was a bridge that connected two strips of land -- everywhere else was cloaked in a thick and murky blanket of fog. It was said that if one stood on it for a while, they would be able to hear the whispers of spirits burdened with regrets as the wind howled. Indeed, the appearance of the place -- especially at night -- was enough to send chills to even the most courageous of folks. Sure, this was merely a children's gruesome tale, a simple story created to provide excitement and fun to their otherwise simple lives, but even this knowledge did not comfort Aedemi.

The kunoichi stood right before the infamous Whispering Bridge with a frightened look in her childish eyes. The old bridge appeared as though it would collapse any second as it would sway back and forth with even the smallest of breezes. She jumped a little upon hearing a noise behind her. Oh -- it was only a toad. But the trees, they imitated the shadows of men and for a second she thought of the lurking evil spirits the village children would talk about. She shook her head. No, no such things exist.

All of this despite the fact that their little stories, told at night, made her lose a bit of sleep. Not surprising since the stories were quite violent and horrible for having come out of a kid's mouth. Still, she was too proud to admit it affected her. She was a ninja, after all, and ninja should not become terrified of such things. It was stupid. Childish. She crossed her arms defiantly as she took her seat on the bridge. She wasn't about to let these little kids beat her on this bet.

This was part of a dare. She was to stay there, on the haunted bridge for the entire night. A simple task, no? It seemed like it for the time being, but then, alerted by a noise across from her -- the squeak of the swaying bridge -- her heart skipped a beat. She immediately stood up and assumed a defensive stance. Great... she thought, cursing herself silently. All of this was messing with her head. She wished with all her might that she weren't so stupid to take a child's dare. But, despite her growing fear, she was determined to fend for herself and take action if needed.

"Whoever is out there -- be careful! I am a mist shinobi and I will defend myself!"

She wasn't sure if the noises were caused by an animal or from a person but deep inside she hoped whatever it was, it was friendly.

[ustez]

Unbeknownst to her, a dark figure was observing closely from the plant life nearby. The Kouba was watching this newcomer intently, his mid-chest up extending from a particularly large branch on a nearby tree. The massive flytrap surrounding him helped to blend him into the fauna nearby, and his black cloak covered from neck down. Passive green eyes watched her curiously, wondering what exactly she was doing here. This place was often abandoned, aside from the odd daredevil. Wondering idly if he'd have to frighten her away from his favorite haunt, he noticed her headband. A fellow ninja, it seemed. His eyes roamed her body, his photographic memory filing away every detail.

As the kunoichi approached the bridge, her fear was obvious. At the challenge for them show themselves, Ko padded out through the heavy mist. The massive black-and-white wolf stared impassively at the female ninja, both man and beast monsters merely watching for the moment. With a peculiar sound, the Kouba melted into the bark in mere seconds. On the nearest visible strip of land, he'd reappear slowly. A large flytrap would be seen rising slowly, before an uneven mop of hair and impassive green eyes joined it. Continuing to rise, he paused as his headband came into view, shortly below his neck.

[ThunderBacon ~Ancrath~]

The genin hums silently as he is walking back to home after his light training. Brr! He shook off once he felt a chilling breeze is blowing against his small body, his black zipper hood is the only thing is barely keeping himself warm. Ugh! I should be at home by now instead wasting my time outside... He muttered. Despite all creepy rumors about that abandoned bridge, it still stood as the shortest route to his home. He rather to be at home even if his shit will be scared instead catching a cold. He thought up of a good reason.

As he reach to that bridge, he froze when a voice was heard... He only caught the last part, something about "I will defend myself". It came from that bridge, his dimming jade eyes darts everywhere, attempting to find a familiar shape... A human-like shape but the mist is too heavy to be seen through plus it is evening now. Suppose it was just an idiot that tried to be all-star by doing a dare but went close enough to wet himself or herself. Ancrath admitted that this place is quite spooky. The fear disappears quickly as the boy just thought up of a beautiful opportunity... Yes a sinister one. He finally continued his pace toward but this time more slowly. His eyes are peeled off now to find that person. After took several paces. His wide-open eyes finally found that familiar shape, it is a female judged by its figure It's Showtime. He chuckled softly, then bolted off toward that female. As he is running, he performed necessary handseals then located where he want to have it appear... Next to that girl. He snapped his left hand. A spark appears next to that girl, Boo! Ancrath roared as he screeched his shoes against those wooden planks.

Setsuna Hibana(Instant Spark)
Rank: E
Skill: Ninjutsu
Effect: Creates a spark instantaneously at said target location
Special: Ox
Drawback: --
Description: The user focuses chakra at a certain point on the target and creates a small amount of friction in the air, sparking the area. This can be done almost instantaneously, but causes almost zero damage due to the small nature of the spark. It cannot cause paralysis or blindness, nor any other sort of damage. Usually a prank children use on each other like a game of tag, but with sparks for a small kick.

[Aedemi]

Aedemi was about to gasp as she saw moving shadows around her, and one eventually emerging from the earth. She was so absorbed in trying to determine the exact figure in the midst of so much fog so she flipped her head around in surprise when she heard sounds coming from a different direction. They were quick footsteps. Aware of the presence of at least one person, and some other unknown person or thing -- maybe even things -- around her, she directed most of her attention to that which was approaching her, running. Instinctively, she ran towards the sound, her first reaction to attack first if someone approached her despite her warning, and with a single kunai in hand she had equipped for this dare she lunged toward the figure. The closer she would get to him, the easier it was to see he was only a boy, the same age as she.

Crap. She stopped her weapon in mid-air, far too close to harming the boy for comfort. She was enraged.

Seeing as the boy was also a fellow mist ninja, she lowered her kunai, but with much attitude. "What the hell are you thinking?! I said to be careful -- meaning I will attack you if you come closer. The least you could do is make a proper announcement before scaring the crap out of me! Who are you?" She was practically screaming out of her annoyance. All the while, however, the other shadowy figures were in the back of her mind. She would have to investigate those closely later. Now, she had to get some answers from this boy.

[ThunderBacon ~Ancrath~]

[Ooc: Sorry x.x for my slow pace]

Whoa! Ancrath leaned backward and lifted his hands in the air immediately once that female came out oF the heavy mist, holding a kunai toward him. That kunai was only inches away from penetrating his flesh but it stopped. He sighed deeply and relieved that he shall live another day but soon... Another problem appears that female are screaming at him now. The genin took a few steps backward -- covering his face with his hands in the fear of getting hit. Oh crap, she just got raged. He cursed with a disappointing frown.

After the screams had faded away, he turned his attention to that girl, he was surprised that she did not hit him at all. He began to scratch his head. Haha? Come on it was just for hum-- I'm sorry. He apologized. Then he lifted his left hand forward, It is Ancrath but you can call me Anc and what is your? He chuckled weakly.

[Aedemi]

[ooc: it's fine haha]

Aedemi glowered at the boy, still upset at what just happened. Her heart was still racing. Nevertheless, she let herself calm down and her flaring temper began to waver a bit. This boy lifted his left hand forward, and Aedemi looked at him, puzzled.

He introduced himself as Ancrath, or Anc for short. She was scrutinizing him for a brief moment before finally -- awkwardly -- responding by raising her left hand slowly to shake his, a more friendly greeting. Ironic given that a few moments earlier she was about to kill him. Of course, that she did not ever want to do. Killing was an unfavorable action for the young girl, but she knew that she would have to do what she needed as a Mist shinobi. Fortunately, they revealed each other on more friendly terms and things had not turned for the worst, so being more at ease now, Aedemi changed her expression from an aggressive one to that which the cocky child would almost always assume. She seemed arrogant, childish, emanating the air of someone who felt was better than everyone else, and she quite accordingly introduced herself:

"The name is Aedemi Kokirue, shinobi of the mist. Now, don't think you can get off that easy. What the heck were you doing out here?" she asked, her hands on her hips, looking more intimidating. She turned her head a little to the side as she waited for his response, trying to see the shadows behind her, but never leaving the kid off her sight.

[ustez]

The Kouba recoiled at the sound of the other ninja thundering forward. He retreated further into the ground, watching the following prodceedings with the silence characteristic of their kind. Both ninja were logged instantly into his mind, no detail escaping his probing eyes. The two introduced themselves to each other, while the large wolf and man watched closely. Finally rising fully from the earth, he towered over both of them easily, peering down at them both quietly. His eyes had an odd, glow-like feature, and they peered out from behind the flytrap that covered his body. The wolf flickered, appearing swiftly at his side within a mere moment, and it too nearly reached over the shinobi.

The two sides of both warred internally for a moment, debating the best course of action. Settling for the lighter half, a small, whispering tone reached them, the tone of it light and certainly befitting his slightly unsettling appearance.

"Hello!" A hand raised, waving lightly, and teeth flashed out at them in a smile. "Atsuko at your service!" The voice was slightly high-pitched, and should they peer closely, they'd see the smile only extended the white side of his body. Awaiting their answer, he seemed to shrink an inch, preparing to run if they reacted violently.

[ThunderBacon ~Ancrath~]

Hanging his hand out, waiting for her respond. Ancrath noticed that girl seems to feel awkward a little along with anger since she nearly killed her own fellow nina recently.. Indeed.. A quite overreaction she had made... Ancrath thought, finally her left hand slowly shook his hand, she introduced her name, Aedemi and asked that why is he here. Ancrath stuffed his black skinny jeans' pockets What? Oh I was training recently then I just walked here toward my home but bumped into you instead. He shurgged. The icy breeze is blowing again against them, this time it got colder. Ugh it is cold outside... He spoken as he shivers.

All of a sudden... They were not alone, a voice-- high-pitch one popped out. He leaned his head left to see what is there behind Aedemi. It was a some kind of a plant-like creature. Another mist ninja, he can tell by spotting his headband hanging around his neck, the same way Ancrath is wearing his. A enormous white and black dog or probably wolf was following that odd ninja, Ancrath guessed it was his pet. Yo! Hi there he greeted with a wave.

[Aedemi]

Aedemi whipped her head around upon hearing the movements behind her, and finally a voice. It was unsettling, this voice, as it seemed very out of place in such a dreadful night. And not to mention its owner; She wasn't able to see, but she deduced from the noises he had made earlier and his seeming appearance from nowhere that he could only have crept from the ground. And his shadow revealed something around his body. He was encased in something -- she just could not tell what. It was indeed very strange.

Of course Aedemi treated him with much suspicion. Maybe on a different situation she would be very trusting and perhaps much friendlier, but this was different. Here, she was standing on a bridge known for being the location of many murders and deaths and violence and whatever those stupid kids said to make her feel very edgy, so indeed, she was very tense. Fear and suspicion overpowered her -- well, maybe that was an exaggeration. She was mostly just skeptical of these people. Much less so for Anc as he did not keep himself hidden. But, even more so for this Atsuko who had been watching from afar and waiting until this moment to come out.

Maybe she was just getting paranoid. Maybe it was the jitters she was getting from being on the stupid bridge. She didn't know. But she knew she had to be on her toes when dealing with this other stranger. She would prefer to see that this is a well-intentioned person and perhaps, not a bloodthirsty soul in the middle of this cold and dark night.

Nevertheless, returning the pleasantries would not make any difference if she were to be forced to face this guy in battle, so she decided to go on ahead and acknowledge his presence. A friendly hello would seem rather inappropriate, so she simply nodded and got down to business. She was very curious to see what this Atsuko had to say about observing her for this much time. She had, after all, sensed his presence earlier. Had she not been watched from a rather strange setting as this and instead watched from her usual training spot in the light of day, perhaps things would have been different. Her hostilities would have been replaced with much curiosity -- much like that of a child's -- and not one required by a ninja of one who could be a potential enemy.

"Atsuko, huh?" she turned to look at the rather big wolf as she spoke, returning her gaze upon the tall mist nin. "What were you doing out here not saying anything? Why were you hiding?" Her usually childish face was now marked in a more mature frown, measuring the features of this stranger's face carefully, which she was now beginning to see more clearly. She was unsure of this person's intentions, and she needed more information.

[ustez]

"Atsuko, huh?".. "What were you doing out here not saying anything? Why were you hiding?"

A low hiss escaped Atsuko, an unrestrained hiss from the black half of both wolf and man. Their dislike of conversation, and indeed other people, was quite obvious. Despite this, the cheery voice continued. "What're you doing out here? Not a place for little ninja to be playing."

From the looks of them, they were around his age, perhaps over. Fearful, for ninja. Stepping forward, closing the distance with a soft sliding motion of his cloak over the dirt, he loomed over them. Head tilted curiously, staring down at Aedemi. The other ninja had greeted him awhile ago, but he was of no interest. No fun in attempting to scare those who are stupidly brave. As he drew close, they'd be able to make out the flytrap that covered him. It held a few odd scratches, similar to the mark made by fingernails, and was a dull green color.

The distorted half-smile was still visible on half of his face, the cheery voice once more bounced around the fog. "I wasn't hiding. I live in the trees of course." This sentence was of course more literal then they could imagine. Melding with a tree was one of the safer methods of sleep he possessed, especially if he used a well-done Henge Technique.

She was defensive, perhaps thinking him the monster rumored to lurk this bridge. The thought brought a small, dark chuckle to him, the sound sudden and unexpected.

"Pleasure, Aedemi Kokirue."

[Aedemi]

Her appearance grew more hostile as her suspicions rose. An unpleasant hiss emerged from Atsuko and his lupine companion, which startled her and caused her to tense up. She was very ready to defend herself if need be, for she was very uneasy and terrified of the dangers that may lurk here in this dreaded night. To make things worse, his next words aroused her hostility; she took offense to the way he uttered them.

"What're you doing out here? Not a place for little ninja to be playing."

She was infuriated, but she fought hard to keep herself from screaming at him. Little? Playing?! I am not a kid, and I am not playing! Nevertheless, she knew she had to keep her cool and control herself and so she did. After all, now was not the time to quarrel like a little kid, which -- as much as she hated to accept the fact -- she was.

She swallowed her words, her face red with boiling childish anger. Thankfully, the darkness of the night and the ever-present mist would not allow the three ninja to see her facial colors so clearly. But the tall stranger would loom over her, scrutinizing her. As he looked at her intently, she looked at him back. She was able to see just how strange, indeed, he was. And that thing...that thing around him. It caught her attention from the beginning but now she was finally able to see it more clearly. Well, that thing turned out to be...a flytrap. Yes, a flytrap. Now she was truly puzzled as she could not begin to categorize what this person was. She had never seen anything like him. And his face was actually two different halves -- one black, the other white. And his way of being...she could not describe it. He was acting very friendly with his sing-song voice...but that hiss. It had startled her.

And then he would speak. He claimed to not be hiding and that he, in fact, lived among the trees. As if none of this is absurd enough... Aedemi thought to herself, growing more skeptical by the second. She wasn't sure if Atsuko took her for a fool or not, and of course, she was quick to assume the worst. But after careful consideration, and, judging by the flytrap that covered his body, she concluded that perhaps he was telling the truth. Maybe he was different, after all. Besides, she had learned not too long ago that there were different kinds of people -- people she would have never dream of having existed. The world would still constantly surprise her, no matter how much she thought she knew. So, she learned to accept things. Despite all this, however, she was still on her toes, and she was still distrusting of these two new acquaintances. She had this strange feeling from Atsuko. Something about his ways alerted her. It was not because of the legend of the bridge, no. It was because of the way his chirping voice would be juxtaposed with a cruel a setting as this -- and how the light from one side of his face would contrast with the darkness of the other. One face would beam as the other remained unsmiling.

And suddenly, he chuckled. Aedemi would jump, shocked at the suddenness of it all. She glared at him, wondering what was so funny.

"Pleasure, Aedemi Kokirue."

Wish I could say the same about you, she thought as she nodded once more in acknowledgment. Instead, she muttered unconvincingly, the skepticism visible in her eyes, "No...the pleasure is all mine."

[ustez]

[exit]

[Aedemi]

[exit]