The Grey Eulogy [O][DE]

[chiatsuki]

At a crossroad of conflict I found myself observing. . . . vacantly viewing the world around me as a whole as if it had anything to do with my insecurities. I stood with arms folded, metallic eyes beneath eyebrows quirked, onto the setting sun. . wondering what exactly it meant to be unstoppable. After having beat Hirozuni in a sword fight I had thought of myself as unstoppable, but only because I saw him as unbeatable.

‘So it would be safe to say we are only unstoppable in the eyes of others. . but to be truly unstoppable. . what does this mean?’

I stood with arms folded upon a wooden bar stool, one I’d stolen from the ramen bar, within a open field watching the sun set as I searched for an answer.

[Iizuka]

I had no destination as I wandered over the plains and rolling hills of Kusa no Kuni. The endless grass fields that covered this country never seemed to change as I dragged on for what seemed an eternity. My gaze was cast off into the distance, staring at nothing in particular. I was lost deep in thought, almost unaware of that which was going on around me. Anger and frustration overcame me.

I had been powerful once. I'd been regarded as strong, or at least having the capability to be such. But now, after the Great War, I could barely compete with the new era of shinobi. A wave of intensely powerful ninja came one after the other, and soon I found myself left behind. Then again, what else could I expect? I came from a village that could barely withstand the test of time. It was a miracle that I had survived at all.

With no people to call family and no place to call my home, who was I? What purpose did I serve? I was nothing and it seemed that that was all I would ever be. What the hell was I doing here anyway? Endless questions plagued my mind before suddenly I caught onto the change in scenery.

One man upon a stool, seated in the center of my view midst the grassy plains.

[chiatsuki]

Aye- and as I sat upon that stool covered in a plethora of wallowing thoughts my eyes too would meet with that of a stranger who seemed to be aimlessly searching for something... just as I was. I could tell that he was not from these parts. Whether or not this man was here to cause trouble was unbeknownst to me- and although I seldom cared for the affairs of the nation of kusagakure I’d found myself shifting my attention to him as if I was truly worried.

Nah, that wasn’t it. I was just surprised that someone had found my sanguine hideout.

“. . . .”

I wasn’t the pillar of authority around here, I was simply a man who lived by the sword. . and so was the reason for my nonchalant attitude to the man as he touched a distance of twenty meters ahead of my sitting position. I simply stared; metallic hues edging nearer to the figure with a stoic expression.

[Iizuka]

I froze in place as it fully registered just what was before me. In an empty field with nothing else in sight there was one man. His form sat motionless upon the chair, and as I examined him my eyes came to meet his, locking with the silver gaze of this unknown being. This was the only movement he made, turning his attention towards myself. His eyes stayed upon me, and the silence of the situation was beginning to make me uncomfortable.

He said nothing, only holding constant his metallic gaze. I half expected my death to suddenly rain from above or below, for I was the intruder of this land. Yet all he did was stare, forever examining me, it would seem, unless I made the first move. I could see that he did not feel threatened by my presence, but perhaps that had to do with my own nonthreatening appearance. Nervously I would take up my former pace, advancing another ten meters before I stopped again. Having no idea what to say, or even if there was need to say it, I managed to blurt out one sentence.

"I don't mean to intrude on your land, I am just passing through."

[chiatsuki]

His voice was alarming; like that of two clashing swords as he awoke me from my living slumber- more popularly known as daydreaming. I’m sure my presence was more than alarming to this man and yet he seemed to think of me as a person of importance – I was humored. If he had known any better he would have simply turned around at the sight of me. . but I couldn’t punish a man whom simply didn’t know now could I?

‘What’s he here for..?’

“You’re not disturbing me- and needless to say, I’m not the only man capable of walking this path. . but there is a choice, you see..”

At the point of my halt in speech I would attempt to stand- bringing my bum to slide off the chair so that my feet could meet with the earth. My right hand had always taken a liking to staying on the edge of my hilt- and I’d grown pretty attached to keeping it there. It wasn’t necessarily a motion I’d used to warn a shinobi of danger. . it was more-so a gesture used to ensure my own safety.

“This place could be your new home. Your training ground. Why… it could even be just a place to sit down and enjoy the view. .”

I’d say, halting once more in my contort in order to lazily analyze the movements of this newcomer in preparation for the last few words. . .

“… or it could be your grave.. The names Hitoshii, Sokushii- of the funikumi clan, nice to meet you . . . ?”

[Iizuka]

Although his gaze seemed to be fixed on me, it would appear as though my own presence had done nothing to disturb him. Rather, my voice was what woke him from his slumber, and I began to wonder if I had just made a grave mistake in addressing him. He responded, and his words reminded me of the old hag that had summoned me to these lands in the first place. Just like the woman he spoke as though he knew what path was before me, and the last prophecy entailing myself didn't exactly turn out as expected.

Yet as he stood, the choice he spoke of was perhaps his choice. That is, of course, on whether or not I lived, for as he rose his right hand drifted to the hilt of the blade that rest on his hip. And although this was not meant to be an aggressive sign, it was still one that concerned me. My eyes turned nervously towards his hand, and my own insects would begin to stir restlessly within. They had often had premonitions about danger, and as much as I trusted them I knew that these also weren't always accurate. I remained calm.

The calm, however, would soon be interrupted by the two choices I was presented with. Essentially, life or death. I nervously stepped back, but something kept me from retreating entirely. This land... as my home? As a place to train? To become stronger? Perhaps I was simply deluded by my prior thoughts, but it was almost as if he knew what I had been feeling... What I was feeling.

Hitoshi, Sokushii. The name rang a million times within my thoughts, for reasons unbeknownst to myself. I'd quickly bow, rather to show respect in general than to show respect as my superior. Upon rising I, too, presented myself.

"I'd like to avoid the grave as long as possible. Aburame, Iizuka- simply of Taki no Kuni. The pleasure is all mine."[/b]

[chiatsuki]

It took me by surprise- the whole respectful bow thing. Had I become such a monster that I forgot how to formally greet a guest? How foolish of me. As he’d bow I’d allow myself to do the same- bringing my right hand off of my blade in order to meet with the center of my left as my back leaned forward. Between us a synchronous fate had just unfolded, unknown to us both, but. . how would we play our parts?

"I'd like to avoid the grave as long as possible. Aburame, Iizuka- simply of Taki no Kuni. The
pleasure is all mine."

“As would- !!”

The words taki no kuni melted from his mouth slowly as if he’d begun to place me in a hypnosis. Could it be? ‘I could have sworn the village had been in ruins by now. .’- I’d say to myself as I quizzically leered at the man before me in question to his motives. Could it be he had been on the same journey as me? To reunite the minor nations… – if so he had gotten a head start.

“Taki-no-sato huh? The land of waterfall. . . so. . what brings you out this far brother?”

[Iizuka]

I was just as surprised by his bow as he was by mine, although for different reasons. The stoic nature that the man seemed to present barely hinted towards mannerisms, not that it would have mattered had he not returned the bow. I do these things out of formality, and as such I care little for their worth or significance. However, this particular exchange moved me in some way, as if I'd just unknowingly begun the next phase in my adventure.

As I spoke the name of my homeland seemed to strike him, and although subtle I caught onto the look he gave me. Of it's meaning, I was unaware. I could only hope that it wasn't a bad omen, a sign that I had already brought hostility to this place. Though from his words it seemed as though I had actually garnered more respect, but from me there was only a depressing silence. My eyes lowered for a moment, lost in reflection of what had been.

"... I'm looking for my home. After the war, everything changed... I've not yet returned." I looked back up, forcing a smile to my lips, despite the sadness of my lost country. "And you? Is this your home, or are you a traveller?"

[chiatsuki]

A moment of pristine energy enveloped the air around us as we stood in silence at query to each others’ words. Had socializing with shinobi of the minor nation always been this easy-a-task? The answer lied within our pasts- we were all inclined to cling towards shinobi of the smaller villages because we had all been through the same war against the major nations. My memory of the village whereabouts was blurred. . but I knew that the village was relatively close.

"... I'm looking for my home. After the war, everything changed... I've not yet returned."

He was absolutely right- everything had changed. . yet whether or not it was for better or for worse would be something unknown to us both. We could only hope that each others motives was as righteous as the other. . . and with that trust we would have the power of forming an alliance like no other.

"And you? Is this your home, or are you a traveller?"

“Yes. I too was like you once, wallowing in the aftermath of the battlegrounds of war in search for my home. It was only weeks ago that I found it back. “

With a few moments I would allow a silence to distance us both- I couldn’t help but remember the moment I’d stepped upon that cliff- breathing in the air of kusa no sato for my first time in seven years- this shinobi too must have longed for that very same feeling, and what type of shinobi would I be not help him?

“Let me help you find the land of waterfall. I remember its beauty many years ago- maybe we can find it together”

[Iizuka]

OOC: Sorry about the wait, had school shiz to do. I'm good to post now.

IC:

The ease of the conversation relaxed my muscles, converting my tension into comfort with the situation. For some reason I felt safe, and although I knew almost nothing about the man before me I was at ease in his presence. Perhaps it was due to the war and the peace that had seemingly come over the lands. The peace, however, seemed as though it would soon be fading, as foretold by the recent past events. The Yonbi had left scars in this land, scars that would not heal so easily.

What became of that creature I would possibly never know, but I knew that where there was one, there would be more. These beasts of legend had returned and so the only thing we could do to combat such forces would be to band together as one. But the greater nations were stubborn and arrogant, but I, too, knew of the minor nations weakness. Alone, we are nothing, but together we are strong. And I could only hope that ties would be formed between the nations as they were forming between us now.

Suddenly his words brought me back to reality, and to my surprise it was a pleasing reality indeed, given the circumstances of my situation. Only weeks ago this man had stumbled upon his own nation, so was there still hope for Taki? Could my home and my people still exist, despite the aftermath of the war? Or was it a hopeless dream, and Kusa had merely been lucky to survive? After all, I had woken up after the Great Flash in the barren ruins of a former village in Tsuchi no Kuni. A powerful nation such as them suffered such damage, so what could Taki have done in the face of utter destruction?

It had been so long since I had set foot in my homeland. The war had distanced me from my people and had killed my friends. I had yet to see a single shinobi that hailed from the same village as myself. It pained me to think that perhaps I was the only one left; the sole survivor. But I held onto hope, and the man before me reinforced that tiny inkling of hope, and now as he spoke, was apparently offering to help guide it. My face lit up at his proposition. His offer was extremely kind, albeit slightly suspicious.

I now found that the smile came easily whereas only moments ago I struggled to find happiness. To think that even in these times of reconstruction a shinobi of another village would extend his hand not as an enemy but as an ally. I nodded slowly, the grin still wide upon my lips. "Th-thank you... I would be forever in your debt." Not knowing what else to do I bowed once more, showing my appreciation for that which he had offered me; a chance to return home.

[Iizuka]

The other shinobi, seemingly mute and paralyzed, ceased to respond. In confusion I looked upon him, unaware of what had happened or what had sparked such peculiar behavior. Minutes passed as I awaited a response in any form, but he did not move save for the movement of his chest when breathing. Slowly I turned away, shrugging off the disappointment that had come with his failure to fulfill his proposition. I walked off, away from this man and into the distant horizon of Kusa no Kuni.

[ Exit ]

[KEITH]

+35 - soh
+42 - zuka