The Lost Past [Private][Vedi]

[Hiruzen]

The cool, gentle breeze sweeps the county side, a few young trees provide small pools of shade among the vast green ocean of the fields near the base of the great mountains in the land of Kaminari. Known for it’s mountains, weather, and fierce lightning, many fail to mention the green fields that lie to the north of the country’s border. During late spring and summer, when the snow’s melted, the great green sea can seem to be vast and unending.

Resting beneath one of those young trees, my large light grey gourd on the ground beside where I sat, my mind drifted to the past. My life had not always been so care free and calm as it would appear here in the fields north of the Land of Lightning. Fog gathered as my day dreams turned to memories of my past and sleep took hold. Drifting among my past, locked in the depths of my sleep, I’d relive my past…


FLASHBACK!

Blood. So much blood had been spilled and yet they still gave chase. Would they not release me already? Give up and spare themselves another battle where many would more then likely fall to the already blood stained sands of Hiruzen Osaka, dubbed “The Desert Walker”. Jumping from branch to branch, often changing course to avoid any possible projectiles and keep his route unclear to his pursuers, the boy ran.

Fear was evident in his face. After holding it back, among his other emotions, he hardly cracked his stiff emotionless mask. However it was only hours ago, or was it days? Time was running together and the recent events made it a blur. Anyway, not long ago his parents had died pushing him from the village gates, bodies littered the ground, a blood soaked embrace and tears of goodbye were the last things he shared with his parents before the Sand ANBU had cut them down.

Now he fled. He had entered the country of Mizu no Kuni, or at least he believed he had. He was tired, his mask broken and feel evident, mixed with determination. He was Not going back. He’d die first and he’d go out with a bang, that was a promise. The mist that hung in the air, was heavier on the ground but still light compared to what it could be in this land. Still, he moved swiftly, but he was tiring. To be frank the young boy was already exaughsted. He’d been up for days, fighting, running, hiding, crying. There had been much lose, it had left him hollow inside. The worst part was there was more to come. That he was sure of.

He would make them pay for the lives of his parents, which they had stolen form him. His own life had been taken by Sunagakure long ago and he didn’t yet know what his own life meant to him. But he knew his parents had loved him… he didn’t understand it, but he was mad that they had died. So he ran. Their dying wish be that he live his own life out of another’s influence. For all they had given up fro him, he was determined to live out their final wish, and avenge their deaths. But one step at a time, he was still mastering his bizarre power and he had to find a way to survive his pursuers. He was too tired to fight, nearly to tired to run any further… he was running out of options.

---

OOC::
I suppose you could post an opening and I can run into you on the following post or you can spot me and call out to me. However you want to do it I’ll respond accordingly. ^ ^

[vetti vedi vicious]

They had been tired days. She could no longer count close friends lost on her hands, and death witnessed a number bleached. Innocence was now a self induced phenomena, a barrier created subconsciously after the strife became unbearable. Ironically, her natural state of ignorance and optimism was something she had broken herself, in order to work for her country at fullest potential. There was absolutely no way that the Kirino of two years ago could have made it through what she had been through. An emotional walling of reality, torn down then recreated. Any ends justified the means, the sealing off of a years worth of horrors, the bleakest time on the planet as far as Kirino was aware of in its history. Two consecutive wars, and so much pain.

Now, it was time to forgive, and more importantly, to forget.

When she had entered the tower days ago, it was barren, as if no one had entered it since the overthrowing of the shinobi rule of lands. A barren roster reflected this. Somehow, Kirino found herself promoted, and given a mission with no details, no information. With the papers in hands, she turned to her sides, an instinct that somehow survived through her turmoils. No one was there. Of course, they were dead, or had been promoted as well. Now they were working for those whom had slaughtered their kin, the families and friends that they had been raised with, had grown to love. It was sick, but perhaps the Daimyo had made the right decision. Kirino was in no position to judge. She took the job.

As her mental state reverted to what it had been before the war, so did her attire. A more traditional uniform, consisting of padding and pouches, was replaced by nothing but a white tank top and deep red track pants, with a long sleeved shirt tied around her waist. The freedom of movement this provided was a breath of fresh air. Familiar air. Somehow, Kirino was able to save herself from herself, if only barely. Memories that once tore at her night and day resided, white space taking its place. A blank, pure, fresh mind.

The mission in question took her down towards a village. Reports of suspicious activity. It was her first time traveling outside of the village without a group, or a buddy at the very least, but it didn't prove to be much of a problem. Though her mind had for the most part cleared itself of misery, subconscious survival skills remained fresh, and allowed her to proceed through the landscape without a hitch. Though most would think to simply get to their destination as quickly as possible, Kirino was more cautious, as most, even within their own territory. Still keeping a steady, good pace, she kept an equally steady eye on her surroundings, and employed a small variety of fail safe passive genjutsus, should she be attacked off guard, or to have at the ready if she saw it coming.

As the later hours of daylight came, Kirino felt a cold chill come over her. Blips appeared before her, ones that a non native of the country would not likely be able to make out in any circumstance. Moving off of the mountain side, she made her way down onto the road that ran along it, coming down from a high click to a moderate walking speed. The group came towards her, with one member of the group notably further ahead of the others. One presence drew particularly close. Kirino stopped, and stood silent, ready for whatever appeared out of the fog.

[Hiruzen]

Time was running out, and his body was beginning to tremble with fatigue. Each jump was getting harder and more forced as his body worn down. He had to stop. A path came up before him and he caught sight of… a girl ahead? He couldn’t tell through the distance and thin mist. But he focused on her, trying to make out more detail and determine if he approached another enemy or not. This would prove to be his down fall.. quiet literally.

As he moved, trying to read the women ahead, his tried legs caught up on a passing branch. A rookie mistake, but he was still young, and gravely tired and weak by this point. Beaten and bruised, Hiruzen flew forward wildly, crashing through branches and landing in a heap before the girl. He lay motionless on his side, he struggled to move even though he knew he desperately needed to get to his feet.

His heavy gourd lay next to him, holding his weakened body down. Normally it’s weight was welcome, but not now. Thoughts of his pursuers racing to catch their fallen prey stuck fear in the young broken boys heart and face as he looked up to the girl on the path. Would she be struck down for even laying eyes on him?

The thought brought up images of the unthinkable and he rolled to his stomach, struggling to his hands and knees but unable to get to his feet. He looked up, fear and pain written across his body and face as he locked freighted eyes with the girl.

Through pain he uttered the words to try to save her life…
”Rrr… run.”

Crashing through the trees was the sign his hunters were upon them, and he could not muster the strength to get to his feet. He wasn’t running out of time... his time had come.

---

[vetti vedi vicious]

Her worry appeared to have been for nothing.

Instead of an able bodied warrior, or anything even close to the sort, a battered and scarred boy fell from the treeline on her right to the path that she stood on. There was still some risk in this however; it could be a false body in place of a tag, or a real body rigged with a detonator, and so on. Taking a moment to check the surrounding area and the energies that wafted, Kirino cautiously approached the boy, ready to attack, or defend herself if need be.

It was a pathetic sight, but quite a familiar one. So many young ninja that had survived the second great war were forced to go head to head with the samurai of the third that immediately followed. In battle, there was no mercy, and this young girls and boys were chopped down as any other combatant. Kirino dared not think how many of her own age she had killed in combat, how these people could've very well been her friends under and different circumstance, how war brought the youth of their nations forward like pawns.

Fortunately, this situation didn't conjure any of these memories, as she was on her own, rather than in the middle of a massacre. Her body tensed, using a massive amount of willpower to hold back such thoughts. They were in the past, now was the time to focus on the present. Clearing her mind, it quickly became quite obvious what was happening. Noting the pace at which the boy had been traveling, Kirino deducted the small group that trailed behind was less than friendly. His words seemed to confirm this.

Swift handseals were made without a second thought, Kirino letting down her guard and approaching the boy in the same motion. Just a moment later, two large boons of energy could be sensed from the opposite direction of the two, deeper into the forest, and the boy's own signature became concealed, as Kirino's had been the whole time. Hopefully this would be enough for the time being. She needed to get the boy off of his feet and a safe distance from the others.

Kirino came to the boys side and took a knee, looking over his wounds for a moment. It looked bad, but there was little alternative.

"Let's go, okay?"

If you looked close, it'd appear she was smiling.

Gently, she turned the boy so that he was somewhat on his back, then placing an arm under is back and another just under his legs, so that they hung over it in a basic one person arm carry. The weight of the various items that seemed to hang off of the boy didn't seem to bother Kirino in the slightest as she turned towards the mountain, and launched herself forward towards it. In five successive shunshin esque leaps, she found her footing on a small plateau that was a fair fifty meters above the road below. Here, she sat lowered the boy to the rocky surface, taking off her bag and setting it under his head just after, to be used as a pillow.

"I'm sorry that I don't know any medical jutsu, or have any real medical training- You'll have to tough it out."

Her voice was tinged with a bit of regret, a sincere apology, but in the same conveyed an optimism that might have seemed out of place, considering the situation. There was no questioning, there was no demand for a return of favor, or animosity, only a sense of worry.

[Hiruzen]

After his words Hiruzens world had grown very dark and shaky. Clouded vision had left him barely able to see and his body wasn’t responding. He was aware that the girl he’d seen was at his side and soon after she was moving him. But he was unable to move or push her off and get her to run and save herself. He was at her mercy, as he feared they’d both be when his Hunters caught them.

At some point the boy blacked out. He didn’t remember how they arrived, but when he came too he was laying on rock, something moderately soft under his head. It was better then nothing but then the fear and panic set back in. He bolted upright, only to be hit with pain throughout his body as he tried to right himself and cope with the burden.

”Where…err.. am I? Who are… you? ….We hhh..have to move. They’ll be here soon.”

His words were pushed through near gritted teeth as he managed the warnings though his discomfort but eh needed to get safe, and he wouldn’t have more blood on his hands at his own expense. So he needed this girl safe as well for his conscious to rest.

The thought of his pursuers crashing in on them while he was in this state was a terrible one. He couldn’t help but imagine this young women blood-stained and himself broken and unable to save her or himself. Trying to remain upright, he fought with his body. His vision darkened and he feared he’d lose consciousness again soon. They had to get somewhere he could get some help if he had any hope of protecting either of them.

---

OOC::
Sorry for the late response! I didn’t see your response XD my fault.
I figure you can take us to the village from here and we can properly get the party rolling and the story a thumpin.

[vetti vedi vicious]

With what meager supplies she had, Kirino had began attempting to clean and bandage the simpler of the boy's wounds. Using a rag and a roll of gauze, she carefully dabbed and wiped dirt and blood away, then wrapping or taping the gauze over the cuts, abrasions, and small lesions. If they boy had broken any thing, she would have to prepare a sling or brace, a far from perfected art for Kirino. Her hands worked without vigor, impassioned. It was a bit of a bother to have to deal with this, skewing her schedule, but it was a pleasant distraction from the free flowing thoughts of travel. A blessing and a curse.

By the time she had finished, Kirino had removed the majority of the boy's clothing, and redressed him. It seemed for the most part his clothing had protected him from being cut too badly, though there were a few places where something appeared to have ripped through and gotten to his skin. For the most part, there were only bruises, which Kirino couldn't do much about for the time being. There was an ice pack in her bag, but she would wait for the boy to wake for that.

When Hiruzen finally woke, Kirino had began eating one of the energy bars that she had packed, having little else to do but wait. Thus, when the boy rose, she spit a bit out, wiping her mouth immediately thereafter, then coughing a bit, having improperly swallowed a bit in the same moment. Clearing her throat, she made her way over to the boy from the ledge of the plateau, then kneeling at his side. It seemed the boy was in a panic, clearly confused and concerned. Despite appearing to be in great pain, the boy spoke. Kirino only shook her head, smiling.

"No, no, no. You don't need to worry about them anymore."

One hand slid under his upper back, and another was set on his chest. With this she gently pushed the boy back down onto his back, then placing both hands back in her lap.

"You had quite the fall back there, yeah? Just lay down..."

Her tone was quiet, calming, and smile reassuring, as gentle as her hands. Questions clouded her mind, but she managed to hold back, knowing he was in no state to answer them. What there was to do while the boy rested was her greatest concern at this point. Opening a side pouch of the bag under the boy's head, she retrieved a canteen.

"Thirsty?"

[Hiruzen]

The words… somehow they soothed him. After a quick scan around him he realized no one was there except them, and he was able to allow her to help him back down. Hiruzen tested his hands, some bandages were tied around his body in places where he’d been cut or stabbed from the random blade he hadn’t been able to avoid. His defense was incredible, but when escaping the vengeance of Sunagakure it would be expected one would have a few scars to show for it.

As if a light bulb went off in his head he realized she must have gotten him away and bandaged him up… He looked at her, hearing her words but the realization meant so much more to him. Her voice was sweet and her offer of water made his mouth water but he could only look at her with surprise on his face. Eyes locked he spoke with the same surprise in his voice, even though his tone was low.

”You saved me… I… don’t know what to say. I’m in your debt…”

He looked up to the sky, how would he ever repay her for saving his life? What was his life worth? Until now it was only about the power he wielded. That’s all he’s ever known. Power and killing. Nothing else ever mattered. He never had the chance to know anything else… until now. He looked back to her, still laying on his back and only moving his head he spoke matter o-factly.

”May I ask who I owe my life too?”

---

[vetti vedi vicious]

"Oh, no, no, no. I don't need anyone owing me their life, I'm just helping out..."

She simply brushed off his statement, setting down her canteen. At the very least, the boy seemed much more relaxed now, laying down. His eyes followed her, wide, as if he was in shock. For all Kirino knew, that could've been the case, but she had no blankets or anything of the like to warm him with. She had done all she could, not much more that could be asked of her. His eyes diverted to the sky, and Kirino's followed. Was he looking at something? Was there a bird above them?

Of course, there wasn't, but that didn't stop her from checking.

"Oh, you're too kind! Ha~ My name is Goto. Kirino Goto. Pleased to meet you- I think. If you were running from those men because you killed someone, you better tell me now!"

Her tone was still light, joking, but she did legitimately hope if the boy had done something wrong, he would admit to it. She certainly didn't plan on doing any "background checks." So far, Kirino had gotten fairly far in life just generally trusting people that seemed legitimately trustworthy, and Kirino hadn't been around the boy long enough to make such a judgement. However, most kids around his age were still impressionable, so even if he had some negative influence or mantra, it could be... adjusted, if push came to shove. That was the approach she believed in, at least.

She realized the boy had never answered her question properly.

"So, do you want the water..?"

[Hiruzen]

Kirino Goto. She had saved him and helped him escape capture and possible death, or worse. He could have been forced to return to his old life. She had already done more then almost anyone else had ever done for him, and her compassion for not leaving him to die would not go unnoticed, or unpaid. He spoke in a low, almost absent minded tone after her.

”No, thank you but I’ll be fine… I’m Hiruzen Osaka..”

His voice trained off as his thoughts kicked up. His instincts were already screaming at him. Never divulge true information about yourself was one of the first things he’d been drilled to do when he became a weapon… a shinobi. Yet here he was, already being honest with Kirino. Hell, he saved his life. He’d be no one if not for her. She had saved his life and he now owed it to her so the least he could do was be honest with her. After all, for doing what she had done, she could be bringing the full force of what was coming fro him, onto herself so she better at least know what she was getting into. She deserved that much at the very least.

”I actually… did. Not just one but to many. If it’s any help easing your mind it wasn’t in my control. I was forced to. And then In their desperation to free me… My parents helped me escape from that life.”

He stared to the sky in silence, flashes of the resent past flooding his vision. His parents desperate pleas for him to run and get away, to live like he never could here with them. The blood flying falling to the ground, and his blood soaked sand swilling in defiance and acting as an extension of himself, killing at his command as he had killed for the command of the Sand…

He hadn’t realized it but a single tear had fallen from his eye, and was making it’s way down his cheek. He tilted his head to the side to look at his savior. She had a right to know.

”I’m a deserter. I abandoned The Hidden Sand. They wanted me to be their weapon and nothing more. I chose humanity… or at least… it’s what my family chose for me. So if you run now and leave me here, I’d understand.”

While he would repay her for his life, he’d understand if she didn’t want to associate or even stay near a fugitive that had a bloodly past that was ever more resent then anyone would normally like. But after what she had done, it was more then he could ask of anyone. If he didn’t even know what made his life worth saving how could he ask anyone else to risk their own for him? The choice of what to do was now hers.

---

[vetti vedi vicious]

"Pleased to meet you, Hiruzen."

Her words came with a nod, acknowledging. The boy appeared to be quite conflicted, holding back. This is what Kirino had been afraid of. However, the boy's conflicted was actually somewhat reassuring on second thought. If he had actually killed someone, or something similar, why would he admit to it, unless he was being honest? There was a variety of logic that could lead and aggressor to use that as a tactic, but Kirino did not see any of them in this boy, so she listened, instead.

And she had thought her village was rough at times. The boy described being a situation that had some heavy implications, all of which Kirino understood. A weapon, born and raised to kill, with little choice, forced away from his parents. What a life. Chances were at the boy's younger age, he still had seen and experienced far more horrors than Kirino. A hand extended out towards the boy, and brushed against his face, wiping away the tear that had fallen, clearing dirt on its way down. He then continued.

"No, that- I'm not going to leave you, Hiruzen, don't worry."

She couldn't help herself. Maybe it was some motherly instinct, or something similar. Her defenses were still up, and she was prepared for nearly any sort of sudden attack, but that was all passive, nearly subconscious. In the moment, all she could do was feel for the boy, and allow him time to heal under her protection.

"We'll take our time here. You can rest."