– definitive. [o]

[chiatsuki]

I had found myself home.. finally, after all of these years. With ease my body moved across the tree, awaking all of what laid rest within them. My footsteps would end at the top of a plateau, an old checkpoint for the many of battles which took place in kusa no sato. I would stand upon the very edge – the way the wind swept across one’s figure as they stood atop a cliff was exhilarating – it reminded me of why I had missed this place so much.

My eyes would bow before the rays of the moon as I inhaled the scent of my home in remembrance of what it used to be. What little beauty I’d found in being here would fade away as my stomach twisted and turned to the thought of my past. Beneath my eyelids, metallic hues would lean to the side as my eyebrows quirked; the aftermath of it all had left me this way and all hope of me ever returning to normal seemed about as empty as the night sky –

Like a greeting I would awaken my eyes once more to meet with the dark blanket of the night. It seemed that this was the only time in which I had true peace – for in society I was an entirely different being. I couldn’t blame myself for the way I’d turned out, or maybe I could have. . yet I knew it true to be my father. . he was the sole purpose of the machine I had made myself to this very day –

The bastard.. he had to leave me when I needed him most. He’d pushed me hard, harder than any of my other brothers, but what was it in preparation for? His last words unveiled his plan to unite the lower nations by forming pacts with the clans within them – but he never told me how to accomplish such a task, people didn’t openly fall into ranks with an enemy clan.. especially the funikumi.. so what was I going to do? What type of man would I be to kneel forth to my enemies?

[chiatsuki]

The stars resembled the bodies of my enemies, countless – laid upon the battlefield. As I turned to look over my shoulder I would be reminded of those battles as I caught sight of a few skeleton remains. The armor of the former village attire still covered the withering bones as if to assert the undying will of the major nations. My raven hairs would cowl over my face as I looked down the edge of the plateau; contemplating whether or not to commit the act of seppuku. My right leg would slide behind the left I attempted to head back home into the funikumi compound.

sfxx!!

I could smell the fear within my trackers. The ones hunting me were none other than kusagakure no sato’s rival clans. I had heard rumor of a new clan walking the streets, taking aim to whatever they pleased. My feet would curve to the right as I pivoted my body to turn to meet whatever it was watching me.

“Show yourself. . . – ”

A slight grudge would exit my throat, dissolving what little fear I had for the unknown with but a simple adjustment in tone. My left foot would curve outwards as I attempted to separate my feet a shoulder-length apart. With the inside of my left hand my fingers would cusp the katana’s case as my right palm edged smoothly over the cusp of the hilt. The sound of footsteps, MANY footsteps, would alert me that I had been followed – but why?

“Are you… Sukoshii Hitoshii?”

My ears would perk to the coo of my name as I pointed the angle of my blade horizontally. Using my thumb I would begin to push out the hilt slightly with my left hand as my right followed-through smoothly in order to create as little movement as possible.

“Yes – what importance is that to you?””

Simply stated – silver optics patiently transitioned throughout the darkness of the forest ahead of me as I awaited an answer..

[♠Solo♠]

@soh: +20 EXP

[Q]

(click)

They moved through the trees of Kusa no Kuni’s jungles as if they knew the land by heart. For all Hitoshii knew, they did. If he had guessed as much he’d find that he wasn’t far from the truth. Surrounding three of his sides—both flanks and the rear—were masked Shinobi, born from a family that the Funikimi knew very well. For now, however, their name was to be kept a secret. Surprise was always key.

Dropping from the trees and landing in front of Hitoshii was the spokesmen for the men gathered here. In the darkness he was hidden, and even if the Chuunin had some special doujutsu to use, he’d find the black fabric that covered the spokesmen to be impenetrable. The moonlight above glinted off of the silver light of a ninjato’s pommel, which rested on the shinobi’s back. Dark grey eyes stared into Hitoshii’s own, showing two emotions; fear and excitement. Adrenaline was pumping through his veins as he found out this was indeed the heir of the Funikimi clan. Who would have thought that lady luck had such a gift in store for them?

“I,” The spokesmen began. His words were slow to come out—he was being extremely careful with each one used. “Am the speaker for one of Kusa no Kuni’s many Shinobi clans. We have tracked down others within this great nation and have decided to make them all an offer.

“Join us or know oblivion.”

Whether the spokesman was telling the truth or not was unknown. Perhaps he thought that the Four Kings of the Funikimi were as strong as the stories told. Perhaps he thought that it would be best to subjugate someone with such prestige in their blood. Only time would tell.

[chiatsuki]

I was a walking hit- and the moment I’d realized this it would have already been too late to run. All I could do was listen as I measured the distance from me to the three silhouettes approaching. ‘Seven meters..’ I would say to myself as I withdrew the urge to draw my blade. The sound of a ‘click’ would procure my blades’ hilt and my arms would return lifelessly to the side of me.

“Join us or know oblivion.”

Oblivion- in more or less definitions it could have been defined as hell. I had come to the conclusion many years ago that hell didn’t sound as appealing to others as it did me. The very word, in fact, would set forth an unwinding gate. . . the beast known as Sokushii Hitoshii would have been awakened in the moment the man spoke the word. Aggravated to no end- I surely was. . but I had changed in the years I’d left- I swore to never let the blood of a kusa shinobi touch these grounds, and as much as I wanted to waste these men right now. . it would have served no other purpose than making my goal of reuniting the clans of every minor nation even more difficult to accomplish.

“I must apologize in advance, whomever you are, but I cannot simply join another clan so easily you see. . I’d have to be persuaded.”

[Q]

With the click of blade returning to scabbard, the spokesmen’s eyes grew wide with confusion. Was this truly how a Funikimi acted in this day and age? Had the former King left such a weak heir behind? Eyes narrowing, the spokesman allowed his perceptive gaze to penetrate Hitoshii’s closed lids, peering directly into his soul. For a moment he saw confusion; then he saw bloodlust; then he saw resentment. Finally, after moments of silence and the heir speaking, the spokesman saw what he wanted the most to see.

He saw the soul of a leader.

Underneath the face mask the shinobi’s lips contorted into a wide grin. This was what they had waited for. Years of pillaging and of sacrifice, of pain and of patience, had finally yielded milk from Izanami’s bosom. The destiny of Kusa no Kuni was going to be forged here today, one hammer strike at a time.

“This,” The spokesman began, his words trembling with excitement. “This is our leader…!”

As he spoke the spokesman fell into a bow. With that one signal the dozen shinobi in the trees jumped forth and landed on the cliff, surrounding Hitoshii and kneeling at his feet. It was doubtful he knew what was happening—at least, that was the case until the first man spoke.

“I am Gekiryu, son of Tsukiryu, who is head of the Shinrinkasai-Ichizoku. We have been sent to track you, Funikimi-Taisho, for we are your people’s loyal soldiers.”

And then it all became clear. The Shinrinkasai had served the Funikimi for the longest time. They were the bodyguards, the arms and legs, the body that did the dirty deeds for the Four Kings. Now, with Kusa’s return, it was time for the Shinreinkasai to return to the spotlight as the Kings most powerful subjects.

[chiatsuki]

My eyes would swell with curiosity as a plethora of men appeared instantaneously to my front. Had I been a god their bows would have been significant, however, I was only a deity- and so I would mirror the gesture with one of my own. With eyes still open I would bow in return to the appearance of the Shinrinkasai-Ichizoku.

They had served with my father for many years- they had also been the only clan to depict us as brothers instead of heathens. For one of the first times in my life I felt closer to my father than ever- and to think, Tsukiryu was still alive. If it weren’t for being shocked I might have been able to smile, but instead the words of Gekiryu only aroused my curiosity even more.

“Is…is tsukiryu here now?”

- a question that would dawn upon the mass of ears all around me as I spoke with a profound tone wallowing from every angle of my silhouette. Tsukiryu was a man whom considered himself as a best friend to Igozushi, my father, and I was more than eager to meet with him. It troubled me knowing what type of attitude that Gekiryu had approached me with in our first seconds of this meeting- that feeling had not yet left for I felt that an ulterior motive was behind it all.

[Q]

“Tsukiryu-Sama awaits you at the compound, Funikumi-Taishou. We were sent to evaluvate your potential and to bring you back to him. I assume you have no problem with returning with us?”

To many, traveling with a dozen armed Shinobi in the middle of the night to a mysterious compound transcended the title unwise and approached increasingly foolish levels. Yet, as the men kneeled before your feet, no sense of danger would be released. Even when you were a child you were protected by the Shinrinkasai-Ichizoku, a clan known for their loyalty and their ruthlessness. Many a man had lost his life fighting against the Funikumi, and most of deaths were caused by their protectors and subjects.

[~Kohana <3]

Strider- 26

Sohyo- 17