the burning metropolis.

[Apple]

As he came to answer my question about his eye and why exactly it was so mysteriously covered in such fragile porcelain, it would be noted that he hadn't replied to it. But, in the end, my question hadn't only been there to answer - the silence spoke for itself in many ways. From the empty bubble of nothingness that had been displayed to me, I could genuinely gather that something had happened to him between the last time I'd seen him and now - it couldn't possibly be a weapon of any kind, perhaps it shielded a horrifying wound? Was the other half of his face burned off? Had he lost his eye? I wasn't sure, but the things I'd guessed made Atlas out to be more monster than man. Just what had happened to him that made him become so.. introverted? Allowing my mind to wander only created deranged notions, and for the sake of his own pride, I chose not to delve further. But it didn't mean the curiosity of it disappeared. However tense the moment had been upon his rejection of my question, it faded away instantly, ushered on too by the signal given by his hand, to which I'd instantly respond to, coming to a halt and following him, my knees bending as I gazed about at the grand fires that swamped this place. Although I had a good notion of where I was even now, it didn't mean that I found it hard to distinguish a lot of the houses and buildings given the fact that flames seemed to be pouring out of windows and doorways freely. If anything; perhaps, to treasure the memories that I'd created in this very place, I didn't want to recognize that those same places were slowly crumbling beneath the wicked hands of others.

"The Burabiya stands alone as its own clan."

As we stood almost trapped in time at this very moment, I was snapped out of the trance that had formed from the shapes of the flames licking around the sides of buildings by his voice. Turning my gaze momentarily at him and his red hair, I still failed to believe that I'd managed to find him amongst a sea of people. Perhaps it was fate - I didn't know, but the main issue at the moment was the location of his sister and whether or not we'd be able to find her in the destruction that ensued within this place. As he spoke further about the location they were headed in through simply explaining that they were due to go to the manor, it was a question that I wished to understand, as to if it was the Burabiya or the Akegarasu that he was speaking of - but it didn't matter. "..I see." I assumed that it was the latter, but I could always be wrong. But then again, I doubted that it would have much importance in our task. Atlas seemed to be the one to know how to locate it - I had no idea, despite the place having been so familiar to my childhood. At that age; I'd often believed that the momentous structures and beautiful landscape of the city would last forever as a fairytale-like place, surrounded in lush greenery. Never would I have imagined to see it in the state that it currently was in. Although; with this, I could only start to wonder just how terrified Teru was.
But I wasn't trying to be antisocial by any means as silence enveloped the both of us. The atmosphere itself was incredibly heavy, making it hard for anything lighthearted or soft to survive. I was merely trying to keep up with Atlas as he jumped, rushed and steered through twisting corners, the sides of buildings and alleyways. Everything became a blur to the side of my vision as we picked up speed, and from this I could only gather that he knew the way to his manor quite well, which was only expected, of course.

However - from his mouth soon came a choice of words that surprised even me, causing me to blink a single time. Of course, it wasn't anything vulgar - I merely hadn't seen it coming. But at the same time - I found it difficult. I had half the mind to ignore it just as Atlas had my own question, but I found the words uncontrollably seeping from the corners of my mouth and out in to the open in a disturbing, black mass.

"Kusagakure was on the brink of destruction before the foreign attacks even begun."

I paused.




"..You don't forget anything like that."

It was still fresh in my memory, and I didn't doubt that it would be for the rest of my life. Of course, I'd left before fire had consumed the city whole, but from what I'd seen, it was enough to scar me for a lifetime. The village had been in enough of a state previously, bodies being found in the streets from gang fights - war simply intensified it. I'd seen a dead body hung from the balcony of a building at one point on my way to the hospital - but I didn't feel the need to tell that to Atlas. I didn't feel the need to say much more to Atlas. Merely thinking about my village made me think of them - Momochi, Ue, Akatome, my family, and I feared the worst for them each passing minute. It never went away. "..But how is Kumogakure faring? I do hope the place is still fortified." I spoke, some tinge of genuine concern for his village. I just wanted this to be over - I didn't want to see any more of this. I'd worked in a hospital tending to grizzly wounds, but I'd seen enough blood, guts and corpses from wartime to last me an entire lifetime. The hollow, shaded faces with such dull, lifeless eyes - it was the thing of nightmares that haunted me.

..And the possibility that those who I loved most would end up looking like them.

I had no idea of where Momochi's body was.

And perhaps that was the most devastating thing of all.

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[Estilo]

Chapter 1, Green Grass & High Tides [11]

---

"Kusagakure was on the brink of destruction before the foreign attacks even begun."



"..."

He pondered on this sentence for a moment, as they emerged from the shadowy depths of the alleyways, and into a seemingly empty neighborhood. Empty-- save for the fires that raged throughout it, and the destruction that accompanied it. Dropping down from the balcony of the adjacent apartment building, and onto the street he now vaguely recognized, he'd land somewhat roughly on the concrete below. Small clouds of slate gray ash would billow upwards upon impact, and he would straighten in stance as he scanned the area vigilantly for any enemy shinobi lying in wait. When he was convinced that the two of them weren't walking into a trap, he'd lead Blanche swiftly through the post-apocalyptic scene. They'd hop over corpses, and leap over large rubble and flames, as they moved on.

While he was paying enough caution to his surroundings to ensure that he wasn't caught off guard so easily, thoughts and guesses of what had happened to Kusagakure no Sato would run rampant throughout his mind. Had they undergone some sort of inner conflict? Had that same conflict ensured their demise? And what of Blanche? What part had she played in it? She had mentioned being a sister, so long ago. And having a fiance. He wondered whether she had lost them to this inner conflict of theirs. Or, whether the murderers of a foreign nation had taken them away from her. In a way, he understood what she had meant when she stated that such things could not be forgotten so easily. He'd undergone more than a few traumatic events himself. One more recent-- and devastating-- than the others.

"..But how is Kumogakure faring? I do hope the place is still fortified."

Atlas kept his gaze locked forward, deftly hopping over the remnants of a three-story building that had collapsed sideways across the street, as he tried to find the words to fit his answer. He couldn't bring himself to say it so bluntly. It inspired a sense of shame, a sense of failure-- enough to bolster his already substantial feeling of hopelessness. But he did it anyway, eyes narrowed with regret. "Nearly half of the village is ruined." He stated, his voice tinged with regret. "The civilians have been evacuated into underground bunkers, and the streets have been a battleground for nearly a month now. Our forces are scattered, but we're holding on. For now." He cast Blanche a brief glance, before continuing. "My wife and son, however, are safe in the countryside. Once I find Teru..."

He stopped talking-- and moving, for that matter-- when he realized they were at the edge of the manor's estate. A large twenty-foot wall kept the grounds of the Akegarasu Manor from sight-- but it was nothing the two of them couldn't leap over. With a concentrated-- but heedful-- array of movements, he would climb up the wall, and poke the upper half of his head over, scanning the estate beyond. There was a large grass field, decorated with now ruined hedges and small gardens, preceding the Akegarasu Manor roughly fourty meters away. But, despite the charred and burning bodies scattered upon the property, there seemed to be no immediate threat in sight. Yet he needed to be mindful of the manor. So, hauling the rest of his body on top of the wall's ledge, he'd turn around on a half-crouch-- extending a single hand, offering to help Blanche up. "Come on. Almost there."

[Apple]

Although this place had been truly attacked from all sides, both buildings and people getting destroyed in the process, it wasn't anything like the violence that had been struck upon my own village. Although the events here were truly tragic, how such a peaceful city managed to become involved in the heavy burden of war, I'd seen people I know get killed before my very eyes, the soft, supple skin of the neck sliding so quickly against the metallic blade of a shinobi's sword. There was blood - there was blood everywhere, and I could remember clearly being showered in the blood of not my enemies - but my friends. Perhaps I only thought this; that Kusagakure had fared worse than Shi no Mori, because although I'd visited here several times in the past, I was still more dislocated from its community than I was back home. But I couldn't ignore what I'd seen. I admit; They were scenes that plagued my dreams to this very day. As we moved across broken buildings, scattered greenery and even more scattered bodies, I found myself zoning out as the events of the past clouded my mind. But then again, it never went away.

However, now came word to my ears of Kumogakure's fate during the war. The last time I'd seen him he'd seemed so.. care-free in Kami no Shima. I was unaware on the standing of his village at that point but I was sure that it wasn't as bad as it had become now. Perhaps that was another reason why he seemed so.. distraught when I'd seen him in this place. As such events happened, it was natural for one to try and round up their family, to make sure that they were protected. I didn't doubt the notion that surely he aimed to find Teru and allow her to hide out with his wife and son elsewhere. Whilst traveling alone had its perks and meant that I only watched out for myself and myself only, I missed it. Family - Perhaps he was made aware from the last time I'd seen him, or from the slightly more upset gaze that my face had adopted for only a brief moment, that I was envious of the things that he still had. In a way, it made me angry, that same little speck in my mind growing and growing, pushing past any orthodox thoughts and filling me with hate. Why did he still have all that he wanted - All that I wanted - when I had lost everything and everyone. I often pondered whether or not removing myself from society itself would be advantageous or not. Having survived on my own now for such a long time - I didn't need anyone. But each day I spent on my own, I felt my mind wander in to the deepest recesses of black, tearing any hope I had left for humanity. Even now I felt it etching away at my sanity, and to say the least, I feared for my own future.

"..I see."

"..I merely hope this war ends before more lives are lost.."

I spoke in a sour tone. Given my profession as a medical shinobi, the fact that people were dying each day, all over the world and the other note that I was unable to do anything about it, frustrated me to no end. I failed to save those who I cared most about, and now with no village to officially work alongside with, I simply wandered, offering my help to those who I believed needed it most. Civilians, primarily, who had been caught in the selfish destruction that shinobi had brought upon them. They were unable to do the things we could; they couldn't run as quickly, dodge attacks as easily and fight as well as us. And because of that; they required our protection, not our fury. Lost in thought, I broke my train of thought and looked to where Atlas was guiding us both - all I could see, at the moment, was wall. Which, given that the place was a manor, was understandable. Because of this, I could only assume that we were coming up to the destination now, given that there was no-where else to go except for up and over the wall.
And then, my run would come to a halt as I'd notice him starting to scale the wall before us. Looking up at the trails of his red hair as he moved upwards, I would too mimic his movements, beginning to do so myself as chakra poured to my feet, allowing me to climb the wall as if it were a flat surface. Of course - the whole experience caused the blood to rush to my head, but it wasn't anything major. Although I'd made considerable effort scaling the wall, as he offered his hand out, I held my own out to catch on to it, aiding me in coming up to the top. I took a glance at the garden before us. It was tarnished, but it still didn't take away from the beauty which had once in the past been there.

"..Is this.."

"..Is this the manor?"

[/right]
I questioned. Of course, upon first looking at it, everything seemed.. normal. But now, as I paid closer attention, I could see blood covering the leaves of bushes and treetrunks, the limp corpses and body parts of shinobi littering the area and other parts which took away the whole peaceful nature of the garden. It very much, alike as he had referred to Kumogakure, seemed as if the place had been turned in to a battlefield. Or, a battlefield within a battlefield. "This place - I'm sorry you have to see this, Atlas." I spoke. I wasn't sure on the status of the manor itself, but given that the gardens had been turned in to a hellish field of death, I became slightly unsure on whether or not he would find what he wanted to within the building. Of course; perhaps his sister had found her way out of the village with her auntie, but I couldn't be sure. I could only hope that, if she wasn't here, she was safe. I didn't know how much Atlas could take if he saw what he desperately wanted to reject. "I can't see anybody in the garden. If we cross it quickly, I'm sure that we can get to the manor safely. But - we need to make sure that there's no one inside." I wanted, of course, to make sure that we knew what to do in any situations that may occur from us storming the place with our presences. If there were enemy shinobi inside, perhaps we'd be throwing ourselves in to an unseen trap. There were several risks associated with even moving in to that building due to its sheer size, but - as of late, I found the most intense feelings of elation through the sweet buzz of adrenaline, and it pushed me forward, even now. Giving Atlas a mischievous grin, I began to speak once more. "At what area of the manor do we enter? Be sure to get yourself ready, as we may be having a run-in with people." It was only a possibility - but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Staying crouched on top of the wall, my eyes still scanning the war-destroyed garden before us, I waited for his call.

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[Estilo]

Chapter 1, Green Grass & High Tides [13]

---

The Akegarasu Manor carried a very regal aura, overshadowed by the menacing cloud of thick black smoke that hovered just on top of Shi no Mori. The building that stood at the center of the closed-off land appeared to be more of a castle, built in such a fashion that it would appear to have been ready for an invasion or attack of some sort. This "fortress" had broad curtain walls, pointed conical spires, and seemingly abandoned watchtowers. From their position on the now bloodied lands, Blanche & Atlas would be able to make out a "keep", and a faint trail of black smoke ascending from the courtyard they had yet to see. Large flags adorned the sides of the large gateway into the heavily fortified manor-- bearing the symbol of the crow. Breezy, smog-infested winds rippled the crimson fabric.

"..Is this the manor?"

Atlas nodded sternly, his gaze locked on the now tarnished visage of the manor he had once held so dear. So many memories here. So many comrades lost. He knew Vera, Sam & Teru were the only people keeping him tethered to this world-- to his sanity. And it terrified him. Losing his younger sister-- the girl he had sworn to protect long ago-- meant he was one step closer to that dark abyss. The sight of all those corpses, of the battered Akegarasu Manor, taunted him. Telling him this was all he had to expect. But Blanche's honeyed voice abruptly cut it off. He turned his eyes towards her, appreciative of the comforting, and offered the best semblance of a smile he could manage to put on. "I... I'll be fine. Let's... move forward." And, that being said, he'd hop off of the wall onto the grounds.

His boots landed soundlessly on the soft soil and grass beneath their soles. Swiftly, he'd take his place behind the cover of a nearby elm tree, eyes scanning the grounds closely as he listened to what his golden-haired companion had to say. The fact that they had no idea what-- or who-- awaited them inside the long conquered Akegarasu Manor, meant that a head-on approach would prove to be a foolhardy move. Sometimes, such actions needed to be taken. But war between shinobi was better won with wits, than with reckless charges. And if enemy shinobi were indeed awaiting them behind the stone-layered walls of the manor, then they were clearly expecting a head-on assault. Thankfully, Atlas had a better idea.

His eyes narrowed, and moved, as they searched for the well. When he found it, nestled at the center of a once fenced-off vegetable garden, he'd turn towards Blanche and toss his head in that direction. "Follow me." He'd advise in a semi-whisper. "I've found our way into the manor." Despite the fact that they were on the edge of the grounds, Atlas kept his steps silent, his movements swift, and himself relatively hidden. They moved behind neatly trimmed bushes and trees, hopping over corpses and assorted brambles, as they approached the garden afar. The soil there had been salted by the pieces of shit that had attacked this haven. And the wooden fence that had once surrounded it, a piece of Akegarasu heritage that had been crafted long ago with ancient oak, had been trampled and destroyed. His eyes tried to ignore the sight as he continued. Upon reaching the well, he placed his warm hands over the frigid stone ledge, staring into the darkness below.

"I used this passageway as a kid, whenever I misbehaved on my vacations here with my mother, and needed to get off the grounds. And Teru... she sort of adopted that from me, I suppose. It'll lead us straight into the manor, second floor fireplace." He shifted his green eyes to her. "... You still okay with this? I have no idea what we'll be up against."

[Apple]

The manor was truly a sight to see. Although war had stormed it and surely destroyed its insides, given that the gardens were a complete wreck compared to what I expected they usually looked like, it still had some sense of dark, regal elegance to it that I couldn't recall many buildings in kusa bearing. But the design - it was flamboyant, to say the least. Almost like a kind of fortress. I'd seen buildings similar to it elsewhere in the world but within Shi no Mori the fortified manor was something of an oddity - the creation of foreign design met with unfamiliar grounds. However, I'd never heard any problems within the land in regards to the family, so I could only assume that they'd managed to make a living within Kusa no Kuni happily. Had they originally come form Kaminari no kuni? Atlas himself was a shinobi of the village but given that his sister had links to Kusa- I couldn't be sure of exactly what had happened to cause such a difference. The only logical explanation I could assume was that their parents had died, leaving his little sister in the care of relatives elsewhere. That had to be the reason. Perhaps if it had been another time I'd have questioned and asked him about it, but family was a sore subject now that the war had enveloped everything that we'd once cared about. I would have asked in the future; but then again, it was all so hazy to me at the moment. I had no way of telling what would become of me; and that scared me.

So I had to work quicker than fate to assure that I survive.

But what of Atlas? Was he the same? I couldn't be sure, but I didn't want him to have to have gone through the same as myself. I wouldn't even wish that on my worst enemies. His response to my words was halfhearted, and I'd noticed it. Having spent years nursing the wounded and the ill, I'd become quite a communicator when I wanted to be - and alongside that, I'd become quite talented at figuring people out. I could tell without even looking at him that this was hard for him, as there was no telling at all exactly what would be inside. I wished the best; but that didn't mean that reality felt the same way. But with so many people in the city and with so many people have been evacuated, there was a good chance that she'd survived with the rest, and taken elsewhere in an evacuation. My feet allowing me to hop off the wall, blonde hair following in a beautiful cascade, I'd soon land down, my right hand touching the ground upon impact. Turning to my right to see the Kumogakure shinobi, I watched him for his next move, mimicking each of his actions.

"Follow me.."

"..I've found our way into the manor."

He knew this place better than I, and he was one of the few people remaining who I had some degree of trust in. Henceforth, I moved forwards with him and followed his guidance in scaling the complicated landscape of the manor. The place looked.. plush, to say the least, although surely not for much longer. Although it was pessimistic, I didn't doubt that the inside was probably torn from wall to wall. As our silent movements soon brought us to a well, to say the least, I was somewhat unsure of where Atlas was taking this venture. However, from what doubts lay in my mind from approaching the structure, it soon began to make sense as he explained. Perhaps it was a dried-up well that had an alternate passageway leading elsewhere in to the manor? He claimed that there was a link between it and the inside fireplace, so I could only guess that there was some kind of leeway within it. Who would have guessed that a secret passageway used as a child could become such a valuable asset in the present day?

"I want to help, Atlas.
But.."



"..It's not as if I have anything to lose."

A strangely cheery tone.

I had already lost everything that had ever meant something to me, and those who were still left; their living state was unknown to me. But, I wasn't sure if it was best of me to cling on to the small smidgeon of hope that was left for their health or if it was best to dislocate myself entirety - merely thinking about Ue and my family began to make me tense. Life wasn't worth living that way, but at the same time, I couldn't just forget them. I had to become something more to conquer this, and even now I could feel my mind hardening to the horrors of the war. I'd seen too much, and although corpses weren't a very pleasant sight, it was something common, and if anything, something that I had come to almost subconsciously ignore. But it didn't stop me worrying about the nightmares - of my own form moving along a destroyed land, only to see the corpses of those who I'd loved sprawled across the floor like discarded trash. Thinking about it now made me turn my gaze back towards the garden for only a moment, almost as if I was expecting to see a familiar figure rise up from the ground - but nothing came from it.

Hopping on to the ledge, I'd dangle my legs over the firm stone wall, gazing downwards at the black. Looking at it merely made me wonder whether that was a figment of my imagination, another dark shadow created from my own mind - but given the nature of the situation, I was reminded that it was probably simply the lack of lightning. However, simply looking at it made me interested. Adrenaline began to pump through my veins as my legs freely fell over the side, my arms holding myself in place on the wall as I stood seated. I was very much in my element, and my mind began to convulse with energy.

Turning my face towards Atlas and his words, I'd give him a devilish smirk.

"Let's go!"

Loosening myself from the edge, I descended in to the darkness carelessly, the stream of blonde hair being the last thing Atlas would see before the black shadows took over my form.

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[Estilo]

Theme: "Silence Unbroken" Performed by Jeremy Soule.

---

Chapter Two
Descent

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Her cheery and confident smirk brought a small smile to his own face. And, when she'd swung her legs over the side of the empty well, he'd raised a single brow. He hadn't been expecting so much enthusiasm, so much drive to put herself in danger. But her previous comment had come with an underlining tone. A hint of sadness, a gleam in her eyes that told you she had been a mother. And it didn't exactly make the red-maned male comfortable. Yet, he didn't really show it. She had nothing to lose, she had said. But he presumed she had failed to take into account the sort of impact something like her death, or severe injury during their quest, would have on the half-masked male.

She had, after all, become a friend.

So, when a friend drops down into the dark abyss of a well to confront forces unknown, it's customary for the other to follow. So he did, giving her a few seconds to clear the way, before hopping onto the well's stone edge, and stepping off into its center. A gust of wind fluttered the ends of his long coat, as darkness engulfed him from all around. But, just before the fall drew out for too long, he'd land roughly on the ground beneath with the soles of his weathered black boots. A small cloud of dust materialized around his feet. He had fallen into a half-crouch, but straightened his form to evaluate his surroundings. The first thing he noticed: no enemy shinobi. Which was a relief. And the second was the stench of moss and wet rock.

They'd dropped into a long empty wellspring which had, over time, become a cavern used to navigate the hidden pathways beneath Shi no Mori. It was the Akegarasu Manor's literal and figurative connection to the "underworld". The low-light conditions within it barely allowed the two shinobi there to see the wooden door at the far end of the cavern wall. The half-masked male would turn towards his female companion. "Slow down there, Alice." He'd tease with a smile, hiding his genuine concern behind the light-hearted children's book reference. Advancing towards the wooden door, he'd deftly nod. "Ladder to the fireplace should be back here."

Kicking the door open, with no regard for even attempting to lockpick, he'd swiftly make his way through. The ladder was still intact and, when he looked up at what it led to, he could see the metal grate covering the fireplace untouched and well. The ground beneath his feet was a pile of ashes. But nothing new. Which meant that the particular room upstairs had not been used for quite some time. He kept in mind the possibility that the Akegarasu might of foreseen this impending disaster, and evacuated with his sister long before it arrived. They had contacts. And Akegarasu gypsy caravans were known for their "spiritual" ways of obtaining information and other things.

But he couldn't be entirely sure.

So, still resolved to check the Akegarasu Manor out thoroughly, he started climbing the ladder as quietly as he could.
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[Apple]

It wasn't long after I'd jumped down what felt like an endless black that I suddenly became so much more aware of my surroundings - and, thankfully, having noticed that there was going to be an end, and I needed to prepare for it lest I break my legs on the cold floor of the well. Gathering my strength, I landed as careful as I could with what little light there was, an audible thump against the rocks, litter and what else there was lingering around. Moving out of the way, given that I figured it to be incredibly inconvenient should Atlas tumble down upon my head, I waited in the darkness for the masked man as my eyes tried to scan the well and its twisting corridors for any sign of people that might prove to be a threat to the both of us. However; all that sounded was the faint dripping of water against a few puddles that the well had since been rendered to. It was thrilling, even simply being down here. With no means of clear escape except for the walls that rose high to the entrance of the well that I'd jumped down minutes ago, the notion that should we be attacked one of the clearest options would be to fight and drive them in to the ground - it helped send careless volumes of adrenaline coursing through my veins. But away from the fictional world I'd allowed myself to tread upon, I was soon brought back as the sound of Atlas descending in a similar manner to how I had sounded, a splash of water from where he'd landed. Looking over at him, his mask proved to be quite beneficial in the light we were currently in, the bold white standing out against anything else and its dreary background.

But, however interesting this journey had to be, I kept reminding myself that this wasn't simply something to busy my time with - but a goal. Atlas obviously had loved his sister more than anything; and I understood exactly what he was currently feeling. With no inclination of where she could be exactly, it was best to, instead, search everywhere, starting with the most obvious places. I wasn't too sure whether to believe that she'd still be home in conditions such as these, but I had hope that we'd be able to find her, if not for the sake of satisfying my own desperate need for adventure, but to allow Atlas the comfort that he deserved. Everybody deserved family; even the most wicked of us. And with the first shinobi war having stripped so many people of these precious bonds, it was best to cling on to what you had and never let go; or think of letting go. Family was hard to come by these days; I knew this better than any as I had none, but, in lieu of this, I liked to think that I was at an advantage against others. As far as Atlas's own family went; a wife and child, I wasn't too sure what had happened, but from the moment I'd placed eyes on him within this dreaded land before we'd gone to search for his sister, I could tell that he'd changed somehow. In the way that he spoke, the way that he carried himself. It was something, indeed, but what it was I couldn't currently place a finger upon to decipher.

"Slow down there, Alice."

Naturally, having been a young girl in my time, I was more than aware with the tale, and even now I could remember being told the tale by my mother. It brought me back to better times; wherein me and my brother had seperate rooms within the large Kikkawa manor. Despite being told comforting stories by my parents in order to try and lull me to sleep, there were a few times where I managed to wake up in the night, stirred by some kind of nightmare. With soft tears I awoke, creeping in to the room of my big brother with upset tears only to be consoled and comforted by him once I'd managed to wake him from his own sleep. Despite being older and obviously with his own cool reputation to uphold before his friends, he'd always had time for me, and for that I was thankful. Perhaps he was alive - or perhaps he'd died with the rest. I didn't know. But what I did know was that either way, I was thankful for the time that I had spent with him. But; pushing my mind back to the present, I began to follow Atlas. I'd have gone adventuring by myself, but - I had to remind myself that despite having walked these streets, below ground wasn't within my experience, and it was best to leave it to someone slightly more aware of these things.

"..Atlas."

I paused, the more childish version of me aptly removing itself from the situation as I prepared to face up to a subject that I hadn't inquired to him about.

"..I'm sorry, about what happened in Kami no Shima."

[/right]
I spoke the words quietly, just in case we'd be heard by some people who may be lurking elsewhere. I felt that it was due time for me to apologize. Although I felt myself steadily losing my morals and humanity, and despite the gap of time that we hadn't seen each other in, I'd come to view him as a friend, and I'd been riddled with guilt since the day that I'd left. It felt as if a wave of relief had drifted over me simply through telling him those words, but then at the same time, I was more than away that it was his response that truly counted. And so, I allowed this silence pause to reap the air that we breathed as I watched him travel, guiding us both through the damp caves that the well seemed to have become. However - whilst I'd doubted the safety behind making a shortcut by taking a fireplace - I found it a strange concept. Whilst I could understand how it might be useful, it was nonetheless obscure. What if one wasn't aware of the fire and walked straight in to the flames? I assumed that it wasn't as simple as that and you would surely be able to see but - I was interested to see where it went, and as we began to climb up, I began to feel my heart rapidly pumping blood in order to try and keep up with the various thoughts and emotions that I'd been forced to feel. And I opened my mouth, gazing up at what I could see of the red-haired Jounin before me as we kept scaling the wall using the convenient ladder - but I couldn't bring myself to say anything else. Gloved palms hooking across the object we were using, I gazed further up, noticing a few scraps of wallpaper or some kind of wall in general behind the grate. Everything was silent; but then again, maybe that was for the best.

"..You didn't suffer from anything else, did you?"

Of course, I was referring to the judgement that Mal had given; that he'd surely experience blackouts, headaches and the like in future years to come given what had happened. It was this sense of permanent damage that truly worried me, and although he couldn't see, my face was ripe with such an expression as I looked up, my careful steps bringing me closer and closer to our destination.



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[Estilo]

Chapter 2, Descent [3]

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"..I'm sorry, about what happened in Kami no Shima."

His thoughts instantly went back to that time he'd spent in the city of sin, the pain he had been dealt, the argument he had carried on with Blanche. He had never expected, or really desired, an apology from her. Yet, after hearing her utter that sentence, he found himself at a loss for words. Nothing but the metallic creak of the ladder resounding, as they continued to climb upwards. It was strange to think about now, especially considering the extent of the damage he had received, but he wasn't sorry at all that it had happened. Strange-- silly, even-- to be appreciative of a nearly death-dealing blow to the head.

But it seemed to have changed Blanche for the better.

An unseen smile would appear on his countenance as he remembered what his wife had said: Magnanimity can turn into stupidity in an instant. And you have a child to look after, you idiot! And she had told him more than once, on several different occassions. Yet, he never could shake off that habit. He wasn't one to stand around and watch others suffer, after all. Be it mentally, or physically. And he always imagined himself teaching his son that very same value through example. The worry-fueled arguments his wife tended to give him, however, were tough. And, when Blanche inquired after the effects of the severe injury he had received, he lightly chuckled.

"You mean besides the brutal scolding my wife gave me afterwards for losing all my coin, and coming back with a head injury?" He laughed, but not too loud, as they neared the grate. "No, nothing I couldn't handle. Vera-- my wife-- is a medic. She managed to keep the worst of the 'effects' at bay. And I had managed to make her believe it was all a drunken accident." His gloved hands reached the final metal bar and, slowly, he began to lift the grate above. A small pile of charred wooden remains was pushed away as he poked the top-half of his head out of the open grate, silently scanning the room before him. It was a living room, filled with antique furniture that was now ruined and torn. There had clearly been a violent struggle here, and not too long ago.

Before advancing into the open room, Atlas would turn his attention back to his blonde-haired companion, holding onto the metal bar with a single hand as he turned down to look at her. "But, hey--" He spoke sincerely, smiling. "Water under the bridge. Don't worry yourself about it." Returning his gaze to the entryway above, he'd lead them out of the secret passageway and into the room that awaited them. "Allons-y." He'd mutter, crawling out from the fireplace swiftly.

[Apple]

I could feel the metal of the ladder almost icy against my skin. As I strongly grabbed ahold of each step, I couldn't help but notice that it felt almost.. dusty beneath my fingertips, surely suggesting that the route hadn't been taken in quite a long time. Atlas had spoken of using it in his youth -- and given that he was now an adult, I was sure that he hadn't visited the well and its secrets in several years. Time changed people, but at the same time, so did war. And just because of that; I felt almost sad to be scaling this ladder, knowing that Atlas and his sister, Teru, had done the same things years before. Perhaps I felt like I was imposing on some kind of tradition between the two, but I truly felt for Atlas and the current loss that he suffered. Whilst it wasn't truly placed in stone that the poor girl had been taken by death's clutches, at the same time, I didn't want to admit to him the slight lack of faith that was amounting. But -- I could always be wrong. There was no telling from where I stood at the moment and from what capabilities even I had. I could only hope that we'd find her curled up innocently within the manor, safe from the outside world and the raiders that invaded the building, or perhaps elsewhere with her auntie. Of course; the latter of which was the one that I favored the most, but just to know that she was alive was something, and as I kept moving up the ladder, I paid a few glances towards Atlas above, before then returning my gaze to the metal construction before me.

However, in what frenzy it currently was to find his sister, it seemed as if I'd become swayed from the other issues at hand. Listening in carefully for any sign of response from the jounin after I'd asked him of whatever trials he'd had to face after our dreaded face-off in Kami no Shima, as he begun to spoke of his wife, I'd noticed that I'd completely forgotten about her. Or -- not about her, but of course the reaction that she'd have to having her husband return from a break with his fellow shinobi with a considerable injury that seemed to spread deeper than just the superficial bruises that I'd dealt. Of course, having been in a similar situation what felt like a long time ago, it only made me remember just how concerned I'd been when Momochi had returned from protecting Kusa no Kuni from terrorists and foreigners, bruised and bloody. Of course, alike Atlas's wife, I too held talent in the medical field, and I was usually the one to tend to the wounds he'd gained. But - even as these procedures seemed to be quite common as the war became more and more heated, it didn't mean that I'd become used to seeing him in such a way. It was the worst - the most painful thing to have to see, although I did reieieve some relief after healing him myself and making sure that he was alright. He'd done it all to support us -- but in the end, he'd given more than his time for the cause. Memories became a blur in my head as Atlas's voice brought me back to reality.The height that we'd traveled suddenly hit me as I gazed to the side towards the floor, and whilst it wasn't that high, it was enough to cause my heart to skip a beat, my right hand slamming against the bars to secure my grasp.

"..I'm glad."


It was rather a simple response, but nonetheless a caring one.
Even with the notion that he'd been healed somewhat - the guilt was still there.

I owed him.

..And perhaps through finding the girl it could help me fulfill that.

The sound of creaking metal soon hit my ears and instinctively, I looked up towards the red-haired shinobi, having to shift my gaze downwards as I felt the smallest specks of ash and dust fall in to my eyes, stinging bitterly and causing my eyes to water. However - Once the worst was over and I could see him moving higher up, I could only assume that the grate had been moved, and the route up to the room above had been established. With one quirky saying I watched him, our eyes meeting only momentarily before he ascended. And it wasn't that I was scared of the dark -- or monsters, but I too swiftly moved up to follow him instead of lingering in the dark room connected to the well. It was ... unsettling. Soon meeting the start and pushing my way up towards the upper floor, I mimicked Atlas's approach, managing to come close to the lower portion of the fireplace itself, and wiggling my way steadily out of the enclosed space. My knees softly scraped against the dried wood, coal and whatever else there was on the floor as I made my escape, but it didn't deter me. I soon basked in the light of the room (Or at least, it was light to compare with what conditions we'd just been moving in) and made my way out of the fireplace in its entirety, rising up. With blackened hands and knees from having used such a shortcut, it was merely superficial, and henceforth wasn't a concern of mine. Having made my way out, I now turned my eyes not towards Atlas, but towards the surroundings we'd found ourselves in.

"..This place.."

It was barely a whisper.

Opulent was surely the correct word. It reminded me much of the manor back home dedicated to my family, although it seemed much more.. different, in the way that everything was laid out, and of course the style. Perhaps it was more.. baroque-like? I wasn't too sure -- but it was a change, that was for sure. There seemed to be clear indications that people had been here - smashed glass, along with a few ransacked items of furniture lingering in strange poses, but, otherwise the damage was quite light. In fact; it was a better bet to assume that only a few troublemakers had been here lately; but of course, we didn't know that. I treaded about the flooring, continuing to look at the items around us, before laying my eyes back on the masked shinobi. Despite the fact that Kusa no kuni was a land that I mostly knew inside-out (except for the abundance of woodland, which had some parts even I was hesitant to tread within sometimes) I wasn't aware of the layout of this building, and so it was his call from this point on. I was merely a guest to this home even in its current state; although I tried to do my best in creating a map of the building in my mind, just in case we needed to make a quick break. Everything seemed.. silent, for now, but as the saying goes; It could just as well be the calm before the storm. Running my hands through the soft flow of blonde that spread from my crown, I inquired;

"..Where do we go from here?
I'll follow you; Be sure to be on your guard just in case there are some of them inside here."

A soft smile crawled on to my face.

"I have your back, Atlas."

My hands momentarily touched the variety of weapons attached to my hips via a black belt, simply to make sure that they were there if I required them. I hoped not, of course -- but things didn't always run that smoothly these days.

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