Serendipity

[Deleted]

Siku Maboroshi

Siku had just gotten done talking to his mother all morning, a conversation filled with her religious beliefs, and how she beliefs Siku should be faithful to the world and life around him, if not the "All-maker" that her religion speaks about. Siku liked to entertain the idea of there being some sort of god-like entity, a deity of benevolence. It kept him believing in things, himself most of all, keeping a positive attitude towards his life, and others lives. But needless to say, Siku felt differently on religion. He seemed to believe there was a god and a devil in all of us, a benevolence and malevolent nature that showed itself on impulse, or instinct. Things made you angry, and so you retaliate with aggressiveness, or force. Things make you smile, and so you show happiness and generosity, spreading your joy. Things make you cry and feel hurt, so you seek to inflict pain on those who make you cry and hurt on the inside.

This was something Siku thought about on a daily basis, and that's why he tried to stay away from people. People weren't born a certain way, horrid things happen to people, and so they change, whether it was wanted or not. Scars are the one thing that you will always carry with you as a shinobi, but it's the scars you can't see which hurt the most, at least for Siku. Losing a hand or limb was temporary pain, but witnessing family, friends, and even comrades dying before you was a permanent stain in his mind. Siku is glad he hasn't dealt with this matter yet, but he knows it is inevitable. One day, somehow, a member of his squad would die. It could even be Siku himself who is chosen to face his end, with his comrades watching him losing his life.

Tragic thoughts they may be, this was the reality of a shinobi. If they didn't acknowledge this, then when the moment came that their friends died, it would be that much harder for them to take it in, it would indefinitely change something about them. Siku wasn't the type to brew hatred and seek revenge, he simply grieved and mourned for the losses of himself and others. Hearing about a death was normal, and some didn't think much of it. But Siku read the obituaries, and thought about the types of people they were, how important they were to somebody. Siku wondered how his mother would handle it if he died in the near future on one of his solo missions. She would be devastated, Siku could see it in her eyes already.

She only smiled when Siku was talking about something fun, or conversing with her. When he brought up missions or other shinobi things, her lips curled under with a sort of grievance that poured into Siku who had to look at her. Siku was her last hope, as she was faithful to her deceased husband, unable to marry or love another man to make more children. Now she was waiting for Siku to find someone, something she was eager to pressure him about. He figured it out on night, as he overheard his mother praying. She wanted to see Siku find a girl worthy of marriage, to live until that day. If not for her own selfish enjoyment, but for the fact that if she died before-hand, Siku would have no parents attending his funeral.

Walking out of his house, Siku moved down the street, in search of a place where they served some good tea. Walking into the curtain-lined shop, Siku raised his hand and put up his right index finger while asking " Can I have one spearmint tea, please? "

It wasn't exactly normal for him to drink this, but it was something his mother quite enjoyed, and he shared similar tastes to her. Except for the raw seafood, of course. Siku hated raw food, and liked things well-cooked. It was because he hated getting sick, it was a terrible feeling to him. Sitting down at a single stool at the main counter, Siku picked the stool furthest left. It took just under a minute before Siku's tea was handed to him, stifling hot as always. Exhaling lightly upon the tea's surface, watching ripples waver gently inside, Siku tested it.

Ouch. It was still too hot, Siku burning the tip of his tongue for sure, his upper lip feeling as though it was burned as well. He even shuddered from it and put the cup down, letting go completely to allow it some time. He continued to blow on it, waiting a generous amount of time before he would try to take another sip. He damn well sure wasn't gonna burn himself again.

" Can I also get a jelly bun, please? "

Tossing the money needed to purchase the tea, extra money was added in, noticing the price of the bun he had ordered and paying in advance. Looking behind him, Siku noticed the crowds outside in the street were not to be found. It was less active today, even though it was almost noon. Shinobi should be filling the streets, along with other civilians.

" I wonder where everybody is... "

He turned around and leaned his elbows on the counter, to keep an eye out on the streets outside. Albeit the curtains blocked off a large portion of his view, he could still see and hear legs passing by. Noticing a noise behind him, the server sat down his bun on a thin white plate. Picking the bun up, Siku took a single bite before laying it back down on the plate. He watched two people walk by in a total of five minutes, which was quite unusual for this village.

" I can't be the only Genin without a team to do missions...can I? "

Now that a sufficient amount of time had passed, Siku spun around and lifted his tea with his left hand. Taking a small sip, he noticed it had gotten much cooler, almost too much so. Draining it down, grabbing his jelly bun with his right hand, Siku enjoyed his small brunch in silence. Where was everybody?

[Pwn]

The mist was chilled by the night, and lights illuminated the streets crowded with civilians and shinobi alike, who slept during the day, but came out during this time to feast. I was guilty of this stereotype, my lips soaked at the thought of what I could get to eat and drink. I even brought my pipe to smoke, and relax my nerves. Things were becoming tense with the low activity presented by the Mizukage to where I have not taken a mission to and from since ages ago. My time off was spent well, and provided me with the confidence I needed to complete my plan. Stepping to the first stand, I took a seat about three seats apart from another man who stuffed his face with hungry bites. I smiled at him, turning to the bartender, and ordering. "A small cup of tea," my request was simple, I slid my hand across the counter, handing over the money.

[Deleted]

Siku Maboroshi

A figure came in and sat down a ways from Siku, ordering a small cup of tea. Not liking to eat in front of strangers, Siku finished his bun quickly and washed it down, guzzling half of the tea in his cup. Breathing out with a sort of relieving sigh, he looked over to the man at his right with a small smirk making it's way from the right corner of his lip. He didn't know him at all, just as with anyone else around here. He had blonde hair and a rather intricate kimono, looking almost like some sort of royalty. He had an interesting look about him, to say the least. So Siku decided to speak to him.

" Hey you over there. Are you a shinobi? "

He didn't know what else to ask or bring up, so he felt it best to be straight-forward with the man. What else could he be? Siku looked over to him with the same face which showed interest to the figure who had entered the shop for tea, just as he did. Even he wore a smile on his face. It was good scenery, a good vibe seemingly found itself in Siku. Normally he would sit in silence with strangers around, but there was a need for change, a need to become different. Siku was, in his heart, a boy who aspired to be man. A man like his father, perhaps. To many, the difference was age, but Siku knew himself better than anyone else. He was not growing up at a fast enough pace to keep up with his body, or so he felt. But when would Siku acknowledge the difference in himself? What could he do or possess that would bring confidence in his mind when he thought himself to be a man?

[Pwn]

“Who?” I knew whom the man was talking to, and it was obvious that is was I, but I liked to toy with people from time to time. Smiling again, the bartender passed over to me my tea, and at that very moment, I guzzled it down. I could feel its warm tingle soothing my taste buds. It was healthy, a bonus of sorts when it came to drinks. Removing my pipe, I took a slight inhale, and rested my lungs allowing for a smooth exposure of smoke. “Asking those type of questions could get you hurt,” I chastised him, waving the vapor away from my face, and extending my hand out. “Nice to meet you,” I could tell from his headband that he was from my village, so I was not as skeptical to being friendly.

[Deleted]

Siku Maboroshi

At first he seemed to expect Siku was talking to somebody other than him, or maybe it was to reassure himself that Siku was speaking to him? Regardless, his hand slipped into a pouch or satchel or sorts, retrieving what appeared to be a pipe, soon inhaling some sort of herb. Siku enjoyed herbs as well, but not when he needed to be in a clear state of mind. His thoughts were easily clouded.

He gave Siku a warning for his question, but he didn't take it into much consideration. This was his village, and if he was to feel safe anywhere, it was here. However the man reached out with his hand, and greeted him kindly after speaking of getting hurt. Siku reached his hand forward in-sync for the formal handshake, hoping not to appear rude or narcissistic to this person.

" Same here, it's good to meet new people. But you didn't say...are you a shinobi? "

Siku was persistent with his question. Not to be rude to the stranger, it was just that he genuinely wanted to know. He could very well assume by the sort of answer he got that the man was a shinobi, but making assumptions wasn't his thing when it came to meeting new faces. Could making an assumption cause him to make the wrong first impression on this person? Who knows? Siku didn't, and that's why he asked a second time.

[Pwn]

"A guy like me?" I questioned without putting too much thought into what I wanted to say. I could have easily told him everything about me, but only true shinobi kept secrets. It was the lifestyle we all inherited at birth, and was something we would die by. Shaking his hand, after releasing it I took another hit of my pipe, blowing the smoke into the direction of outside. I stood up, placing both feet to the ground stepping forward toward the crowd of people. "If you really wanna know, follow me, and I'll show you," I initiated a game of hide-and-seek, where he would have to find me. Should the man value obtaining sensitive information, he would be prompted to follow. I started off into the clutches of plainclothes, not looking back, yet changing my form to blend with my environment.

[Deleted]

Siku Maboroshi

He was friendly for a stranger, Siku could gather that much, but he wouldn't answer the question, not directly. He issued Siku a sort of challenge, or task. His eyes followed him as he blew out some smoke and began to head out the door. Snatching his cup of tea and gulping what was left of it in a hurried moment, Siku whipped around and made a fast walk's pace outside the shop and into the crowds which had picked up in activity and abundance.

" So not cool. Sly, but so not cool. Where did this guy- "

Siku noticed a person with similar hair dangling in a manner similar to the man's hair just a moment ago from the shop. His jaw snapped shut at the sight of them and his legs and feet made swift strides, pursuing the person who he thought was the man. Catching up and putting his hand on their shoulder, they soon turned around and revealed their unfamiliar face. Siku let go of them impulsively, knowing he had probably just offended them in some way.

" Sorry thought you were some else. "

As that escaped Siku's mouth, by the time he had back-tracked a few steps, he realized just how quickly he lost track of him. Looking around, there wasn't many blonde-haired people. But could he really pull each of them over? Maybe, just maybe, this guy would give some hints. That is, if he was interested in Siku at all. That was not yet known. He at least entertained himself by making Siku look quite foolish.

[Pwn]

To live the life of a shinobi meant being able to see through deception, regardless of if it is literal or not. By undergoing this game, I would be able to learn much about my comrade. Instead of dying on the battlefield to see what he was capable of, I tried to focus on more practical things. From the distance, I could see him placing hands to somebody he thought to be me only to find out that is was another individual. "Hehehe," I snickered, placing my hands together. About ten meters away to the front of the man between two others with distinct features, he would be able to see me, smoking my pipe as if nothing had happened at all.

[Deleted]

Siku Maboroshi

Staring forth into the crowd, his head swiveled left and right, before noticing another blonde-haired figure to his front. He noticed him smoking the pipe, and that's when Siku knew it was him, the face very much recognizable as well. Siku made his way towards him with haste, his fairly long legs covering roughly 3 feet with each stride. Enclosing towards him, Siku had a sort of belittled nature in him. Shinobi were supposed to be good at things like this, but Siku was accustomed to letting others walk into his traps and set-ups. Not looking and chasing after them. It just reminded him how much more practice he needed, finally close enough to speak to the man with his pipe.

" Okay, so i'm not too good at hide-and-seek. But what else are you good at? "

Siku almost wanted to ask if he wanted to go elsewhere, where they could show one another what they were capable of. Siku wasn't a great fighter, but practice was something any Genin needed. Especially one of Siku's potential. He was a long way from competing in the Chuunin exams, and before he could feel confident in himself, he wouldn't join.

[Pwn]

“I would seem you didn’t notice,” I grinned, vanishing from the front of the man only to appear behind him with my pipe at hand, blowing smoke over his shoulders behind his back. “Look harder next time,” I hid my pipe within my satchel with the rest of my weapons, pointing forward to the two who stood next to me as they disappeared like me. Instead of them returning, they were gone, and I stood as the only one of myself. I dropped my transformation, and dispelled my three illusionary clones. “It’s Genjutsu, and can be deadly if applied right.”

[Deleted]

Siku Maboroshi

He lectured Siku to look harder, but then he noted that it was Genjutsu. Siku was also primarily attuned to using Genjutsu, but Siku could have swore he neglected to make any handseals before vanishing. Not to mention there was no point in looking harder if it was truly Genjutsu. Genjutsu was an illusion, he wouldn't see anything unless the Genjutsu allowed him to. In most cases, Genjutsu didn't give hints or clues, that would only lead to their downfall with an already crucial flaw they had.

" Genjutsu, huh? Yeah, I know about Genjutsu. That's what I primarily use. I don't know many jutsu though, and I gotta say it's becoming a bit of a bummer. Not quite as fun playing mind games when you could blow things up. "

It was true Genjutsu could be extremely lethal, and some of the best practitioners, or what would best be considered as experts and/or masters, were more than capable of causing you to make the wrong move, while in your false reality you may have been doing the right thing. But Siku began to grow a sort of resentment for Genjutsu. It was normal for shinobi to be deceitful, as they were cunning. But he felt like it was the cowards way of fighting, and he wanted to learn a different method to utilize his chakra for.

[Pwn]

My arsenal was limited, and despite my obvious skill with Genjutsu, I needed much work, and road ahead of me was long. The tricks I knew were primarily based around illusions, but like the man, I wanted to expand my reservoir of technique usage as well. It did not occur to me until just now that perhaps training with this loner would be able to provide that knowledge. If I wanted recognition, I would have to start somewhere. “Yeah, I like explosives too. What’s your name?”

[Deleted]

Siku Maboroshi

Further listening, Siku learned that their interests in chakra & jutsu, along with their current skill sets, were almost identical. Both knew Genjutsu, but they also had a trace of ambition for something more combat-effective, explosions being the criteria of discussion. He then inquired Siku of his name, which he was more than glad to give. He only hoped that this stranger would be respectful enough to share his as well. After all, if you were unwilling to give your name to somebody, what made you think you deserved theirs?

" My name is Siku Maboroshi. It's a mix between two languages, since my mother isn't native to this continent. Siku means "Sea Ice" in her language, since my light silver eyes reminded her of the large icy glaciers from her homeland. How about you though? What happens to be your name? "

Siku held a sort of pride in his chest, his posture straightening itself. Spreading his name gave him a good feeling, it made him more confident, or arrogant one could argue. But nonetheless it was a boost to his self-esteem when somebody mentioned wanting to know his name. Acknowledgment was the one thing Siku needed to succeed as a shinobi. Hard work never did any good if it went unnoticed.

Pwn don't post, I am leaving the site as of my post in the Arrivals/AFK section of the General Discussion board. Sorry for the waste of time, but at least you can get EXP out of this. Sorry for wasting your time though. I just don't got the drive anymore. Good luck~